Charice Pempengco debut album Star Records

Charice Pempengco, the 15-year-old Filipina singing sensation who has enchanted the world through Ellen Degeneres, Paul O' Grady, and through Youtube, will release her self-titled debut album under Star Records. The six-track CD entitled 'Charice' will be available at all record stores and National Bookstores by the end of the month.

Through the help of Nixon Sy, audio marketing unit head of Star Records, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) was able to speak with Charice on the phone. The young singer, who will turn 15 on May 10, was then having her album pictorial with celebrated photographer Ronnie Salvacion.

How does she feel about having her first album?

"Hindi ko po ine-expect kasi matagal ko na pong gustong magka-album. Masaya po ako na nabigyan ako ng chance na makagawa ng album under Star Records," says Charice gratefully.

Charice was the third placer in the ABS-CBN talent search Little Big Star aired in 2006. Since then, she has become popular for her YouTube videos that paved the way for her to guest in Ellen as well as the British talk show Paul O'Grady Show.

This time, she joins nine other kids in showcasing their unique talents for the May 12 episode of the American TV show Oprah, hosted by popular personality Oprah Winfrey, of course.

Canadian record producer-songwriter David Foster was the one who told Oprah Winfrey about Charice, prompting the TV host to book the Filipina singer as a guest in her show. Charice performed the Whitney Houston song "I Have Nothing" for the episode titled "World's Smartest Kids."

What did Oprah tell Charice after performing her song?

"Hindi raw siya makapaniwala na ganun ang boses kasi maliit raw ako," narrates Charice. "Si David Foster po ang nagsabi kay Oprah tungkol sa akin. Sabi po niya, ‘She's a show stopper.' Naiyak nga po ako nang sinabi niya yun."

She adds: "Hindi rin po ako makapaniwala...niyakap niya [Oprah] ako...sina Mommy, lahat sila po sila umiiyak."

Charice was in Chicago, U.S.A., during the first week of April to shoot the episode, which took two hours to tape.

"I Have Nothing" is one of the songs included in her debut album. The other songs are "Mama" by Smokey Mountain plus the two songs she sang in Ellen—"I Will Always Love You" and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."

Two original songs, penned by Swedish songwriters, titled "Born to Love You Forever" and "It Can Only Get Better" are also included in the six-track album Charice. PEP