Charice Meets Mariah Carey

Charice brings house down at Agassi benefit gig

BEV LLORENTE, ABS-CBN News | 10/13/2008 7:00 PM

Sixteen-year-old Filipina singer Charice Pempengco proved she could hold her own among some of the world's best musical stars at the glitzy Andre Agassi benefit concert at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.

The Andre Agassi Benefit Concert is held annually in Las Vegas to benefit needy children. It features A-list superstars of the music world and this year, Charice was up on stage performing with Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow and Mariah Carrey.

Before the show began, one of Charice's most fervent dreams came true, when she met and hugged superstar Mariah Carey. Charice was very emotional about the meeting. Carey also had good words about the Filipina.

"I am very happy and I home I'm gonna sing with her soon, I wish! You're beautiful, it's so nice to meet you. She's so cute! I love you Filipinos, thank you," said Carey.

Rod Steward and Sheryl Crow each had their turn onstage, but it was Charice that brought the house down as she was given a thunderous standing ovation by the audience.

"I probably had at least two dozen people stop me on the street just in the middle of anywhere that are Filipino: 'Hey, thank you so much!' Just out of nowhere, and, ' I want to come there.' We should all be proud of her, thanks to millie and Mike. They started it," said American composer and producer David Foster, who is now Charice's mentor.

Immigration lawyer Michael Gurfinkel, who has specialized in Filipino clients, also had praise for Charice.

"It's a source of Philippine pride that we have a Filipina performing with some of the greatest performers on earth," he said.

As she continues to go places worldwide, Charice is also gaining many fans, even among celebrities. No ordinary feat for this 16-year-old from Laguna.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/10/13/08/charice-brings-house-down-agassi-benefit-gig