The 17-year-old Filipino singing sensation learned that she topped an online poll of thousands of followers of TV host/entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey, via the website oprah.com.
Pempengco’s rendition of “Note to God” was voted Best Oprah Show Musical Performance, beating seven other big-name nominees: The rock band Journey (with another Filipino, Arnel Pineda, as front man), the Black-Eyed Peas (with a Fil-Am member, apl.de.ap), Michael Bublé, Rascal Flatts, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson and James Taylor.
The website launched the Best of 2009 poll that asked viewers to choose their favorites in 13 categories spanning the lifestyle and entertainment fields.
Charice Pempengco garnered 70 percent of total votes, according to the website, with The Black Eyed Peas a far second, collecting 9 percent.
“It’s a very big deal for me,” Pempengco said during the Christmas party she hosted for the media for the first time at the Shangri-La Plaza mall in Mandaluyong City.
Holiday in Tagaytay
She said she would spend the holidays in her new home in Tagaytay City.
After Christmas, she is scheduled to fly to Singapore as a guest performer at the launch of “Singapore Idol”— that country’s version of the widely popular reality singing competition “American Idol.”
Pempengco said she was looking forward to a Filipino Christmas as she had spent a good part of the year in the United States recording an album with sought-after music industry figure, David Foster, as producer.
While picking songs for the album, Foster brought Pempengco along as special guest on a 10-city tour in the US and Canada.
Overwhelming
“The experience was overwhelming,” she said of the tour. “There were venues where I didn’t expect Americans to be cheering loudly just as my name was being announced.”