MANILA – “The X Factor Philippines” first grand winner KZ Tandingan said she feels for singer Charice, who is being criticized because of her latest look.
Charice was Tandingan's mentor on “X Factor.”
In an interview with entertainment website Push.com.ph, Tandingan said people should not be quick to judge the singer just because of her physical appearance.
“Siyempre nakakasakit sa damdamin na parang ang dami-daming tao na nagsasalita ng against sa kanya na hindi naman nila talaga kilala si Madam. Nagkasama kami ‘di ba sa ‘X-Factor’? Wala rin kaming right na magsabi ng kung ano man kasi kami din walang alam. 'Yun nga, nakakainis din 'yung ibang tao pero 'yun nga, they are entitled to their own opinion,” she said.
But Tandingan noted that the controversy also proved that a lot of Filipinos are concerned about Charice.
“Ganun naman talaga siguro eh. Sabi nga ni Allen (Sta. Maria), 'yung kapatid ko sa 'X-Factor,' ‘Kung wala namang mag-ba-bash sa 'yo, ibig sabihin boring ka.' Pabayaan mo na sila. Alam naman natin kung ano 'yung totoo, alam naman natin na wala siyang ginagawang masama," she explained.
Tandingan, however, admitted that she too was surprised when she saw Charice’s new look.
“Medyo [nagulat ako] kasi parang nasanay ako na pinapanood siya sa TV dati na mukhang sweet, mahaba buhok, pa-girl girl. Pero wala lang, okay lang," she said.
"Kasi nung na-meet ko siya kahit ako naman, mahilig ako sa ganun na edgy-edgy lang na suot. Kung ano naman nagpapasaya sa kanya, okay lang 'yun,” she added.
Despite this, Tandingan said she will always see Charice as a talented singer who made the country proud.
She also recalled the "kind" Charice while she was still competing on “X Factor.”
“Ang pagkakailala ko sa kanya mabait. Nung unang unang nalaman namin na siya magiging mentor namin siyempre kinabahan kami kasi parang international singing sensation so baka masyadong mataas standards niya, baka hindi niya kami masyado kausapin, ganyan. Pero nung nakilala namin siya, joker na joker pala siya,” she said.
“May ginawa nga siyang girls night out nung ‘X Factor’ days. Ang dami-dami niyang pagkain na in-order, jokes lang kami ng jokes, nag-kuwentuhan ng mga horror stories, ganun. Loka-loka rin po 'yun (laughs),” she added.
Aside from her new look, Charice recently made headlines anew after she allegedly eloped with "X Factor" finalist Alyssa Quijano.
Charice's mother Raquel, however, was quick to defend her daughter as she denied the latest rumor about the singer.
