MANILA, Philippines -- For the first time, singer Charice spoke about her mother's confession that she was also a lesbian.
In a taped episode of the ABS-CBN morning show "Kris TV," Charice said she never noticed signs that her mother, Raquel Pempengco, was a lesbian.
She believes that her mother made the statement to convince her that she, too, can overcome her same-sex attraction.
"Sinabi din po niya ang story na 'yan pero kasi that time, ang obvious para sa akin na parang sinasabi niya sa akin na 'kung ako nga eh nabago ko, bakit ikaw, hindi?' Pero kasi that time, noong sinasabi niya sa akin, siyempre hindi ako naniniwala. Wala naman akong na-witness na ganoon," Charice said.
Nevertheless, the singer hopes to patch things up with her mom, particularly through her brother, Carl.
"Sana dumating 'yung time na 'yon at 'yung moment na 'yon na lagi siyang andiyan as my bro. 'Yun bang kapag may problema ako ay nasasabi ko sa kanya while playing XBox. 'Yung moment na gustong gusto ko na maglalaro kami tapos mag-o-open siya sa akin at mag-o-open ako sa kanya. 'Yun ang nami-miss ko," Charice said.
"[Sana] maging bridge ka rin na magkaayos ang lahat," she told Carl.
Charice went on to express her love for her mother despite their rift.
"Alam ni mommy kung gaano ko siya kamahal. Gusto ko lang po sana na 'yun na lang ang isipin niya. Kaya lang kami nagkahiwalay ngayon dahil hindi niya naiintindihan ang sitwasyon. Magkalayo kami ngayon dahil hindi niya ako maintindihan.
"Sana ma-realize niya na mahal ko siya at kahit anong mangyari ay pamilya kami," she said.
'Singer, not lesbian singer'
Meanwhile, Charice hopes that one day, the public will see beyond her same-sex orientation and accept her as a talented singer.
While she is happy to have finally confessed that she is a lesbian, Charice said people should stop dwelling too much on the issue.
"Next po. Isa lang ang gusto ko kasi after I came out, napakainit ng isyu. Sana kumbaga 'yung laging next step na sinasabi ko ay gusto kong mag-move on at magtrabaho nang magtrabaho. 'Yung hindi na nila pag-uusapan 'yung gender. 'Yung talent talaga [ang pag-uusapan]. Gusto kong magtrabaho na as a singer na hinangaan nila," she said.
Charice is set to fly to United States to fulfill her commitments.
