MANILA, Philippines -- Is Charice a lesbian?
Raquel Pempengco, the mother of international singing sensation Charice, is allowing her daughter to finally "confirm her real identity."
In an interview with ABS-CBNnews.com on Friday, Pempengco addressed a reported planned announcement of Charice on her sexual preference.
"Ang sinasabi ng puso ko at isip ko bilang ina ay hayaan ko siyang ilantad kung ano ang tunay na katauhan niya. Kung ano ang gusto niya, dahil doon siya magiging maligaya," Pempengco said.
As a mother, Pempengco stressed she is only after the welfare of her daughter.
She explained that she only hopes Charice will find her peace and happiness.
"Nire-respeto ko kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin sa publiko, dahil doon siya magiging masaya at malaya na hindi niya nahanap sa aming pamilya," she said.
Pempengco, a single mom, gave her statement following a post on micro-blogging site Twitter claiming that Charice has finally admitted she is a lesbian, with an interview with the Kapamilya singer on the subject set to air.
Charice, who rose to fame in 2007 after a YouTube video of her singing landed her US TV guestings, has recently become the subject of headlines for her fashion choices and numerous makeovers.
Her last project on television was the Philippine edition of the reality singing contest "The X Factor," which aired on ABS-CBN from June to October 2012.
Since then, however, the David Foster protégé has largely disappeared from local showbiz, with only a number of viral photos of her latest look serving as traces as to Charice's whereabouts.
Recent photos of her on social media show the former "Glee" star sporting a short hairstyle and supposedly masculine outfits, prompting speculations as to whether they are indicative of her alleged sexual preference.
