Before Charice became an international singing superstar at the tender age of 17, a lot of challenges confronted her along the way. But this teenage girl credits her mother, Mommy Raquel, for being the "wind beneath her wings" as she was growing up. (Click HERE to hear Charice's rendition of "Wind Beneath My Wings.")

"Actually po, lagi ko pong sinasabi, mommy ko po, single mom po siya. So super po akong humahanga sa kanya, kasi po siya po yung tumatayong tatay ko, siya po yung tumatayong kaibigan ko, dahil ngayon po siyempre mahirap pong magtiwala," said Charice during her recent presscon for her album titled My Inspiration.

"Open po ako sa kanya, and lahat po ng taong hinahanap ko, na puwede kong kausapin, siya lang yung nakakagawa nu'n. Kaya super ko po siyang hinahangaan."

She is so close to her mother that she dedicated her second album to Mommy Raquel. (Click HERE to read related article.)

What qualities did she inherit from her mother?

"Hmm... height!" she quipped. "Siguro po yung lakas po ng loob. Yung iba po, binabatikos na po kami. And minsan nakikita ko siya, nalulungkot siya. Ako po yung parating nagsasabi, 'Ok lang yan,' tinatawanan na lang namin. Yun po yung nakuha ko sa kanya, yung pagiging matapang."

How does her younger brother feel whenever she goes abroad? Is there any conflict between them for their mother's attention?

"Itong bakasyon po na ito, sinama ko siya sa Oprah. Naiiwan po siya kasi nag-aaral po siya. Kasama niya yung tito ko po saka yung katulong. Saka lagi naman po kaming online, sa chat, so nakakapag-usap din po kami," said Charice about her 14-year old brother, Carl.

"Actually, ako rin po yung nagpipilit sa kanyang sumama. Kasi talagang busy siya sa school kaya sinasabi na lang niya, 'Ate, good luck na lang.' Pero yun nga po, nagkakausap naman po kami sa internet."


MESSAGE TO LITTLE BIG STAR JUDGES. Charice still remembers the judges of ABS-CBN's talent search Little Big Star where she was proclaimed third runner-up.

"Si Ms. Ai-Ai delas Alas po. Si Sir Louie Ocampo. Si Ms. Kuh Ledesma. Actually gusto ko lang pong magpasalamat [sa kanila]. Kasi po siguro po para sa akin, tama po yung desisyon nila. Kasi po, okay naman po, e, dahil sa nangyari ngayon."

"Siyempre noong una, nung nangyari sa akin yun, hindi ko matanggap. Kasi parang ginawa ko po yung best ko, lahat ginawa ko...Yun nga po, sinabi nilang mahina nga daw po yung text votes ko. Tinanggap ko na lang yon. Naghintay ako, walang dumarating, hanggang sa nalaman ko nga yung sa YouTube, yung mga nangyayari sa akin ngayon, ngayon ko masasabi na talagang nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila..."

CRUSH ON JOSH GROBAN. When it comes to relationships, Charice prefers a man who will love her not because of her popularity. With her performances around the world, will it be possible for her to fall in love with a foreigner?

"Kahit ano po. Kahit ano po yung lahi niya basta mamahalin n'ya ako. Pag nawala ako sa showbiz, mamahalin pa rin n'ya ako," she said.

Will she leave the entertainment scene because of romantic love?

"Hindi po. I mean, halimbawa pag wala na po ako sa showbiz, siyempre hindi naman po natin alam kung magtatagal ako or what. Kung matagal pa po yun, dun ko malalaman kung matagal din siyang [mag-aantay]."

Charice also said that she has not yet experienced falling in love. "Syempre po crush po. Pero kung yung tumitibok-tibok na, wala pa po," confided Charice.

She then revealed that she has a huge crush on Josh Groban. Just like her idol, she has her own version of the song "You Raise Me Up," which is included in her album titled My Inspiration. Charice says that she will be giving Josh a copy of her album when she goes back to the United States.

In a previous interview during the 30th anniversary of Melawares at SM Makati, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) was able to talk to Charice regarding her crush on the international singer.

"Actually, first crush ko po si David Archuleta pero si Josh Groban na ngayon. Si Josh meron din kaming pinag-uusapan and napakadaldal niya. Perfect guy po para sa akin si Josh."

DUET WITH REGINE. During the presscon, Mommy Raquel revealed that Charice has been granted two U.S. visas: a multiple entry visa and an O1 visa that is given to people with extraordinary ability in the arts and other fields.

How does it feel to get all the big breaks from abroad first rather than from her home country?

"Actually po para sa akin, parang pantay lang po, e. Kasi po una po sa lahat, nakipag-duet na po ako sa mga big stars sa States. And dito naman po, nakipag-duet na ko sa mga idol ko like sina Ate Sarah [Geronimo].

"Isa na lang po ang hindi pa, si Ms. Regine [Velasquez]," she admitted.  

"Parang pantay lang po para sa akin. Siyempre po sa States binigyan nila ako ng chance mag-act, tapos po dito binigyan din po nila ako ng chance sa MMK (Maalaala Mo Kaya)."

By January 2010, Filipino moviegoers will be able to watch Charice in the Hollywood film Alvin and the Chipmunks. (Click HERE to read more about this upcoming movie).