"Catholic na ako!" exclaimed Charice Pempengco after her baptism and confirmation held yesterday, May 22, at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pasig City.

Clad in a white dress, she and her brother Carl were formally welcomed into the Catholic Church by Bishop Francisco San Diego, who presided over the ceremony. The rite was attended by 23 pairs of godparents—which included ABS-CBN's big bosses Gabby Lopez and Charo Santos-Concio, ABS-CBN Global's Raffy Lopez, Star Cinema's Malou Santos, Kapamilya hosts Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino-Yap, columnist-host Ricky Lo, broadcaster Karen Davila, TV Patrol World anchor Julius Babao and wife Tintin Bersola, radio host Jobert Sucaldito, Dra. Vicki Belo and director Lauren Dyogi, to name a few.

One of the most powerful women in the planet, Oprah Winfrey, topped Charice's ninangs list. But due to her busy schedule, the media mogul sent a TV crew to cover the event of "the most talented girl in the world."

World-famous producer-songwriter David Foster was also a ninong, but he too had to be represented by proxy during the baptism rites of his "newest baby."

To those who were wondering: Why only now?

Charice's mom Raquel and her kids used to be members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), which is the religion of Charice's dad, Ricky Pempengco.

After she and Ricky separated, Raquel wanted her kids to be baptized in Catholic rites, but "we were not a complete family," she said in an interview. The secondary reason was, "wala ring pera noon."

IT WAS ALSO CHARICE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. And now that Charice's life is overflowing with blessings, the international singing sensation is brimming with gratitude.

Instead of holding a lavish party for her 18^th birthday, which was last May 10, she decided to spend it with 500 children, who were lucky to receive gifts, and hear the celebrant sing the a cappella version of her hit single "Pyramid" and her rendition of Michael Jackson's "We Are the World."

Charice was very happy, and couldn't ask for anything more. "Ang dami-dami ko na pong blessings," she said.