Charice's mom bares pain over turn of events

The mother of Charice feels that her only daughter has turned her back on her family, citing their disagreement over the 21-year-old singer's recent decision to go public with her sexual preference and her current girlfriend.

During a press conference held Friday noon, Racquel Pempengco confirmed that her eldest child is no longer living under the same roof as her and Carl, the singer's younger brother.

Pempengco expressed hurt over Charice's choice to leave their home, which Carl described as "sudden." She even recalled her daughter saying, "Hindi na ako uuwi kahit kailan."

"Napakasakit ang mga nangyayaring ito sa aming pamilya, lalo na sa akin. Ang pakiramdam po namin ay itinakwil na kami ni Charice, tinalikuran, isinantabi at hindi po basta-basta nawawala ang sugat na galing doon," Pempengco said as she read aloud an open letter regarding the issue.

No to Alyssa

According to Pempengco, Charice left after she expressed disapproval of the singer's relationship with Alyssa Quijano, a former finalist on the singing contest "The X Factor Philippines." Charice was among the four judge's on the show.

Pempengco narrated that she was elated with Charice's decision to come home at one point, but was dismayed when she saw her daughter with Quijano.

"Alas otso ng umaga tumawag sa akin ang anak ko, 'Mommy, sunduin mo na ako.' Tumulo ang luha ko dahil awang-awa ako sa anak ko, pero hindi niya naramdaman 'yung excitement ng isang ina nung susunduin ko siya, dahil 'yung kauna-unahang magkikita kami, kasama niya si Alyssa," Pempengco said.

"'Anak, pwede kang umuwi, pero huwag mong isama si Alyssa, dahil sobrang sakit na ng nararamdaman ko,'" she recalled saying to her daughter.

She also brought up the name of Courtney Blooding, Charice's manager. According to Pempengco, Blooding was her daughter's girlfriend for a time.

"Nagbigay ako kay Courtney, tinanggap ko sa bahay, pinakisamahan ko. Pero by this time, si Alyssa hindi ko matatanggap, dahil matagal ko nang kilala si Alyssa," Pempengco said.

Asked why she disapproves of Quijano, Pempengco said, "Si Alyssa ang isang kakumpitensiya niya (Charice) sa pagkanta, alam ni Charice 'yan. Kahit si Charice 'yan, kung maibabalik 'yung panahon, ayaw niyang makasama 'yung mga taong iyon, pero ang hinanakit ko lang, bakit ngayon, bakit ipinagmamalaki niyang doon siya masaya?"

Charice started to join singing competitions at age 7.

Against 'coming out'

Prior to their disagreement over Quijano, Pempengco said she had also requested Charice not to openly admit her sexual preference, citing a public image she "has to take care of."

Pempengco stressed, however, that she has already accepted her daughter being a lesbian, as early as 2010, when she first learned of it.

"Ang pinakiusap ko lang sa kanya, 'Alam ko ang nararamdaman mo. Kung pwede sana itago mo, dahil may pangalan kang iniingatan. Hindi mo naman kailangan ipakita sa buong mundo ang katayuan mo ngayon sa pamamagitan ng pag-iiba ng anyo,'" she said.

Pempengco recalled telling her daughter: "'Napakaraming lesbians diyan na hindi nagbabago. Kailangan pa bang ilahad mo na ito ako, lalaki na ako ngayon, iba na ang itsura ko ngayon? Na lalaki na ako dahil marami na akong tattoo?'"

While she did not disapprove of Charice's relationship with Blooding, Pempengco said she had also requested the two to keep their romantic ties private.

"Pinakiusapan ko siya, kay Courtney pa lang, pinakiusap ko muna sa kanya na itago niyo muna hangga't maitatago ninyo," she said.

Addressing critcisms about her supposed lack of support for Charice coming out with her sexual preference, Pempengco emphasized that she had always been accepting of her daughter.

"Gusto ko lang po i-clear na matagal ko na pong natanggap. Nagsalita po ako kasi hindi ko na kaya 'yung hinuhusgahan ako na bakit hindi ko matanggap, eh anak ko 'yon," she said.

"Kung sino man ang unang nakakaalam noon, ako 'yon, pero nakita ninyo, ilang taon ko itinago, dahil ayoko siya masira. Pero ngayong siya na ang nagsabi, tumulo nalang ang luha ko, dahil naramdaman kong hindi ako importante sa anak ko," she said.

Pempengco also addressed Charice being expressive of her happiness over her new-found "freedom" since confessing she is a lesbian.

"Iyon ang nararamdaman niya sa ngayon," the singer's mom said, "pero para kay Charice, huwag mo sasabihin na hindi naging masaya sa amin, sa loob ng 21 years, huwag mo sasabihin na hindi ka nakakakilos sa loob ng 21 years ng gusto mo ikilos."

"Dahil si Charice lang po ang makakaalam niyan, naging open ako sa bahay namin. Si Charice lang din ang makakapagsabi niyan, hindi man niya aminin in public, na lahat ng gusto nilang gawin sa buhay nila nasusunod nila," Pempengco said.

Message for Charice

Nonetheless, Pempengco said she is hopeful that her daughter will eventually return to their home. She also appealed to those currently closest to the singer to remind her of the value of family.

"Naghihintay ako, kasi alam ko babalik siya eh, kung gugustuhin niya. 'Yun ang gusto kong iparating sa mga nakapaligid sa kanya -- kung importante sa kanila ang pamilya, ipamulat nila yun kay Charice... 'Yun lang naman ang pakiusap ko eh. Imulat kung gaano kahalaga ang pamilya sa atin," she said.

On whether she is ready to forgive her daughter, Pempengco said, "Hindi ko kailangang magpatawad, dahil wala siyang ginawa sa akin. Hindi ko masasabing away 'yan eh, samaan lang ng loob.

Misunderstanding na hindi niya naiintindihan kasi hindi siya nakikipagusap nang maayos."

Asked for her message to Charice, Pempengco said, "Mahal na mahal namin siya kahit anong mangyari. hindi naman kailangan bumitiw, dahil for life na ang aking role. Kung siya binitawan niya ako, hindi ako bibitiw."