Charice & Almira of 4th Impact joined the same singing contest

4th Impact

Clockwise from front left: Mylene, Almira, Irene, and Celina

4th Impact has made a mark in the entertainment scene since their X Factor UK first audition aired on August 29 this year. Their official video of Jessie J's hit Bang Bang on YouTube has reached over 33 million views as of this writing. It is ranked #1 among all the X Factor UK videos of the present Season 12. Although the girl group have only reached the Top 5 of the singing competition, they have been in the UK entertainment buzz. Watch their official audition video below.

4th Impact (4th Power) X Factor UK Audition

Singing Jessie J's Hit Bang Bang

(Video from The X Factor UK YouTube channel)

4th Impact is composed of four sisters from the Philippines. They are Almira, Irene, Mylene, and Celina. They were earlier known on X Factor UK as 4th Power, but had to change their name due to
copyright reasons. The Filipino girl band had also used other names in the past. They used MICA (the initials of their first names) in a Korean singing contest in 2014. They were also known as the Cercado Sisters and Gollayan Sisters in other previous competitions. No matter what name they use, their talent is undeniably amazing.

In an interview in 2013, Almira revealed that she had competed with Charice in the singing competition called Batang Kampeon. She also mentioned that she was in the same batch as Sarah Geronimo in the singing tilt Star for a Night. It seems that there are really awesome talents from Charice's generation of singing competitors who, in one way or another, have made a name for themselves in the music industry. Aside from Almira, there are Angeline Quinto, Katrina Velarde, Klarisse De Guzman, and Alyssa Quijano. (And there could be others.) One great thing that is common among them is their ability to belt incredibly high notes. And of course, Charice is known for her out of this world ability in belting insanely high notes. I now wonder what these talents ate when they were growing up.

I wish all the best for the four sisters who are currently in London to fulfill their commitments with X Factor UK. They will perform with the other finalists during this weekend's grand finals before the announcement of the winner among the remaining three contestants namely: Louisa Johnson, Che Chesterman, and Reggie N Bollie. The phenomenal girl band will also be part of the X Factor Tour scheduled for February-March 2016. 

4th Impact has had at least two gigs after their shocking elimination from the X Factor. One was at the G-A-Y/Heaven Club and the other at the Clothes Show. Let the following videos speak for the audience reactions to their immense talent.

4th Impact in G-A-Y / Heaven .. full video

(Video from Louis John Prattlerman Youtube channel)

Clothes Show Live 2015, Monday, Featuring 4th Impact

(Video from concertphotography YouTube channel)

Almira, Irene, Mylene, and Celina have indeed made a great impact on the UK audience. They have also made a lasting impression on the global viewers of the show. They are now gaining more fans and followers on their social media accounts. Their online videos, including the ones from years ago, are constantly increasing in the number of views. I am very happy for them.

As Charice had said a number of times, the song Maghintay Ka Lamang significantly guided her and helped her go through the many obstacles in chasing her dreams. The lyrics of the song reminded her to be patient and to not give up on her dreams.

Never let go of your dreams, 4th Impact!


4th Impact image source: entertainment.inquirer.net (http://entertainment.inquirer.net/files/2015/10/4th-impact1.jpg)

Charice sings Tagalog at David Foster & Friends

Charice at Hitman David Foster & Friends Asia Tour 2015

(Photo from RAPPLER.COM)

"Your very own...Charice! No one like her!"

The above was excitedly uttered by David Foster after Charice performed a Tagalog song entitled Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin. This was at the Manila leg of the Hitman David Foster & Friends Asia Tour 2015 at the Araneta Coliseum last August 18, 2015.

David Foster, a 16-time Grammy Awards winner, has had a series of concerts dubbed as David Foster & Friends (DFF) where big names in the music industry have performed hits with him on the
piano. The idea behind the concert series, which started in 2008, is to feature songs that he wrote and/or produced with a few exceptions.

Yes, he had allowed one or two songs, that he had nothing to do with, to be sung in his DFF concerts. Say, Natalie Cole sang This Will Be, her debut single in 1975, in at least two DFF's. David allowed it in his concerts, including the recent Manila leg, even if he had no hand in that song. He allowed it simply because it was a great song performed by a great artist and that he loved it as he mentioned in the Las Vegas show in 2010.


Not all songs sung in DFF's were in English. There was Pie Jesu, a song with Latin lyrics. This was performed by Jackie Evancho, a young classical crossover singer, in some DFF shows. There was the Italian song Caruso which was given an emotional interpretation by Lara Fabian in 2010. And, of course, the English-Italian song The Prayer that had been performed at most DFF's by various artists including the great Italian classical tenor Andrea Bocelli with Katharine McPhee in 2008.

In the recent Manila leg of the DFF Asia Tour, Charice sang a non-English song, a Tagalog song. Before singing it, she thanked David for allowing her to perform Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin, the music and lyrics of which were penned by Filipino composer Jimmy Borja. David had no hand in the song, but he accommodated it and played it on the piano while Charice gave her own interpretation that was full of emotion that she effectively communicated to the audience. And I am happy that David accepted Charice's suggestion to include the song in her setlist. I believe he was glad that he did even if he did not understand its Tagalog lyrics. After that amazing number, he excitedly said, "Your very own...Charice! No one like her!" Below is a video of that amazing performance.

(Video from John Philip YouTube channel)

I am reminded of a funny scene from the movie Pretty Woman. Vivian (Julia Roberts) is trying to figure out how to use the binoculars when she and Edward (Richard Gere) are in a theater to watch an opera. In this scene, Vivian asks something to Edward. Listen to the interesting question below.

(Video from jkman999 Youtube channel)

Not in the video is Edward's reply: "Believe me. You'll understand. The music is very powerful."

Let me share what some non-Tagalog speaking Chasters have to say about Charice singing a Tagalog song in DFF.

(Screenshot from twestj Facebook timeline)

The Filipino audience, as some say, are hard to please. For me, it is more of the lack of spontaneity in showing their appreciation for, say, a musical performance. In the above video of Charice's performance of Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin, David is seen gesturing his arm to encourage the audience to give Charice a standing ovation. (It is like he is saying that it is alright to stand up and applaud.) As a Filipino, I believe that we do appreciate, although most of the time, we do not publicly demonstrate our admiration for what is in front of us. Once someone, however, initiates to display an appreciation, be it an applause or a standing ovation (which is not innate in the Filipino culture), the others follow suit, especially if they totally agree. In the video, they do not only totally agree to a standing ovation, but they even add a clamor for an encore. That thirst for an additional song shows their deep appreciation and admiration for Charice as a performer, as an artist.

The audience, that has just given Charice a standing ovation,  

is clamoring for an encore. (Screenshot from John Philip's video)

I strongly believe that at this point in her career, Charice has shown her versatility as an artist. We have initially known her as a belter, but she continues to evolve into an artist that she truly is. In the interview with Boy Abunda on Aquino & Abunda, an evening talk show, David Foster said that most of the young artists that he had worked with were able to find their own ways and styles in singing. He added, "People like Charice, Celine, and Josh, and Buble, Bryan Adams, and all the other people I started out with, they get their own mind. And so they should. The good ones do."

Yes, Charice. Go ahead and do what you need to do, what you want to do. As for me, I will just sit back and relax and wait to be surprised again by your kind of music. You are a musical genius and I am always in anticipation of something great coming from you.

Charice & Chasters Spell Joy & Laughter

Collage by twestj

Nothing compares to the feeling of elation knowing that your dream of meeting a special someone up close and personal is soon to become a reality.

Elation or any of its synonyms could be an understatement for the Chasters who attended the birthday bash for Charice last Sunday, May 17, 2015 at Peppeton's Grill in Quezon City. For some, it was seeing Charice again (although they claimed it was like the first time) that pumped their blood to the excitement level. For others who would actually experience it for the first time, it was a mixed feeling of unknown emotions, the never-before-felt emotions that dictionaries could fall short of describing.

Everyone in attendance, including Charice and her team, said hi's and hello's, shared stories and experiences, smiles and tears, and joy and laughter.

If there is one statement that can sum up the messages of the Chasters present there (and, I believe, of all the other Chasters from around the world) it is the following:

"Charice, you are loved."

Now, instead of words, I will let the following photographs speak of our experiences.

Source: twestj

Source: twestj

Source: twestj

Source: twestj

Source: twestj

Source:  Joan Gutierrez Lanuza

Source: Rechel Mae Sarin

 Source: Rechel Mae Sarin

 Source: Rechel Mae Sarin

 Source: Rechel Mae Sarin

Source: Krizza Luz

Source: Krizza Luz

Source: Krizza Luz

Source: Krizza Luz

Source: Krizza Luz

Source: Joy Reserva Toledo

Source: Joy Reserva Toledo

Source: Joy Reserva Toledo

Source: Helen Grace Uson

Source: Helen Grace Uson

Source: Helen Grace Uson

Source: Helen Grace Uson

Source: Helen Grace Uson

Source: Helen Grace Uson

 Source:  Joan Gutierrez Lanuza

Source:  Joan Gutierrez Lanuza

Source: Jefryl Alaban

 Source:  Joan Gutierrez Lanuza

Source:  Joan Gutierrez Lanuza

Source: Helen Grace Uson

Source: Helen Grace Uson

Source: Helen Grace Uson

Source:  Joan Gutierrez Lanuza

Hey, ABS-CBN! Let's Compare!

Whew! It's summertime in the Philippines and something has gotten really hot recently. "Who's the better singer? Ariana Grande or Charice?" ABS-CBN is asking the online readers. I wonder what the purpose of the question is. Do you have any idea?

(This blogger took the liberty of making corrections in their post. It should be "better" and not "best" since there are only two who are being compared. Doesn't anyone edit posts on ABS-CBN website?)

Captured from the ABS-CBN article posted on April 11, 2015 

- corrections added by this blogger

Some readers patronized the post and wrote their comments and sort of voted for their idols. And who can blame them? They are fans and will always support and protect their idols.

So, let's compare the two performances using the two videos that ABS-CBN posted. Here are the specimens.

Ariana Grande singing I Have Nothing

(From FateEnviesUs YouTube Channel)

Charice singing a medley of I Have Nothing and I Will Always Love You 
(From ChenkaNubira YouTube Channel)

Oops...wait! How can we compare these two performances when Ariana and Charice are singing different pieces? For Ariana, it is the whole song I Have Nothing and for Charice, it is a medley of I Have Nothing and I Will Always Love You. I wonder if the ABS-CBN post wants us to stop in the middle of Charice's video, but that should have been specified in the article. So, I'd say, these are invalid specimens.

Let's just look for what is common in the two videos. Do you see it? I mean, do you see him? The David Foster! David Foster recognizes the talent of each of these two artists. I believe he wants to play for artists whose talents are great. And if David Foster says an artist is great, then, that artist is great. I believe him. Do you?

I wish David Foster will also play for the Kapamilya singers. Or has he already played for any Kapamilya singers? No, the audience participation in a concert will not count. Anyone from the long list of Kapamilya singers? Yes? No? If you know the answer, please write it in the comment section below. Thank you.

But then, maybe I should take back my wish because ABS-CBN will use the singer's performance video to compare, again, with their "favorite" talent that is Charice. I know it because of the following.

Captured from a post on Push dated April 17, 2015

And oh! There it is! The above image says, "...performances of the same songs...." So, why are Charice's and Ariana's performances featured there? I'm sorry, but I do not consider them as the same songs.

Now, back to David Foster. He is currently one of the judges in the first season of Asia's Got Talent (AGT). He pressed the Golden Buzzer for an auditionee named Gerphil G. Flores, a Filipino. Here's the thing. Gerphil, whose nickname is Fame, participated in Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) of ABS-CBN in 2010. Gerphil (Fame) was eliminated because the two judges, Ai-Ai and Kris, did not vote for her for reasons you will hear below. 

Let's compare the comments of Ai-Ai and David Foster.

Did you hear the part when Ai-Ai confirmed that Sherwin did not hit the high note? She also offered the possible reason--he slept late/lack of sleep--why he failed hitting it. She continued and said that he was perfect the day before. Also, was it just me or did she really announce that she voted for Sherwin through texting?

So, David hates people who sing out of tune. It seems that he does not consider any excuses as valid when it comes to singing out of tune.



Next, let's listen to the comment of Kris.

Kris talked about the impact of the performances on the audience. I wonder if she was referring to the impact on the entire audience or only on her and on the two hosts, Luis and Billy. She said she based her decision on the fact that the two hosts sang the song of Sherwin during the commercial break.

Now, here's to show the impact of Gerphil's performance on the AGT audience.

And there goes the Golden Buzzer! Since Gerphil has received the Golden Buzzer from David, she goes straight to the semi-finals of the competition. Watch below.

Sometimes, I wonder why we let go of some of our great talents. We dwell so much on things that are of lesser value: physical looks over real talents. Most of the time, we are afraid to get out of our comfort zones: popularity over quality.

Here is a quote from the speech of ABS-CBN Chairman Mr. Eugenio Lopez III during the recent congress of the Media Specialists Association of the Philippines: "We believe it's a matter of duty to invest in radical change if you're the country's advocate of the media industry. We simply cannot ignore the global technology way. We innovate or we die."

Yes, Mr. Lopez. Change is badly needed. Please look into your daily programming. Please look into what your workforce spread on the Internet. Many Filipinos now have access to the Internet. Are you familiar with all the contents of your websites? Are you familiar with the contents of your TV and radio programs? Are you familiar with the contents of your news programs? More than your Mahiwagang Blackbox or the ABS-CBN TV Plus physical product, please look into valuable innovations for the types of shows that you offer to your audience. Please look into meaningful innovations for the types of articles that get published on your websites.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. ABS-CBN, you are an influential institution. Use that for attaining more meaningful and valuable objectives. Be conscientious in reviewing what you give to the public. I believe it is part of your responsibility. I don't need your Blackbox for a better quality of pictures on my TV screen. I need a better quality of the contents on my screens--my TV screen and my computer screen.

And please...do away with the comparisons! Not healthy at all!


(I do not own any of the videos embedded on this post. Credits go to FateEnviesUs, ChenkaNubira, ABS-CBN, and Asia's Got Talent.)

How do you solve a puzzle like ABS-CBN?

Hi! I need your help, please. This is a puzzle to me. And it is really difficult. The following are my considerations. 

Sunday, February 8. ASAP on ABS-CBN. Kapamilya artists singing and dancing. Audience applauding, screaming. Like usual. 

Half-way through the show, something special came up. Nice! Mega throwback of the many birthday moments of someone significant to the show. Upbeat and nostalgic numbers along with the song Happy Days Are Here Again with modified lyrics specially made for the ASAP director of 20 years, Johnny Manahan. The special segment was culminated with Ms. Lea Salonga singing Carol King's Tapestry. Happy Birthday, Mr. M!

A couple more segments were announced to follow. I believe that at this point, there were viewers, not only from the Philippines but from around the world, who had been stretching their patience and excitedly waiting for a number which they had been anticipating as something not usual, not just special, but extraordinary. Exceptional! I am talking about the much-awaited performance of Let It Go by Charice. I know I sound biased, but I am not. Please read on. 

A clamor for Charice to sing the "Frozen" theme song in full was going around the social networking sites. Yes, "in full" because in mid-January, a video of Charice singing a part (from the bridge to the end) of the song was uploaded on YouTube and it immediately spread like fire. The viral video was picked up and uploaded by LionhearTV on its Facebook page and now has almost 1.5 million views. It was also featured on national television programs like GMA's Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho. 

Saturday, February 7. Chasters and those others who had seen the viral video became excited upon reading an announcement from ASAP Official accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: Charice with her version of the phenomenal hit Let It Go!!! Bukas sa #ASAP4ever.

After about three weeks of waiting, they would experience Charice's full version of Let It Go! 

Back to Sunday, February 8. ASAP in the last ten minutes or so of the show. Ms. Lea Salonga must have looked forward to Charice's performance, too. I see Ms. Lea as someone who is demonstrative of what she really thinks and feels; never pretending to be what she is not. And she is very transparent. The video below shows that she cannot contain her excitement while Martin Nievera is introducing Charice.

Video from twestj YouTube channel

Together with Ms. Lea, let us watch Charice perform the full version (her own arrangement) of Let It Go.

Video from ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel

Did you watch this performance last Sunday, February 8 during the ASAP live airing? If you did, what did you do afterwards? Did you tweet about it? It must have been difficult to focus on both watching ASAP's finale number, the Supah Dance number of beauty queen Miss Universe-Philippines MJ Lastimosa and tweeting about Charice's performance.

Many Soooo many turned to Twitter to express their awe and admiration for Charice and her performance. She received great superlatives and loving emoticons from different parts of the world. Her performance became a trending topic. The name "Charice" soon dislodged other topics in the Twitter worldwide list and occupied the top spot. I am not biased, am I?

ABS-CBN was quick to announce it on their website complete with sample tweets and an embedded video of Charice's performance.

Charice tops the Twitter Trending Topics Worldwide

That was Sunday, February 8. Euphoria!

Those who had missed Charice's performance on TV and later heard about it, searched for her video online. They found one or two or three on YouTube. None of them was from the ABS-CBN Entertainment channel, so, none of them could be considered the official video. No matter. Official or not, people just wanted to watch the talk of the world last Sunday. One such video, according to comments I read online, reached as many as 600,000 views before it was taken down due to copyright issues. It was not official, remember?

So, why not upload an official video on YouTube, ABS-CBN? This is puzzling!

Monday. No video. Maybe tomorrow.

Chasters started their wait again. There should be an official video on YouTube. It was the #1 trending topic worldwide, right? They were quick to announce on their website about Charice being the #1 trending topic on Twitter, but not quick enough to upload the video on YouTube? This is puzzling!

Tuesday. Still no video. I started to wonder. What was taking ABS-CBN so long? Was the one in charge of uploading the video sick? No reliever? This is puzzling!

Wednesday. Morning. I checked on YouTube and there was nothing still. I went on with my usual activities. Night. Before going to bed, I checked on my Facebook. There, I read that ABS-CBN had uploaded an official video of Charice's performance on their YouTube channel. Later on, I learned that it was in the late afternoon when ABS-CBN.com tweeted WATCH: Charice belts Frozen's "Let It Go" on ASAP [link to YouTube]. Wow! They waited three long days before they finally uploaded the video. This is puzzling!

I clicked the given link on FB and watched the official video. It was actually exactly the same as the one embedded on their website article last Sunday except for three annoying pop-ups. The first and most annoying of the three pop-ups is shown below.

Screenshot of ABS-CBN YouTube video of Charice singing Let It Go with pop-up

What are they thinking? Are they thinking at all? What is that pop-up all about? Are they really telling me, "Hey, watch also our Pop Princess' version!" in the middle of Charice's performance? I have nothing against Sarah Geronimo. I watched her video of the same song weeks ago. I respect her as an artist. This pop-up or the one who initiated the idea of this pop-up, however, is disrespectful of Charice. I am not alone in thinking and feeling this way. Read the comments on YouTube. There are also comments on Facebook. Unless you x it out, the pop-up annoys you for 12 seconds! And of all the colors available, its background really has to be red. Isn't this puzzling?!

Again, I am asking for your help. I am extremely puzzled.


********** UPDATE **********

Wednesday, February 17, 2015.

This morning, about 8 o'clock PH Time, I clicked the link to Charice's official "Let It Go" video to watch it for the nth time. And I was treated to a pleasant surprise. There was no more Sarah G pop-up that was supposed to start at 2:00-minute mark. I could not believe it at first, so, I refreshed the video and true enough, the annoying pop-up was gone! It was replaced with a Charice-related pop-up shown below.

Screenshot of ABS-CBN YouTube video of Charice singing Let It Go 

with a new Charice-related pop-up

When you click the new pop-up, it brings you to Charice's performance of Beyonce's "Heaven" on ASAP last month. This Charice video is part of the ASAP playlist in the ABS-CBN Entertainment channel. That playlist, by the way, is exactly the same playlist linked to the second pop-up shown below. Yes, back-to-back promotion.

Screenshot of ABS-CBN YouTube video of Charice singing Let It Go 

with ASAP performances pop-up

Anyway, I am thankful that the Sarah G pop-up is now gone. And I commend the placing of each of the two pop-ups beside the ASAP logo, especially since they are both in red. Now, it is not so much of an eyesore. (I still go for a more subtle color, though.) The downside of this placement is the missing lyrics of the song in the duration of and in between the two pop-ups. On the second thought, who doesn't know the lyrics of "Let It Go" by now?

I hope that ABS-CBN reviews each and every video and article conscientiously and meticulously before publishing them for the reading and viewing public. I believe that it is part of their responsibility as an influential institution.