For Charice, home is where the heart is

Categorized | Buzz, Philippines

For Charice, Home is Where the Heart is

Posted on02 November 2009. Tags: ABS-CBN, charice, charicemania, Mommy Raquel, Philippines, YouTube

MANILA – As she continues to take the United States by storm, international singing sensation Charice has been offered by legendary composer David Foster to stay there for good. It was a tempting offer but Charice opted to pass up the chance to move to the US. After all, her heart remains in the Philippines.

Whenever she could, Charice would fly back to the country. If she’s not fulfilling commitments here, she would spend quiet times in Tagaytay where she bought a 400-square-meter property.

Recently, the “Note to God” singer sat down with abs-cbnNEWS.com to talk about her Tagaytay sanctuary. She shared how she discovered her two-storey “mini-mansion” and why she instantly fell in love with it. Charice also invited abs-cbnNEWS.com inside her dream house where she toured the staff.

Celebrity Sanctuary: Charice Pempengco’s Mini Mansion

abs-cbnNEWS.com: Ilang bedrooms mayroon ang “mini-mansion” mo?
[How many bedrooms does your mini-mansion have?]

Charice: Mayroong three bedrooms sa taas, mayroon para sa maid at guest room. So, total po ay five bedrooms.

[There are 3 bedrooms upstairs, one also for the maid and a guest room. So the total is 5 bedrooms.]

abs-cbnNEWS.com: Kailan mo nakita ang dream house mo?
[When did you see your dream house?]

Charice: Hindi kami naghahanap. Nagbabakasyon lang po kami [noon] kasi Tagaytay, dahil gusto ko ang weather. Noong nagkataong nagbakasyon kami dito, nakita ko lang. Tapos noong nakita ko, [mayroon] ‘yong feeling na gusto ko siya at ‘yon din ang dream ng mommy ko na magkaroon ng sariling bahay. So, ito ang binigay kong gift sa kanya noong Mother’s day.

[We were not looking. We went to Tagaytay for a vacation because I liked the weather. We just happened to chance upon it during our vacation; I just saw it. Then when I did, I just had that feeling that I liked it. And this is also the dream of my mom to have our own house. So this is what she got from me as my mother's day gift to her.]

abs-cbnNEWS.com: Bakante ba ito noong nakita niyo at kailan kayo lumipat?
[Was this vacant when you saw it and when did you move in?]

Charice: Opo bakante po. Nakalipat po kami nitong July 6.

[Yes, it was vacant. We moved in July 6.]

abs-cbnNEWS.com: Ano ang nagustuhan mo at bakit mo binili ang bahay?
[What did you like about it and why did you buy the house?]

Charice: Para kasi siyang sa Amerika. Simple lang siya pero [itong bricks sa wall] ang nagpamukhang elegante. Tapos ‘yong paligid [sa Tagaytay ang ganda]. ‘Yong mga pine trees, feeling ko nasa Amerika.

[It´s because it´s like in America. It´s simple; the bricks on the wall made it look elegant. Then the surroundings here in Tagaytay are beautiful. The pine trees make me feel as if I´m in America.]

abs-cbnNEWS.com: Sino ang responsable sa interior design?
[Who is responsible for the interior design?]

Charice: Nagpa-tulong siya (Mommy Raquel). Pero all in all, si mommy. Fashion designer si mommy so alam niya.

[My Mommy Raquel had help, but all in all, it's her. My mom's a fashion designer, so she knows how.]

abs-cbnNEWS.com: Sino ang pumili ng mga gamit at saan ito nabili?
[Who chose all your things and where were they bought?]

Charice: Dito po sa atin binili ‘yong mga gamit. Si mommy ang pumili at si mommy din ang nag-ayos.

[We bought them here. Mommy chose them and she was also responsible in arranging them.]

abs-cbnNEWS.com: May contribution ka ba sa design ng bahay?
[Did you contribute on the design of the house?]

Charice: ‘Yong kwarto ko. Ako ang pumili ng kulay ng kwarto ko [at] ‘yong mga gamit.

[My room. I chose the color of my room and the things in it.]

abs-cbnNEWS.com: Anong favorite place mo sa iyong bahay?
[What's your favorite place here in your house?]

Charice: Hindi nga po ako lumalabas ng kwarto ko. Basta sinabi ko kay mommy ang favorite color ko white and blue pagsamahin. So, si mommy na po ang bahalang bumili ng gamit.

[I actually don't go out of my room. I just told my mom that my favorite colors are white and blue and that they should combine that. So, my mom is the one in charge of buying our things.]

abs-cbnNEWS.com: Nasaan ang piano mo?
[Where's your piano?]

Charice: Hindi pa kami nakakabili ng piano ang gusto ko kasi ay grand piano.

[We haven't bought a piano yet. What I want is a grand piano.]

abs-cbnNEWS.com: Dito ka ba lagi sa mini-mansion mo tumitigil?
[Is this where you always stay? In your mini-mansion?]

Charice: Depende po kasi mayroon din akong condo sa Paranaque. Kung mayroon pong [musical variety show] “ASAP 09,” guesting doon ako nag-stay. pero kung walang ASAP dito po kami. Tumatambay ako diyan sa swing, diyan ako nagla-laptop, usap-usap, gita-gitara at jamming jamming.

[It depends because I also have a condo in Paranaque. If I have an ASAP ´09 guesting, we stay there. But if I don´t have to go to ASAP, we stay here. I always hang out there on the swing, with my laptop or jamming on my guitar.]

Interview by: Reyma Buan-Deveza and Trina Lagura, abs-cbnNEWS.com.
Video by: Mark Telan, abs-cbnNEWS.com
English Translation: Nuwave , special thanks to Jayrox
Posted by Schoen