Charice starts Glee shoot July 29

At the 15-minute welcome presscon for Usher the other day at EDSAShangri-La Hotel, a TV reporter asked the popstar (said to be the successor to the throne left vacant by the sudden death of Michael Jackson) about Charice, the Filipino sensation who, like Justin Bieber, the first signee of Usher’s record label, was discovered via the YouTube by Ellen DeGeneres back in 2007.

According to a Funfare DPA who was there, Usher looked “clueless,” muttering “uhm, ah, uhm” with a blank look on his face, prompting somebody else to ask another question, please!

“Nothing substantial came out of that hurried presscon in which Usher was having fun and joking around, easily winning the Philippine media over with his sense of humor,” added the DPA who remembered how one lady TV reporter (not the one mentioned earlier) seemed to flirt with Usher by sitting on the floor, “with her cleavage showing,” when Usher knelt on the rostrum. When the reporter asked Usher to give a “sample” of his singing, Usher politely begged off (“Or simply ignored her”) and instead said, “I will sing to you if you come to my room tonight,” which tickled the reporter no end, until Usher added, “It’s a joke!”

Back to Charice who will start taping for Glee, the hit US TV musical-comedy-drama in which she will play a Filipino exchange student, on July 29. But more on that by and by.

I suppose Usher won’t be happy to know that it’s another Justin…Timberlake, that is…who is the big crush of the Charice that Usher doesn’t seem to know and not Usher’s ward Justin Bieber. Somebody told Funfare that there’s a little “issue” between Usher and Justin Timberlake (who got valuable pointers from Usher for his debut album). It seems that Usher beat Justin Timberlake (who has his own record label) in signing up Justin Bieber, so…

Yesterday, Funfare did an exclusive phone interview with Charice who was in L.A. with her mom Raquel (ex-)Pempengco. The phoner was arranged by Millie Gurfinkel, wife of celebrity immigration lawyer and STAR columnist Michael Gurfinkel.

No, we didn’t talk about Usher but about Charice’s air-tight schedule since she left last Sunday, July 4, after singing the National Anthem (with a perfect score) at the inauguration of Noynoy “P-Noy” Aquino as the 15th President of the Philippines last June 30 at the Quirino Grandstand.

For that event, Charice wore a gown by Avel Bacudio for which she was teased for looking like Snow White (or a Swiss guard in Vatican).’

“I love the gown,” said Charice (who should have worn another gown by Paul Cabral). “I was told by Avel na parang Snow White ‘yung gown and I told him, ‘It’s a compliment to be compared to Snow White.’ Nagandahan talaga ako sa gown na ‘yon.”

Charice left Manila last Sunday, July 4, for Seoul where she guested on Star King, the talent search for Koreans where Charice first guested back in 2007, singing And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going (sung by Jennifer Hudson in the movie version of DreamGirls). That guesting, uploaded on the YouTube by Charice’s fan David Dueñas, paved the way for Charice to international stardom when a staffer of Ellen DeGeneres’ show saw it.

After two days in Seoul, Charice and her mom Raquel proceeded to the US to resume the promo for her eponymous debut international album (with the hit single Pyramid), arriving there on July 6.

“My schedule is very hectic,” said Charice who added that she enjoys it immensely and doesn’t get tired at all despite the frequent plane rides.

She should be flying now to Macau “for a private event” and, after two days there, come back home for four days to perform in three shows. Then, she will fly to Thailand for her album promo which will also bring her to Jakarta (two days) and Malaysia (two days).

“Pagkatapos, balik uli kami sa States,” said Charice.

It might take her sometime to come back because she’ll be busy shooting for Glee.

“Sa July 29 na ‘yon. I haven’t gotten the script yet but I have started taking voice lessons. I was told that I would shoot for nine days for my initial episode.”

Incidentally, there’s a chance that Charice and Justin Bieber might perform in a concert together since Charice has expressed exactly that wish.’

By then, I guess Usher will know who Charice is.

Briefly noted

• As usual, Boots Babushka shone at the New York City Gay Pride Parade held recently during the Gay Pride Week. Many other Filipinos participate in the annual event. Boots wore a gown he himself has designed and paraded with the “Turquoise TransManhattan” group composed of Filipino gay professionals based in New York. They braved the parade route which covered more than 50 blocks. 2010 marks the 41st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in 1969. The original purpose of the parade was to commemorate the riots at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay and lesbian bar at that time that became the epicenter for violent protests against the unlawful treatments of gays. — Reported by FELIX MANUEL, one of Funfare’s ‘beauty experts’

• Former Quezon City Councilor Ariel Inton has just completed a course on filmmaking at the Mowelfund Film Institute, under the tutelage of directors Maning Borlaza, Soxie Topacio, William Mayo, Raymond Red and Edgardo “Boy” Vinarao; musical director Mon del Rosario; scriptwriter Doy del Mundo; production designer Manny Morfe; cinematographers Charlie Peralta and Jun Pereira; digital photographer Randy Elepano; production manager Andy Andico; editors Mike Canlas and Emmanuel “Nolet” Clemente; and Boots Anson-Roa. Inton has put up his own AEI Movie Productions now housed at the Mowelfund Plaza in Quezon City.

•  Immigration lawyer Jemela Nettles has interviewed Pau Gasol for the new L.A.-based show Now in L.A. which airs Saturdays at 5 p.m. on PST, GMA Pinoy TV. The interview was held at the recording studio of Jamie Jones (of the Grammy-winning All Four One) where the Los Angeles Lakers forward recorded a song along with other artists and groups in order to raise funds for UNICEF. Now in L.A. can be seen by GMA Pinoy TV subscribers in Canada, Hawaii and the US. Jemela’s co-hosts are Rogel Aragon, Patricia Javier and Jason Dallas.

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