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Charlie Green charms Manila

CHARICE PEMPENGCO isn’t the only young Filipino performer currently wowing international crowds. Recently, the half-British, half-Filipino youngster Charlie Green, who made it to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent, came to Manila to visit and look into opportunities being offered to him since his impressive performance on the talent show created by American Idol judge Simon Cowell.

Charlie and parents Roger and Cecilia were invited by ABS-CBN and The Filipino Channel (TFC) for guestings on various networkproduced programmes. While in Manila, Charlie and his parents will also be in talks with executives of Star Records to work out a possible recording deal.

Over lunch with City Times at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Charlie revealed that this is actually his third visit to Manila; he made his first when he was only 18 months old.

Looking none the worse for wear after a 17-hour, nonstop flight, Charlie told the Manila press that being on Britain’s Got Talent was nerve-wracking. It was his father who saw an announcement for the show on the internet and told his son about it. At the time, Charlie wasn’t paying that much attention, since he was busy recording a song for a CD to support his friend Murray, a 10-year-old suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. The proceeds of the CD would help defray his friend’s medical expenses.

But when he finally decided to join the show, Charlie threw himself into it wholeheartedly. “My first audition was for Simon Cowell, and he really liked it,” recalls the 11- year-old from Worcestershire. Was he afraid of the acerbic, sharp-tongued American Idol judge who strikes fear in the hearts of most contestants, and even reduces some to tears? With all the confidence of youth, Charlie said he was nervous, but he wasn’t afraid. “I knew if I gave a good performance, that I wouldn’t have a reason to be afraid.” Both Charlie and his father Roger, a former singer on a cruise ship, say they have ‘no regrets’ about joining Britain’s Got Talent.

citytime@emirates.net.ae