News

Ricky Lee. Photo by Grace Orbon-Emmelot.“It’s important to be a good writer, but it’s more important to be a good person”—Ricky LeeThere is no corner in Philippine cinema, television, and literature that remains untouched and unshaped by Ricky Lee. You may think this is an exaggeration, but it is true. With nearly five decades in the film industry, Lee has created over 180 scripts, several best-selling Filipino books, and the screenwriting manual called “Trip to Quiapo” that is used in introductory film courses all over the country. With more than 70 awards for his writing, Lee has worked with luminaries in Filipino cinema such as Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Gil Portes, Laurice Guillen, and Mike De Leon, among others, and their collaborations have been screened in some of the most prestigious film festivals around the world—Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, and Cairo, just to name a few.

The Filipino singer and Glee guest star formerly known as Charice Pempengco now goes by the new name, Jake Zyrus.

Zyrus, 25, debuted the new moniker on Twitter and Instagram Sunday — almost three years after revealing to Oprah Winfrey that “my soul is male.”

Since rising to international stardom in late 2007, the Tagaytay native became the first Asian solo singer in history to land in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums chart with the release of 2010’s Charice, which debuted at No. 8.

Since the episode of Winfrey’s Where Are They Now? aired in October 2014, Zyrus has kept a low-profile — until now.

The international singer and former ‘Glee’ star reportedly tried to commit suicide because of her dwindling finances, her grandmother revealed in a shocking new interview.

Charice‘s grandmother, Teresita Relucio, opened up about the talented 21-year-old singer’s reported struggles in a new interview with a local Filipino program, saying that her bank account had been cleared out. Read on for all the details.

Charice’s Suicide Attempt — Reportedly Attempted Suicide Over Financial Troubles Charice Comes Out As Gay

The singer reportedly cut her wrists during her alleged suicide attempt, Charice’s grandmother said in an interview with Showbiz Police. So scary!

It’s unclear when this reported attempt happened. There have been multiple reports about the singer’s money struggles in the past, but Charice has denied the claims and even showed off a brand new luxury car that she says she paid for with cash, according to Radar Online.

Not long after Charice came out as a lesbian, she introduced her girlfriend Alyssa — her ‘everything’ — to the world, and they are such an adorable couple.

Charice made the brave decision to come out publicly, and now she has made the brave decision to introduce her girlfriend Alyssa Quijano to the world! Charice calls Alyssa her “everything,” and it is clear that Charice would not have got through the controversy of coming out without the support of Alyssa.

Charice Reveals Her Girlfriend Alyssa

“She’s like my everything,” Charice says of Alyssa, reports Radar. They were rivals during their childhood when they sang on different singing competitions, but sparks of love flew when they met again last year on The X Factor Philippines, where Charice was a judge and Alyssa was a contestant.

Last October, Charice tweeted, “I love you, Ayie.”

Good for you Charice! Coming out is so hard,...

Former "Glee" actress and international singing sensation Charice has come out as gay.

In a candid interview with The Buzz, Charice revealed she is a lesbian and apologized to those who might not understand.

"This is a difficult question to ask," begins host Boy Abunda via a Huffington Post translation of the interview. "I don't know how to phrase this. Only because I believe you don't owe anybody an explanation. I believe that talent has nothing to do with sexual orientation and gender identity. But it needs to be asked, so I'm going to ask it. Put simply, Charice, are you a lesbian?"

"I have a chance to do all of this internationally," she responded. "[...] But I chose this place because I have a deep sense of gratitude to the Filipinos. Because I felt that I wanted it to be them, for them to learn what I am and who I am.

Glee actress Charice Pempengco is speaking out about her sexuality. When asked Sunday night during an interview with Filipino talk show host Boy Abunda on The Buzz if she is a lesbian, Pempengco replied in her native language Tagalog, "Yes ... I am." Explaining that she chose to share the news on the popular show, Pempengco said, "I have deep gratitude for the Filipinos because they are the ones who know who I really am. ... I don't know what the problem is because for me, there is no problem with that. So now I ask for forgiveness from those who don't understand.

Charice — you’re a megastar in your native Philippines and have millions of devoted fans around the world. Your decision to reveal your sexuality was an inspiration.

Charice, the decision to come out publicly has to always be a tough one for any person in the public eye. Sexuality is such a private matter.

Charice: You’re So Brave To Come Out

You’re a young woman — just 21 — from a country that is quite conservative. Yet you decided to officially come out while on a popular Filipino TV show, The Buzz, on June 2.

“Yes, I’m a lesbian,” you responded when host Boy Abunda asked about your sexuality.

“Now I feel free,” you said. “I can go out of the house without fear and certain that I’m not stepping on anybody’s toes.”

This was clearly a well-thought-out decision, but it nevertheless exacted an emotional toll.

You ended your interview in tears,...

Since Charice bravely revealed she is a lesbian in a new interview, her fans have tweeted how proud they are of her and how much they still love her!

Charice did a very brave thing when she officially came out on June 2 in her homeland of the Philippines, and her fans are totally supporting her! The former Glee star has been inundated with tweets from her fans, congratulating her for “having the courage to come out and inspire others,” and many other messages.

Charice Is Gay — Fans React To The ‘Glee’ Star’s Admission She’s A Lesbian

“Congrats to #Glee star @OfficialCharice for having the courage to come out and inspire others” said @DavidCaplanNYC.

“Life is too short to play games. Just be Free! – Charice | you don’t have to say sorry for who you are! More power :)” wrote @ilovejamich.

@KCMontero: “Charice, I salute you. I have an announcement as well.

Tags: PeoplecelebritiesChariceGLEEWAPIMDbpeople news

Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty

About a year ago, Filipina superstar (and former Glee phenomenon) Charice got herself a trendy tomboy haircut and an androgynous new wardrobe, and tabloids in the Philippines lost their minds. Last week speculation about her sexuality reached fever pitch, so over the weekend, Charice sat down with Boy Abunda on the celebrity talk show The Buzz and beautifully, bravely confirmed that yes, she is a lesbian.

She broke down in tears as the interview continued, saying:

Now I want to ask forgiveness to those who don’t understand, to those who can’t accept me. I’m sorry. I can understand. For those who will accept and can accept me, thank you very much. And for what I have done I just want to say that I feel that a heavy weight has been lifted from me now (tears up voice slightly breaks...

Charice Pempengco has nothing to hide. After months of chatter about her sexuality, the former Glee singer proudly and publicly confirmed that she is, in fact, a lesbian. The revelation came during an interview on Sunday, June 2, with Boy Abunda, host of the Filipino showbiz show The Buzz. Asked by Abunda whether the rumors about her sexual orientation are true, Charice took her time answering. Then, smiling, she said simply, "Opo, tomboy po ako," which means "Yes, I am a lesbian." Relieved but emotional -- at one [...]...

The former ‘Glee’ star bravely came out as gay to the world during an interview in the Philippines on June 2. Good for you, Charice!

The singer Charice officially came out on June 2 in her homeland of the Philippines. The 21-year-old singer courageously faced a question about her sexuality while on “The Buzz,” a Filipino television show hosted by Boy Abunda, and did not back down from the truth.

Charice Comes Out As Gay

“Opo, tomboy po ako,” Charice told Boy — which means, “Yes, I’m a lesbian” — when he asked if the rumors about her being a lesbian were true. It was a huge moment for the singer, who up until that point had remained silent on questions about her sexuality.

“Now I feel free,” Charice said in her native language. “I can go out of the house without fear and certain that I’m not stepping on anybody’s toe.