MANILA, Philippines?It?s the year of Charice Pempengco.

Early this week, the 17-year-old Filipino singing sensation learned that she topped an online poll of thousands of followers of TV host/entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey, via the website oprah.com.

Pempengco?s rendition of ?Note to God? was voted Best Oprah Show Musical Performance, beating seven other big-name nominees: The rock band Journey (with another Filipino, Arnel Pineda, as front man), the Black-Eyed Peas (with a Fil-Am member, apl.de.ap), Michael Buble, Rascal Flatts, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson and James Taylor.

The website launched the Best of 2009 poll that asked viewers to choose their favorites in 13 categories spanning the lifestyle and entertainment fields.

Pempengco garnered 70 percent of total votes, according to the website, with The Black Eyed Peas a far second, collecting 9 percent.

?It?s a very big deal for me,? Pempengco told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday during the Christmas party she hosted for the media for the first time at the Shangri-La Plaza mall in Mandaluyong City.

Holiday in Tagaytay

She said she would spend the holidays in her new home in Tagaytay City.

After Christmas, she is scheduled to fly to Singapore as a guest performer at the launch of ?Singapore Idol??that country?s version of the widely popular reality singing competition ?American Idol.?

Pempengco said she was looking forward to a Filipino Christmas as she had spent a good part of the year in the United States recording an album with sought-after music industry figure, David Foster, as producer.

While picking songs for the album, Foster brought Pempengco along as special guest on a 10-city tour in the US and Canada.

Overwhelming

?The experience was overwhelming,? she said of the tour. ?There were venues where I didn?t expect Americans to be cheering loudly just as my name was being announced.?

She said she has no idea why practically overnight, she hit it big in the United States and other countries, although it was apparent that foreigners were bowled over hearing such a powerful voice coming from a petite singer.

Online poll

Pempengco said she heard about the online poll from fans here and abroad who were excited at the prospect of her winning.

?But I couldn?t even hope to win,? she said. ?The other contenders were really great performers?all way up there.?

The website noted: ?Charice had a big year in 2009, recording her first [US] album, performing on tour with David Foster and Friends, and appearing in her first film, ?Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.??

Real estate, food

When asked if she thought things were happening too fast and too soon, Pempengco paused before replying: ?I?m ready in case all of this suddenly comes to an end.?

She revealed that a big chunk of her earnings?mostly from singing engagements overseas, with Winfrey acting as adviser?was being invested in real estate and, soon, in the food business. She might open a restaurant.

?That?s my mom?s idea, and I like it, too,? she said.

Pempengco is also enrolled in the online program of Southern New Hampshire, a school in Boston, Massachusetts. A college freshman, she intends to major in Communication Arts.

?[As a kid] I often imagined I was a TV host,? she said.

New album, movie

Her debut US album is ready for release in February or March, with the carrier single, ?Pyramid,? available for purchase next month.

The Chipmunks movie, in which Pempengco appears as herself, premieres in the United States on Dec. 23 and starts its Philippine theater run on Jan. 8.

And instead of continued success, the singer has this wish for New Year: Good health.

The two are connected, she said in a mix of English and Filipino: ?With every success, I feel my fatigue disappear.?