MANILA, Philippines?Jetlagged and sleepless after flying in from the United States, Filipino singing sensation Charice Pempengco visited the main office of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in Makati City Tuesday and gladly talked about her ongoing adventure with worldwide fame.

She?s staying in Manila for only two days. On Thursday, she flies to Italy to appear as a special guest in a TV talent show?on the request of young viewers themselves.

?I?m singing duets with Italian superstars,? the petite Charice, dressed in jeans splattered with bright colors and matched by high-cut sneakers, said in an endearing mix of Filipino and English.

The breaks seem to come from the most unexpected places for Charice, who turns 17 on May 10. Just a week ago, she finished shooting for her first Hollywood movie, ?Alvin and the Chipmunks Part 2: The Squeakquel.?

Her role in the animation film?as a contestant in a high school musical contest?was specially created after she passed the audition.

?The Greatest?

And just three days ago, she sang in a star-studded tribute for the legendary boxing champion Muhammad Ali.

?They said it was historic because lately, it was only I who had managed to make him smile,? she said.

Charice recalled that before her performance, she was thinking about what could possibly catch the attention of ?The Greatest,? who?s now afflicted with Parkinson?s Syndrome.

She proceeded to sing the first of her three numbers, Beyonce?s ?Listen.? On her second song, Michael Jackson?s ?Billy Jean,? she did the famous ?Ali Shuffle.?

The night?s honoree reportedly smiled?something he rarely does nowadays.

When she followed it up with Gloria Gaynor?s ?I Will Survive,? Ali was teary-eyed.

?His wife was also crying,? said Charice. ?I approached them and stood on the table. Ali embraced me, and kissed me!?

Oprah

The road Charice has been treading over the past year is being paved by some of the most powerful figures in the international entertainment industry.

She?s now represented overseas by Creative Artists Agency, a high-profile, Los Angeles-based booking outfit whose clients include Steven Spielberg, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, LeBron James, Will Ferrell, Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey.

Her debut album, currently in the works and due for release late this year, is being handled by David Foster?a musician, singer-songwriter and producer who has worked with such stars as Whitney Houston, Céline Dion, Cher, Andrea Bocelli, Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire, Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Boz Scaggs, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Charice singles out Oprah?aside from other prominent people who have helped her in the wake of her phenomenal discovery on YouTube?as the one responsible for all the breaks.

?She said she couldn?t forget me after I made a guest appearance for the first time at the ?Oprah Winfrey Show,?? Charice recounted.

?It seems that after I left the studio, Oprah?s staff was trying to sing like me ? When she got home, her helpers were talking about me ? And then, before she went to bed and when she got up, it was still me she was thinking of. So when we were about to fly back to Manila, she had our plane stopped.?

Don?t stop dreaming

Is there one thing she has learned from Oprah?

Charice paused and said: ?Her super-super-duper attitude that one should not stop dreaming.?

If her dream of becoming a star?and her remarkable talent?could make Oprah literally stop the plane, Charice?s visit to the Inquirer had everyone amazed at her guts and confidence.

Sauntering in as the editors ended the daily story conference, she worked the room and then sang a cappella a traditional Filipino ballad, George Canseco?s ?Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan.?

As her powerful vocals soared and fluttered on highly emotional lyrics, one could read what her listeners? faces showed?pride and gratitude that this country has produced such a treasure.