Charice performs duet with Celine Dion at Madison Square Garden

The country’s pride, Charice again proved that dreams do come true after she performed a duet with one of her favorite international stars — Celine Dion, September 15, Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In the concert dubbed as “Taking Chances World Tour, “Charice sang the hit “Because You Loved Me” with her idol Celine.

The song was actually chosen for and dedicated to Charice’s strength and love — her mom Raquel Pempengco.

In the concert, the Canadian international star first told the life story of Charice.

“This young girl’s name is Charice. I’m so excited. She’s 16 years old and she’s from the Philippines. Let me tell you she has a voice that can literally blow the roof off Madison Square. But the real story is, Charice and her mom escaped a terrifying experience and had to leave Charice’s violent father. You know, to start a life on their own, Charice vowed to save her mom from life’s desperation. Through prayers and dreams and God-given talent, an incredible voice, Charice entered and won every singing contest in her native country and eventually got noticed. By such a fortunate chance people saw the show on Oprah and Oprah wanted to take her under her wing and David Foster joined them.

“I had a chance to see Charice perform one of my songs in Oprah last week. I have a little difficulty to talk right now because I met Charice and I’m so emotional and so I’m searching and looking for my words trying to control my emotion. I invited here to come her tonight to sing with me…,” said Celine Dion.

After Celine’s lovely introduction to Charice she invited her to come up on stage and join her. Celine then told Charice how spectacular she is and how she looked really beautiful.

Celine asked the young diva how she feels to be with her on the same stage. Charice admitted that she’s nervous but Celine calmed her and said that she does not have to be.

“First of all you look spectacular you’re beautiful, you’re shaking, how do you feel? Don’t be nervous I think people will understand that you’re nervous. But let me tell you one thing, the talent we’re not going to talk about because you have that, we’re not going to talk about strength because you have that (Celine pointing to Charice’s mom Raquel Pempengco) and so the love. And I have to tell you that the family we have to talk about because you have that too. One time my manager, my husband told me ‘Celine’, because when I started to sing I was 12 years old so 12 and 16, it’s the same, okay?

“He told me ‘Celine I know you’re nervous, don’t be scared. You love to sing. When you go up there you’ll be nervous don’t be.’ I will give you an image that you can think about, think about that. All the people you see in front of you are your brothers and sisters. You are singing in your living room and it’s your family,” Celine told Charice.

Charice in return said that she was ready to sing and agreed to dedicate their song “Because You Loved Me” to her mother Raquel.

The crowd, in a standing ovation, roared and praised Celine and Charice after their performance.

“You did amazing, and the roof of the Madison (blew) up tonight,” said Celine.

Celine also said that she loved Charice and that she could not wait to perform with Charice for a full concert.

“When you do perform in Madison Square are you going to invite me? I love you and I can not wait to be with you to perform here for a whole concert,” Celine said before she let Charice leave the concert stage.

In Oprah

It will be recalled that Charice guested on Oprah Winfrey’s show for the second time last September 9, Tuesday.

Charice thought that she will just have an ordinary conversation with Oprah’s “Washington viewer” but she was shocked when her idol Celine appeared on live video conference and gave her message for the young diva.

While crying, Charice listened to Celine’s message: “Hi Charice! I have to tell you that I’m speechless. I have heard you sing. I have seen a little of your life story and I am extremely ecstatic like the rest of the world who’s watching right now…“I can’t tell you that we have lots of things in common and I also had a mother who is my strength… You have more talent than most people. You can sing, you can speak and sing with your heart, you can play guitar… and you can have dreams because your life story is quite a painful one. Thank God your strength comes from your mother and your heart will go on.”

But what made Charice burst into tears was when Celine offered a special number with her, an offer that Charice will treasure forever.

“If I may, I would love to do something very special with you. Next week, I’m going to be singing at Madison Square Garden and I would love to ask you to come and sing a duet with me. And we can sing together. Maybe we can sing “Because You Loved Me” and maybe we can dedicate this song to your mother. So I hope you can travel to New York and meet with me,” says Celine.

Charice earlier told abs-cbnNEWS.com how excited she was to see her idol.

“Naku talagang happy ako kung makikita ko siya. Kahit hindi ko na siya maka-duet okay na sa akin ‘yon,” she said.

Charice shared that she would put a checkmark on her dream drawing book where she had drawn Celine’s face. Included in Charice’s dream drawing book is the famous tenor Andrea Bocceli.

Last July 20th, Charice wowed Italians as she performed at Teatro del Silenzio in Tuscany, Italy with Bocelli for the tenor’s birthday concert dubbed “The Cinema Tribute.” Charice met the world-famous tenor when she performed for a benefit concert at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last May.

By REYMA BUAN-DEVEZA, abs-cbnNEWS.com

Celine Introducing Charice:

Celine Dion and Charice – The Dream Duet: