Charice Pempengco of Glee’s Dad Stabbed to Death
Glee star Charice Pempengco, who plays Sunshine Corazon on the hit musical drama, got some sad news earlier this week.
Pempengco, 19, was estranged from her father, 40-year-old Ricky Pempengco. The elder Pempengco still lived in the singer and actress’ native Philippines, and he was involved in an altercation at a grocery store in San Pedro township. Pempengco bumped into fellow patron Angel Capili, who stabbed him in the back and chest with an ice pick, says Laguna province police chief, Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz. The star’s dad later died of the wounds he received during the incident.
When Charice Pempengco shot to fame a few years back due to her YouTube videos, she appeared on Oprah to chat about her life and work. She recalled some violent spats her parents had had when she was little, but tweeted in a mix of English and Tagalog that Pempengco was “still [her] dad” after learning of his sudden death. The Glee star says that before she learned of his death, she dreamed of her father, although she hadn’t spoken to or seen him in several years:
“I didn’t know that my dad was trying to make his presence felt. I just want you to know that we had a really great relationship before all the trouble started. My mother didn’t know that when I was young, my father told me that he wanted me to be a soldier because I’m a fearless woman. I loved him, and I will still love him. He’s still my dad after all.” [Original translation, below]
Pempengco also blasted her father’s family for saying that the Glee star was happy about her father’s death- the grieving actress fumed:
To my father’s siblings, you have no right to say or guess how I feel. Who are you to say that I should be happy over the death of my own father. You’re just his siblings and I am the daughter. If you recall, you yourself told us to avoid my dad. You told us to stop using his surname. Our mother never stopped us from visiting daddy, but you wouldn’t allow us. For you to say that, it only shows you have no respect for his family. Instead of repairing, you’re even destroying. I know I got angry at him, but I never disowned him. I’ve long kept my silence over your scandals. But now, I can no longer take it. Even after my father’s death, you’re still the same. I’m not afraid, especially of people who have no respect.
Charice clarified that the remarks were made after a public statement from her father’s siblings.
[Original: Last night, may kasama ako pero sabi ko kamukha nya daddy ko. Di ko alam na nagpaparamdam na pala sya. Gusto ko lang malaman nyo, na we had a really great relationship bago nangyari lahat ng gulo. Sinabi niya sa akin nung ako’y bata pa na hindi actually alam ni mommy, gusto nya akong maging sundalo kasi sabi niya matapang daw ako. I loved him and I will still love him. He’s still my Dad after all.]
