This time it's for real: Charice is joining Glee

After the fiasco last month, Filipino international pop singer Charice Pempengco is officially set to join the Season 2 of the vastly popular American television series, Glee.

On Tuesday, Charice posted on her Twitter account: "It's official. I'm on Glee (next season) but story behind it. When [the] rumor came out, it wasn't true."

The 18-year-old singer was referring to a premature report last month that said she would be joining Glee. Her local manager, Grace Mendoza, had confirmed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Charice would join Glee but the singer and her mother Raquel denied the report.

On Tuesday, Charice said she tried to audition for the show and got accepted following the incident. "And i made it!!! Let's Party!!!!"

Charice did not indicate whether she would be part of the regular cast or would have a guest stint in the next season. Singers Josh Groban and Olivia Newton-John were featured as celebrity guests in the previous season of the hit TV series.

Charice was a runner-up at a singing contest in 2005. Her performances later became YouTube sensations, prompting American television show hosts Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey to notice her.

Her rise to popularity soon followed. In May this year, her self-titled album ranked eighth in the Billboard Top 200.

Charice has been tapped to sing the Philippine national anthem during the inauguration of President-elect Benigno Aquino III on June 30. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV

Pinoy anti-graft lawyer gets Harvard award for excellence, leadership

A Filipino lawyer received an award for academic excellence and leadership from the prestigious Harvard University in the United States late last month.

Lawyer Gerard Mosquera received the 2010 Lucius N. Littauer Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government last May 25.


"I plan to continue to do work that will help fight corruption, promote transparency and accountability, and improve governance, either in government or as an active member of the civil society," Mosquera said after receiving the award.

The award is the highest recognition given by the Harvard Kennedy School for exemplary academic achievement, public service and leadership.

Mosquera holds a Masters degree in Public Administration and was at the top five percent of Harvard Kennedy School’s Class of 2010, with 577 students from 80 countries.

Mosquera, a native of General Santos City, made a name for himself in anti-corruption work.

Since 2005, he has served as Chief of Party of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s anti-corruption program in Timor-Leste.

He also served as technical adviser for anti-corruption to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor.

In the Philippines, he briefly served as Director in the Office of the Ombudsman.

Mosquera placed second in the 1992 Bar Examinations, and holds a Masters of Law degree from Kings College London and graduated with honors from the Ateneo School of Law.

He once served as Integrated Bar of the Philippines chapter president for General Santos City and South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.

He has four children with wife Myra. — LBG, GMANews.TV