Charice celebrated her 21st birthday on May 10 with an intimate “debut” which she deemed a “coming out” party of sorts. In an article by Büm Tenorio published in The Philippine Star on May 28, the international singing sensation had remarked that she was “free as a bird” during her party, where she sang 15 songs.

“I’m able to express myself better now. I have come to accept the real me. I have come to love the real me. I now celebrate the real me,” she remarked.

“Even if you have earned a sizeable amount of bashers?” Büm had asked.

“Even if I don’t work for 10 or more years, I know we will still eat. But why will I do that?” she continued. “The only thing that is changed in me is my look, my perspective. My voice remains the same.”

Charice also said that she has kept in touch with American TV hosts Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey, who were primarily responsible for launching her international singing career. She also revealed that she told Oprah, who is her godmother, about her bashers.

“Oprah just told me to keep my cool and not be affected. I assured her, ‘Yes, Oprah, I can handle them. My spirit is made of titanium. I will not break,'” she said.

But despite the heavy criticism being hurled at her, Charice was still able to find a reason to be grateful to her detractors.

“But I’m thankful to my bashers, too. They make me so much stronger. I love them. I offer them peace. And I will forever be grateful to those who have loved me since Day One.”

(Photo courtesy of PEP.ph)