Raquel Pempengco took to social media to respond to what she claims are false accusations stemming from a book, which many speculate to be Jake Zyrus’ recently published memoir.
In a series of Facebook posts on March 1, Raquel expressed frustration over what she called “fake news”, seemingly addressing allegations that surfaced in the book.
“Meron na namang fake news. Galing daw sa isang libro. Mga bashers, hindi updated ‘yang libro na ‘yan… Abangan n’yo ako ang mag-uupdate ng libro na ‘yan,” she wrote.
She also fired back at critics, saying: “Kaya tumigil na kayo sa kaka-fake news na ‘yan… Mga salot ng lipunan… Nababawasan tuloy ng konti ang ganda ko… Konti lang naman.”
In another post, she appeared to take a swipe at someone she called “walang utang na loob”.
“Peace of mind pa rin ang pipiliin ko kesa patulan ko ang mga walang kwentang tao at mga walang utang na loob… sila na magdadala ng lahat… the truth still prevails.”
Although Raquel did not directly name anyone, many believe her posts are a reaction to the explosive revelations made by her son, Jake Zyrus, in his book.
In his memoir, Jake detailed his alleged childhood trauma, claiming he was molested by an uncle whom he once considered a father figure. He further alleged that when he told his mother, she dismissed his claims and sided with the uncle instead.
Jake also spoke about his lack of financial independence at the height of his career, revealing that despite earning millions of dollars from international concerts, private performances, and endorsements, he had little control over his own finances.
“When I met my accountant for the first time, I learned that when I went on tour, I could earn up to $600,000. When I sang at private events, I could get up to $300,000. Endorsements in the States earned me up to $1,000,000. At one point, my net worth was $16,000,000,” Jake wrote.
However, he claimed that he never saw much of his earnings, as his mother allegedly controlled his finances and made purchases under other names.
Jake Zyrus, formerly known as Charice Pempengco, rose to international fame after appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. His talent caught the attention of global music icons, leading to performances with David Foster, Andrea Bocelli, and Céline Dion.
His 2010 self-titled album ‘Charice’ became the first by an Asian solo artist to break into the Billboard 200 Top 10, with the hit song ‘Pyramid’ topping international charts. He later ventured into acting, starring in the hit American TV series Glee as Sunshine Corazon.
In 2017, Jake came out as a transgender man, officially adopting his new name and discontinuing the use of ‘Charice.’
As of now, Jake has not responded to his mother’s comments. However, given the intensity of the discussions, many are expecting further developments in this ongoing controversy.
