LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) marked another success for Charice Pempengco. She delivered the Philippine National Anthem with gusto, in immaculate white and despite her pop image, never waned to impart its nationalistic message, during the fight of Manny Pacquiao against Shane Mosley at MGM Garden Arena.

A few hours before the big match,  we were able to interview (arranged by GMA executives, Redgie Acuña-Magno and Marivin Arayata) the young Pinay sensation in America, also dubbed as the young international superstar from the Philippines at her room in Mandalay Bay. “I was really excited when I was told Sir Manny (Pacquiao) chose me to sing “Lupang Hinirang” in his fight,” she said. “I will do my best not to fail him and the people who believe I can do justice to our national anthem.”

This is her first time to watch a boxing match, and she had some apprehensions watching it live. Charice wasn’t at all expecting to take a ringside seat, and even cringed at the thought of seeing violent body contacts between the two boxing champs.

But her presence certainly added glitz to the night filled with celebrities from local showbusiness to Hollywood (Jamie Foxx,  LL Cool J and whoah, Paris Hilton!), plus a bit of pop culture to the fight.

Meanwhile, Charice’s label has just released her new single, “Before it Explodes” produced by Bruno Mars, and is busy on the set of a new Hollywood outing, “Here Comes the Boom.”

While it has been reported she’s making a return bout on “Glee,” Charice has yet to face the cameras of the series.

Undoubtedly, Charice has a good life now in America, a far cry from her stint in local showbusiness, but she shows no reason why she should not keep her feet on the ground.

She says there’s been an in-passing talk about collaborating with Sarah Geronimo on an album, but she clarifies that it might not happen sooner. Her sked is still too tight as far as her career in America is concerned, but she assures that it will certainly push through.

PACMAN LIKE AN IRON MAN

SOME say it was an easy win for our boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao against Shane Mosley, except that his left leg cramp was a silent enemy.

The Pacman tried to put up a good show, and while it looked like he didn’t act aggressively as in his previous fights (especially with Antonio Margarito), the 16,000 crowd at the MGM Grand Arena still rooted for him. (Well, almost everyone except for some like Bella Gonzales, the girlfriend of Mosley).

He is still WBO welterweight champ, and will bring home another big honor.

Pacquiao is truly a byword now, the most popular boxer in the world, an international product endorser. Several Pacquiao merchandise like T-shirts, caps, gloves, posters, even clay dolls, are selling like In and Out burgers at the MGM Grand lobby (near the golden lion in the mock up ring).

After the match, he had an after party at the Mandalay Bay which he sponsors this year. Again, people waited for him to sing and perform, as if he just came from his training at the Wild Card gym.

“My God, ano bang klaseng tao yang si Manny?” gushed our friend, show producer Ami Almirol. “Parang Iron Man.”

On Tuesday, Manny will have another show in West Covina before he goes back to Manila.