Raquel Pempengco has once again expressed her disappointment towards her transgender son, Jake Zyrus, who she criticized for moving away from his former persona, Charice Pempengco.
Pempengco took to Facebook on Friday, Sept. 6, sharing a TikTok video showcasing Zyrus during his days as Charice. In the post, she nostalgically remarked, “Bring back the times,” while highlighting Charice’s talent at a young age. “Grabe ka Charice at this young age, napaka-matured mo na kumanta,” she said.
She further added, “Sana maalala mo nung oras na ito, kung paano ka dinaya… Di pa huli mahaba pa ang panahon. Laban lang,” without providing clarity on who she was referring to.
As of press time, Zyrus has not responded to his mother’s remarks.
This is not the first time Pempengco has commented on Zyrus’ career. In June 2024, she made headlines after asking netizens to avoid comparing Zyrus’ performance of “All By Myself” with SB19’s Stell Ajero. Despite her remarks, Ajero later stated he was unaffected.
In a November 2023 interview, Pempengco also revealed that she and Zyrus remain estranged.