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Pinoy Abroad

Pinay caregiver does it ‘My Way’ to win X Factor Israel


(Updated 4:30 p.m.) Belting out the karaoke standard "My Way," a 47-year-old Filipina caregiver has emerged as the first season winner of Israeli reality television show "The X Factor Israel."

Rose "Osang" Fostanes surprised viewers of Israel's X Factor talent show and swept its judges off their feet with soulful renditions of pop songs by the likes of Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera, and rocked her way to Tuesday's live finals.

But when it mattered most, she leaned on Frank Sinatra's "My Way" to propel her to victory.

"I'm speechless, I cannot say anything now. I can't believe that (this has) happened to me," Fostanes was quoted in a Reuters report as saying after her victory.

Filipino caregiver Rose Fostanes (center) is congratulated by judges of The X Factor Israel and fellow finalists after she won the talent competition on Tuesday, January 14, with her rendition of Frank Sinatra's 'My Way.' Fostanes also surprised viewers and swept the show's judges off their feet with soulful renditions of hit songs by the likes of pop stars Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera. --Reuters

"Talagang tuwang-tuwa kaming lahat dito, mga kapatid ko, mga pinsan, mga kamag-anak, mga kapit-bahay, lahat, proud na proud kami sa ate ko," said Gina, Fostanes' sister, in an interview with Athena Imperial on "Unang Balita."

Malacañang was also all praises for Fostanes' achievement.
 
"Panibagong pagpapatunay ito sa kahusayan ng Pilipino sa larangan ng sining at awitin. Dapat nating ikarangal at ipagbunyi ang maningning na talento ng mga Pilipino sa buong mundo," Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message.
 
Also at a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda likewise said her victory shows that Filipino talent can be expressed "anywhere and everywhere."
 
"We are very very proud that she has given the Philippines pride in the showcase of her talent," Lacierda said.

Low-paid foreign workers

A report by Reuters said Fostanes hopes her popularity will shine a spotlight on Israel's low-paid foreign workers, including some 20,000 Filipinos.

For many Israelis, the word "Filipino" has become synonymous with caregiver, and Fostanes' appearance and success on The X Factor Israel could help break the stereotype, the report said.
 
"I think I will be a leader for them because of what I did and I think also they will be proud of me," she told Reuters on Sunday. "Everybody in the world will know that Filipinos, even working as a cleaner... can also share their talents," she added.
 
Osang, who arrived in Israel four years ago, has been working for about 20 years in the Middle East. She had always wanted to be a professional singer and the X-Factor gave her a shot at her dream.
 
At first she thought Israelis would not vote for a foreign worker, and that she would be an underdog in the competition, where viewers and a panel of four Israeli musicians determine at different stages which contender moves up and which gets dropped.
 
"I feel that everybody is looking at me like I was an alien," she said on one of the early audition episodes of the show. "A Filipina working here, cleaning houses."

Proud family

Meanwhile, cheers erupted at the Fostanes residence in Taguig City after the Filipina caregiver was announced as the winner of the reality TV show.

"Hindi ko inaasahan na magna-number one ang kapatid ko, ayaw kong umasa, kumbaga sa pang-apat, panalo na po kami doon. Hindi po namin inaasahan, kaya nung in-announce pong nanalo, hindi po ako makapaniwala e. Hindi ako makasalita talaga, sobrang excited ko lang talaga sa nangyaring ito," Osang's sister Gina said.

Her other sister, Anne, said Frank Sinatra's "My Way" was the right song for Rose.

"Isa iyon sa mga paborito niya, hasang-hasa na si ate sa ganyang kanta. Kahit kantahin niya 'yang nakapikit, kayang-kaya niya, pero mas gumanda kasi binigyan niya ng sariling version niya. Binigyan niya ng magandang twist ang kanta. Ate, ang galing mo talaga," she added.

Fostanes has been compared to the Scottish singer Susan Boyle, 52, who had her shot to fame in 2009 after appearing on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent" and performing a powerful rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables."
 
Boyle's giddy rise from unknown to multi-million-selling recording artist has been made into a musical. — Amanda Fernandez and Kimberly Jane Tan with Reuters/LBG/HS/RSJ, GMA News
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