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Pinoy Abroad

3 Pinoys axed from ‘X Factor Australia’; 3 more remain


Though they wowed judges with their initial performances, three Filipinos competing in "X Factor Australia" were kicked off the boot camp leg of the series.

Erin Miranda, Justin Vasquez and Mary Ann van der Horst were eliminated from the competition despite impressive showings in their auditions.

But Filipinos looking for representation in the show still have Marlisa Punzalan, Jal Joshua, and Filipina girl group Trill.

Punzalan took the stage under the guidance of judge Ronan Keating, who once said she "moved me with that performance beyond anything I've seen on this stage in five years. That was incredible." He was referring to Punzalan's rendition of the Beatles' "Yesterday."


Formerly the runner-up of Australia's Got Talent at the age of 12, Joshua is now a dance student. The 17-year-old performed Journey's "Open Arms" for the judges. Redfoo praised his voice, while Danii Minogue noted that standing ovation has "never happened" during auditions before.

In an exclusive report on PEP.ph in 2009, Joshua said his Cebuano mother Jocelyn Aldueso Lebumfacil took him and his father, Jesus Lebumfacil Jr., to Australia under the parameters for Skilled Migration Internship Program for Accountants.

Joshua explained before his X-Factor performance that he took a break from singing when puberty hit, and took up dancing instead.


Entering the competition as an all-female group with Filipino roots, Trill invited praise with their hyperactive cover of Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass." Aged 14 and 15 years, Jessica, Angel, and Sheralyn cited the girl group TLC as their inspiration in dress and style. Before their auditions, they said they wanted their skills, not age, to define how judges would evaluate their performance.

Surely enough, judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte heaped praises on the girls, saying, "You gotta be on the live shows, they've gotta make it to the live shows." —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News
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