Rose “Osang” Fostanes’ astonishing victory in local reality franchise “X
Factor Israel” isn’t just a win for a Filipina working as caregiver to
an ailing woman in the capital city of Tel Aviv.
Fostanes—who won the hearts the Israeli audience —has finally given the word “Filipino” another meaning besides ‘caregiver’ in this part of the world.
On
January 14 (January 15 in Manila), Osang brought the house down when
she performed Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” and Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got
You” in the show’s finale.
Her classy rendition of the Filipinos’
favorite videoke song, matched with a full orchestra, got a standing
ovation from the judges—rock singer Rami Fortis, singer- composer Moshe
Peretz, pop singer Ivri Lider, and Maimon—and the audience, which
included her Filipina girlfriend who flew all the way from the
Philippines.
Breaking stereotype
On January 13 (Monday), Reuters
reported that Fostanes “hopes her popularity on the show will shine a
spotlight on Israel's low-paid foreign workers, who include about 20,000
Filipinos.”
"I feel that everybody is looking at me like I was
an alien. A Filipina working here, cleaning houses,” she was quoted as
saying when she auditioned for the Israeli version of the hit British
franchise created by Simon Cowell.
Her fate changed overnight when she surprised Israelis with a soulful voice a Filipino might consider ordinary in his country.
"I
get from them a lot of good compliments, especially when I'm on the
street, when I'm on the bus. I get from them love, from all the Israeli
people who saw my videos and saw me on the television," Osang told
Reuters.
The Philippines has produced global vocal powerhouses
even before reality singing programs like “American Idol” featured
Fil-Ams like Jasmine Trias and Jessica Sanchez.
By Luigene Yanoria | Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom
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