Is Pinay X-Factor winner the new Susan Boyle?

JERUSALEM - A Filipina caregiver, once part of a faceless crowd of foreign workers who tend to Israel's infirm and elderly, has won one of the country's most popular TV singing contests.

Competing in Israel's version of the X-Factor, Rose Fostanes, 47, swept the judges off their feet with a winning rendition of the Frank Sinatra standard, "My Way", in Tuesday's final.

Fostanes, who came to Israel four years ago, has been working for about 20 years across the Middle East, and currently cares for an ailing woman in Tel Aviv.

"I'm speechless, I cannot say anything now. I can't believe that (this has) happened to me," Fostanes said in English after her victory.

In the run-up to the final, Fostanes said she hoped her popularity on the show would shine a spotlight on Israel's low-paid foreign workers, who include about 20,000 Filipinos.

She has been compared to the Scottish singer Susan Boyle, 52, who 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".

For many Israelis, the word "Filipino" has become synonymous with caregiver, and Fostanes' appearance and success on X-Factor could help break the stereotype.

"I wanted Rose to win. She's amazing, I really want her life to change, she's a great singer," said Shiri Maimon, an Israeli singer who was one of the judges.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Netizens laud Pinay caregiver's 'X Factor' win

MANILA – Filipina caregiver Rose Fostanes ended her stint on “X Factor Israel” with flying colors Wednesday as her supporters’ efforts to make sure she would get the most number of online and text votes paid off.

Immediately after Fostanes’ triumph in the TV show, Filipino netizens stormed social networking sites to express how happy they are for the 47-year old singer.

Most of Fostanes’ supporters said they are proud that another Filipino, who was just once part of a faceless crowd of foreign workers who clean homes and tend to Israel's sick and elderly, has brought pride to the Philippines anew.

Below are some posts on Twitter and Facebook congratulating Fostanes:

Cesar Viray Ramirez: Cool....congrats....proud to be global pinoy...congrats, Osang

Alvin Valenzuela: Congrats kabayan mabuhay ka! From.NYC...proud to be a pilipino!

Sheng Guillermo: Thank u Israel yan ang walang daya na judging..proud to be pinoy once again..

Mylene Ungos Webb: wow..gling nmn iba tlga ang pinoy,satlento d best tlga congrats. ms. rose we are proud of you.

Sharon Tiglao: Congratulations Ms. Rose.... we knew you could make it to the top and you deserve it.

Mharvhin Peque Sandagan Durana: Congrats po dakila ka po sa ating bansang pilipinas MABUHAY...

Richard Ravena: Ha! good job ate Osang! ikaw na! Congratulations! eversince day one of this competition, you never cease to amaze me! it was awesome to see you sing your song and how you represent the filipino OFW community! And thank you also to Shiri for providing all the help ate osang needs to go through the competition! Congratz ulit ATE OSANG!

Joyce Martinez: congratz po ky Ms Rose..and thank u so much din po sa mga admin ng page na walang sawang nghahatid ng update bout ky Ms Rose..THANKS PO.. From: Suadi Riyadh

Loraine Klein Aquino: tagumpai ang filipino.... congrats madam osang .. we are proud ...
During the competition, a Facebook page solely dedicated to campaign for Fostanes was created to urge Filipinos around the world to vote for her.

Following Fostanes’ win, the administrators of her Facebook fan page posted a message thanking everyone who took time to vote for the Pinay caregiver.

“Ito lang po ang masasabi ko nho MARAMING MARAMING THANK YOU PO SA LAHAT NG SUMUPORTA AT SUMUNOD SA MGA INSTRUCTIONS NAMIN SA PAGBOTO, NAGAWA nating itawid si idol… SALAMAT PO SA SAMA SAMANG EFFORT NATIN SA PAGBOTO, SALAMAT SA CO ADMINS KO NA TUMUTULONG SAKEN SA PAG A UPDATE,” the post said.

“Sa lahat ng filipino san mang sulok ng mundo, sa mga nag pray at sa bumuto lalong lalo na sa mga pinoy dito sa israel na kanya kanyang kampanya din, sa ibat ibang org at group na tlgang suporta to the max, AS IN SUPER THANX AND SYEMPRE NHO SUPER THANX KAY IDOL OSANG DAHIL BINIGYAN NYA NG KARANGALAN ANG ATING BANSA GANDANG OPENING NG TAON, ISANG HUGE ACHIEVEMENT mabuhay KA IDOL deserve na deserve mo manalo... umpisa na ng lalo mo pang yayabong na career,” the post added.

During the live finale show, Fostanes sang the Frank Sinatra classic "My Way" with an orchestra.

Placing second was a young female singer, Eden Ben Zaken, who was mentored by rock singer, Rami Fortis.

There are about 20,000 Filipinos working legally in Israel, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, with most working as cleaners and caretakers for the elderly and disabled.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinay bet advances to X Factor Israel finals

MANILA - The woman who earlier admitted having little confidence about herself and her talent could become the X Factor Israel's first season winner.

The show is now just down to four contestants, including caregiver Rose Fostanes.

"Salamat sa mga nag vote sa inyo kanina. Because of you nakapasok po tayo sa grand finals, maraming salamat sa suporta nyo," Fostanes wrote on her Facebook account.

During the live show on Tuesday, Fostanes belted out Kelly Clarkson's song "Because of You".




In an interview on The Times of Israel, Fostanes said she misses her family and her girlfriend who are in the Philippines.

Fostanes said since joining the show, people have started to notice her.

"Because before, nobody recognized me. Nobody knew me. but now, I think everybody in Israel knows my name," she said on the same interview.

Fostanes has been an OFW for two decades in the Middle East. She is currently on her sixth year as a caregiver in Israel.

Also on Tuesday, TV Patrol interviewed Fostanes' family in Taguig.




Fostanes younger sister, Nancy, is also a singer.

Nancy said it was Rose's dream to become a singer.

She added that Rose was only 15-years old when she took on the responsibility of raising them when their father left them.

"Yan, pag nananalo yan noon, yan ang bumibili ng gamit namin sa school," Nancy said.

Her other sister, Gina Camposano, said Rose has helped her a lot.

"Malaki ang naitulong talaga ng kapatid ko, lalung-lalo sa akin. Kaya yung mga anak ko, kahit papaano, ginagapang namin mag-aral kasi nanay ko namatay yun wala kami talagang pambili ng gamot eh," Camposano said.

Meanwhile, a Facebook fanpage was created in support of Fostanes called Osang/Rose Xfactor Israel, details how Filipinos outside of Israel could help the Pinay bet win by voting online.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinay caregiver advances in 'X Factor Israel' - report

MANILA - And she did it again. Caregiver Rose Fostanes once again received a standing ovation, not from the audience, but from fellow contestants of the reality television contest "X-Factor Israel".

Posts on social media said that the Tel-Aviv-based Fostanes made it to the second round of the reality show.

Before performing in front of the four judges during bootcamp, Fostanes bared her feelings and apprehensions toward other contestants.

"I feel that everybody is looking at me like I am an alien. I'm afraid that maybe nobody will talk to me because the Israeli see Filipinos working here in houses," she said.

"Communication with the people is a big challenge for me in the boot camp," she said.

In a conversation she had with a fellow contestant who sat beside her on a bench during the taped interview, she said that she is not that confident about herself.

"Maybe this is why I am afraid. When they say 'No, you sing very good' It's like I don't believe them. I don't know," she said.

For her, joining the X-Factor is not only about chasing her dream. But it is also about being able to provide a better future for her family in the Philippines.

"This is not a game. I am competing not only for myself, for my family because I want to help them. They are very poor in the Philippines," she said.

And when she described how she was feeling during the boot camp, Fostanes said, "My heart is 'tug,tog'. Because if you get one mistake, maybe your journey in X Factor will be gone and maybe your dream to be something else will all be finished."

Fostanes sang the Lady Gaga song "You and I' that not only captured the attention of the judges and fellow contestants, but their respect as well.

"You have to move. You have to fight. You have to be the best. Maybe it's not too late for me to have a good life," the 46-year-old said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinay caregiver gets standing ovation on 'X Factor Israel'

MANILA – A 46-year-old Filipina caregiver hopes to change her life by joining the reality show the X Factor in Israel.

"God knows that we are helping our families and they do not know how we sacrifice. Maybe if I join and win in this competition my life will change," Rose Fostanes said during a video presented before her audition.

The caregiver from Tel Aviv lives in a small house with three other friends who also work as caregivers.

"I love my job because I like to take care of old people and to give them some attention," she said.

The single Pinay said she has forgotten to find a partner as working and helping out her family became her priority.

"I'm still single because I have been working for how many years that I forgot to find somebody for me," she said.

For her audition, Fostanes sang a Shirley Bassey song titled "This is my life". She confessed it was her first time to sing in front of a huge crowd.

"I have been watching X Factor for many years. And I can't believe I am here now doing the audition," she said.

When asked by one of the judges if she thinks she could win in the competition, Fostanes' only reply was "I hope so, but I will do my best".

In the end, she proved the judges and the crowd that she's got what it takes to be on the show. After her performance, all four judges and even the audience gave her a standing ovation.

"Take it in. Take it in because you deserve it so much. The song you chose was so right for you," said one of the judges Ivri Lider.

Another judge, Shiri Maimon, commented: "It sounded like a CD playing. It was perfect! It was so perfect! I just can't believe it this is your first time performing on stage. It's crazy".

Meanwhile, judge Rami Fortis said, "It was wonderful! No words. You have the X-Factor!"

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com