Pinay impresses in 'X Factor Denmark'

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – A 24-year old Filipina from Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur wowed all three judges of "The X Factor Denmark" Season 11 with her version of X Ambassadors’ “Unsteady” during the show's 5 Chair Challenge.

Vanessa Latefa Pampilo, a former au pair, owned the stage and impressed everyone with her performance.

“This was really good, what you just did here, and with all due respect, this performance would take you directly to the finale,” said judge Thomas Blachman.

Another judge, Sanne Salomonsen, agreed: “I think you have a powerful voice with a sound of softness and sweetness. You really have the whole package, I believe.”

Remme, the mentor of Solo Act Over 23s, Pampilo that she deserves a chair, 100%.

Pampilo has been living in Denmark for four years. She started as an au pair for two years and became a scholar in Helsingør International High School. After the scholarship, she married a Dane and moved to Sweden. After a year in Sweden, she and her husband moved back to Denmark.

"Now I study computer science at KEA (Copenhagen School of Design and Technology) and work part-time at a cafe in Vesterbrogade. Sometimes, I also sing at weddings or small gigs. I really love to sing since I was a kid,” she said.

In an exclusive interview with TFC’s Balitang Global, Pampilo said she was encouraged to join the talent search after watching her sample performances uploaded on YouTube.

"I have never seen myself joining singing contests because I think I'm not good enough. But, at the end of the day, you have to believe in yourself no matter what it takes. Choose the people around you and take good pieces of advice,” she said.

Pampilo is the first and only Filipina who entered the Boot Camp and secured a spot in 5 chair challenge in the show.

"The X Factor Denmark" airs every Friday, 8PM (UTC+01:00) at DR1.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

WATCH: 4th Impact, Seann return for 'X Factor' finale

All-Filipina girl group 4th Impact and Filipino-British artist Seann Miley Moore returned to the “X Factor UK” stage for a special number during the show’s finale.

Along with the other finalists, the girl group and Moore performed a special mash-up of Macklemore’s “Downtown.”


Moore bowed out of the competition during the Top 11 performance week. Fourth Impact, on the other hand, made it to the Top 5. They ended their “X Factor UK” journey two weeks ago.

Louisa Johnson was declared the winner of this season’s "X Factor UK."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

4th Impact, Pinoy get mixed reviews on 'X Factor UK'

MANILA – Filipino acts 4th Impact and Seann Miley Moore received mixed reviews for their performances on the second live show of “The X Factor UK” on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila).

The Filipina sisters were up first among the 11 finalists and they decided to sing a mash-up of “Sound of the Underground” and “Boom Clap.”

While Simon Cowell thought the group has “always done great,” he told their mentor, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, that it was “narcissistic” for choosing a song which was originally recorded by the group she was previously part of.

Despite this, Nick Grimshaw said the songs worked for the girls, and Rita Ora likewise only had good words for them.

Versini, for her part, said the group’s performance was “fabulous,” and insisted that it was the siblings who personally chose the songs.





Meanwhile, Moore impressed his mentor Grimshaw, as well as Ora and Fernandez-Versini with his take on “California Dreamin.”

"It was like I was watching a movie in slow motion. Vocally, you are very solid. You're just intoxicating," Ora told the singer.

Cowell, however, noted that Moore’s performance was “lazy.”

"This is a chance on this show for you to discover who you could be outside this competition, and you have a real shot because you're so wacky, so confident, so unique," he said.

"You have to do tracks no-one else would dare to do. That was you just being very comfortable, very safe, so what you have to do is have a word with your mentor and say, 'Turn me into a popstar, not someone who just performs on a talent competition,'" he added.





 After the second live show, another finalist will be cut-off based on the viewers’ votes.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinays make it to Final 12 of 'X Factor UK'

The all-Filipina girl group 4th Impact (formerly 4th Power) was the first contestant in the Groups category of “The X Factor UK” to make it to the Final 12.

This after their mentor, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, chose them for the live shows during the show’s episode on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).


Earlier this month, all contestants of the four categories traveled to different locations to perform before their judges and their guest judge.

Fernandez-Versini took the Groups to Rome, while Simon Cowell took the Overs to the south of France. Rita Ora went to Los Angeles with the Girls and Nick Grimshaw took the Boys to the Cotswolds.

Hoping to advance to the next round of the competition, 4th Impact sang Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie” before Fernandez-Versini and guest judge Jess Glynne.


The Filipina sisters obviously impressed Fernandez-Versini and Jess Glynne as the former sent the group to the next round.

Aside from 4th Impact, the other two groups which also made it to the Final 12 are Alien Uncovered and Reggie and Bollie (formerly Menn On Point).

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cyrus Villanueva makes it to 'X Factor Australia' top 12

MANILA - Filipino-Australian singer Cyrus Villanueva is moving on to the live shows of "The X Factor Australia," it was revealed Thursday.

Villanueva, an 18-year-old student, continued his winning streak when he presented to the judges a breathy and sensual rendition of Bob Marley's "Is This Love."

It was enough to convince American rock musician Chris Isaak --Villanueva's mentor -- to retain the teen as part of his team, alongside Jimmy Davis and Big T (Tangaroa Te Tai).


Villanueva first caught the attention of Australian and Filipino viewers alike when he chose to cover The Weeknd's "Earned It" for his audition piece.

He then put on an amazing stripped-down version of Robyn's "Dancing On My Own," which earned him a slot in the five-seat musical chair challenge of the competition.

Villanueva is just the latest Filipino talent to make rounds in "The X Factor," following the similar success of Filipino acts Neneth Lyons and 4th Power in the UK version.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Filipino singer impresses judges of 'X Factor Australia'

MANILA – A 19-year-old Filipino blew away the judges of “X Factor Australia” with his heartfelt rendition of one of Robyn’s songs.

On Monday's episode, Cyrus Villanueva earned praises with his cover of “Dancing on My Own,” which he performed while playing the piano.

The slowed-down version of the upbeat song impressed Chris Isaak, prompting him to give Villanueva a slot in the five-seat musical chair challenge after much deliberation.

Watch the video of Villanueva’s performance.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

One Direction back with 4th album of boy band pop

One Direction has returned for the fourth straight year with a holiday season album, as the boy band proves its longevity through a gradually maturing sound.

The British heartthrobs stormed onto the stage in 2010 with an appearance on the talent show "The X Factor." Since 2011, the band has released an album every year in November, in time for the holiday shopping season.

With their fourth album released Monday, One Direction defies the short shelf lives that are notorious among boy bands as the five members -- whose early works were often penned by others -- take turns on writing the songs.

The album -- entitled, simply, "Four" -- stays true to One Direction's style of fresh-faced pop but increasingly incorporates rock elements, with several tracks resembling the power ballads of 1980s arena bands.



The first track, "Steal My Girl," opens the album with keyboards reminiscent of Journey's hits before quickly merging into the boy band style of a polished vocal chorus.

One Direction, unlike earlier generations of synthesizer-driven boy bands, has always embraced guitar. On the latest album, the guitar leads the way on several tracks including "Clouds" and "Stockholm Syndrome."

The lyrics revolve around familiar themes of youthful love but also repeatedly speak of coming to terms with getting "older," with the band's senior member Louis Tomlinson hitting the ripe age of 23 next month.

"Let's have another toast to the girl almighty / Let's pray we stay young, stay made of lightning," Niall Horan sings on "Girl Almighty."

The ballad "18" waxes nostalgic for that age: "I want to love, like you made me feel when we were 18."

"Act My Age," which appears on the album's deluxe edition, predicts the future with dread, with the first verse running, "When I'm fat and old and my kids think I'm a joke, 'cause I move a little slow when I dance/ I can count on you after all that we've been through."

One Direction's last album, "Midnight Memories," was the best seller worldwide for 2013, selling four million copies within the year despite coming out in November.

The band faces a greater challenge if it wants to repeat its feat as Taylor Swift smashed expectations this month with "1989," whose release led to the highest sales in the United States in a single week in 12 years.

Unlike Swift, who controversially pulled her music off Spotify in a dispute over compensation to artists, One Direction's "Four" appears on the streaming service.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fox cancels 'X Factor' as Simon Cowell returns to UK version

LOS ANGELES - U.S. television singing contest "The X Factor," led by judge and show creator Simon Cowell, was canceled on Friday after three seasons, network Fox said on Friday.

"The X Factor," which was unable to replicate the ratings success of fellow Fox singing contest "American Idol," was only able to muster 6.2 million viewers for its season three finale last December, about half of its first season finale audience.

Cowell, 54, whose acerbic on-screen personality helped transform "American Idol" into one of the top shows on U.S. television, will also return to the UK version of the show in an effort to help declining ratings there.

"I've had a fantastic time over the last 12 years, both on 'The X Factor' and 'American Idol,' Cowell said in a statement. "And apart from being lucky enough to find some amazing talent on the shows, I have always had an incredible welcome from the American public (most of the time!)"

"The X Factor" was seen as a way for Cowell to put his own stamp on U.S. reality television as it was a show he created and produced, and helped lead it to popularity in Britain.

The U.S. version of the show struggled to find the right mix on the judging panel, running through nine different personalities in its three seasons on the air.

In 2012, Fox spent a reported $15 million to hire pop singer Britney Spears as a judge on the show in a bid to boost ratings, but she was unable to turn her star power into larger audiences for Fox.

Last year, viewership fill to about 6 million per episode from 9 million in 2012. Its main rival, Comcast Corp-owned NBC's "The Voice" drew about 12 million viewers per episode.

Cowell, a British media and music mogul best known for the biting criticism of contestants that helped draw viewers to "American Idol," will be without a show on U.S. television for the first time since "Idol" began in 2002.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

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 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

Fil-Am singer joins Top 16 of 'The X Factor USA'

MANILA -- Filipino-American singer Ellona Santiago made it to the Top 16 of "The X Factor USA."

Before her performance, Santiago recalled how she used to live in the Philippines until her parents saved enough money for them to move to the United States.

Santiago then performed "Clarity" by Zedd.

Judges Kelly Rowland and Simon Cowell loved Santiago's performance.

"You little momma, you are a beast. I mean, in the nicest way possible. You don't look like a beast, you sound like a beast," Rowland said.

"Ellona, it's probably one of the best vocals we've heard from this category. I can't imagine you actually not being here in this competition...I think this girl is one of the better singers," Cowell said.

In the end, coach Demi Lovato decided to give Ellona a chance and included her in her Top 4. Another contestant, Jamie Pineda, was sent home.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinay impresses 'X Factor USA' judges

Another Filipino-American singer is set to make waves in America after making it through the audition rounds of the “X Factor USA.”

Sixteen-year-old Ellona Santiago blew away judges Simon Cowell, Kelly Rowland and Demi Lovato with her performance of Little Mix’s “Wings.”

Rowland said she was surprised by Santiago’s stage presence because she seemed shy when they were talking to her prior to her performance.

“First of all, I thought you’re cute that you’re [shy and then], what in the word? Who is this person? That’s what I love the most because whoever that girl was, she came out and she made business. Wow,” she said.

Cowell, for his part,said he already wants to work with Santiago in the competition.

“I love this girl. You are seriously good,” he added.

Following Cowell’s comment, Santiago asked the “X Factor” judge if he could still remember her. When Cowell answered in the negative, Santiago then reminded him that she already auditioned in the show during its first season.

Lovato, meanwhile, immediately said: “Had I been here first season, you would have gotten through.”

“Fortunately, this year, we’re going to have so much fun together and you’re going to say ‘Simon you’ll never gonna forget about me ever, ever, ever again.’ I think you’ve made this easy. I say yes,” she said.

Santiago first joined the reality singing competition in Season 1 as part of the group InTENsity. The group got eliminated in the very first round.

Now that she’s given another opportunity to show her talent, Santiago vowed to do her best to prove that she deserves to be part of the show anew.

“This chance is more important than my last chance because I’m going to try to make it up there not as part of a group but as a soloist. I’m so happy,” she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Demi Lovato to return as X-Factor judge

LOS ANGELES - Singer Demi Lovato will return as a judge on TV contest "The X Factor" for a second year, broadcaster Fox announced on Thursday, but there was no word on two more open positions on the celebrity panel.

The 20-year-old former Disney Channel star will be back in her seat when the show returns in the fall of 2013 along with creator Simon Cowell.

"I couldn't be happier that Demi wants to come back this year," Cowell said in a statement.

"She's a superstar in her own right and was a fantastic mentor last year. Even though she can be really, really annoying - I truly enjoyed working with her and so did the artists."

"X Factor" producers however have yet to announce replacements for departing judges Britney Spears and record producer Antonio "L.A." Reid, who quit at the end of the show's second season in December.

"There are going to be four judges," a source close to the show said on Thursday, but gave no details on who they might be or when the two new names would be announced.

Recent speculation on possible new judges for the U.S. version of the show have included singers Katy Perry, John Mayer, Pink and Ne-Yo.

Open auditions for singers hoping for a spot on the third season of "X Factor" are underway in cities across the United States. Auditions before the judges are expected to start in late May or early June.

Audiences for "X Factor" slumped in 2012, losing about three million viewers from its first season despite the hiring of Spears for a reported $15 million salary.

The show is just one of a plethora of singing and talent shows on U.S. television, including Fox television's long-running "American Idol," which has also seen a drop in viewers despite new judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, and NBC rivals "The Voice" and "America's Got Talent."

Fox is a unit of News Corp and NBC is a unit of Comcast Corp.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

KZ Tandingan ready to give showbiz a try

MANILA, Philippines – Singer KZ Tandingan has yet to get used to her newfound found fame after being named as the first winner of the ABS-CBN talent search “The X Factor Philippines.”



In a live interview with “The Buzz” on Sunday, Tandingan said a lot has changed in her life since she won the show.

“Hindi pa po [ako] masyado [nakakapag-adjust]. Tulad noong umuwi ako sa amin sa Davao, dati naglalakad lang ako ng nakapambahay na walang pumapansin sa akin. Noong time na 'yun, kahit pumasok talagang nahihirapan na po kami kasi ang dami po talagang tao,” she shared.

But Tandingan said she is willing to give show business a try.

“Kinakabahan nga po ako kapag tinatanong ako niyan, pero nandito na po ako so go lang po ng go,” she said.

Aside from pursuing a singing career, Tandingan said she is also open to acting, citing Kean Cipriano and Sam Milby as the actors she wants to work with.

While she is open to having a relationship, Tandingan stressed that her current priority is to do good in showbiz to help her family.

“Sinabi nga ni daddy kahit magpakasal ka na agad kahit pagkatapos mo grumaduate eh. Pero tututukan ko po muna ito. Hindi ko pa po muna kasi nafi-feel 'yung need na magka-boyfriend,” she said.

Meanwhile, Tandingan extended her gratitude to her mentor Charice and to Concert King Martin Nievera for helping her during the competition.

“Salamat po sa lahat ng shinare niyo na blessings. Kahit po malayo kami sa pamilya namin, palagi niyo pong pinapa-feel sa amin na hindi namin kailangan ma-homesick kasi dito, may pamilya kami sa inyo,” she told Nievera.

Tandingan also thanked Charice for telling her not to take negative comments in a bad way, especially those said on social media.

“Alam po namin na may mga bashers [siya] pero kapag pinag-uusapan po namin, parati niya po sinasabi sa amin na kahit ano daw pong sabihin nila, alam naman daw po namin ang totoo. Hayaan na lang daw po kasi in a way parang advantage na rin kasi pinag-uusapan ka pa rin,” she said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Martin says sorry to Charice for 'X Factor' quip

MANILA, Philippines -- It seems that judge-mentors on "The X Factor Philippines" are becoming more personal two weeks before the grand finals in October.

On Monday, singer Martin Nievera apologized to fellow judge Charice after the surprise results show on Sunday.

Charice created a deadlock in the judges' vote that ultimately eliminated Nievera's contestant Jeric Medina.

"It has been brought to my attention by (Gary Valenciano's wife) Angeli V. that I hurt the feelings of Charice while speaking my mind. For this I apologize to Charice ... No matter how professional we are there's still feelings. Sorry Charice.

"We may not agree but I love you. Now let's all move on! All of us. This happy Saturday it's all about DADDY'S HOME, ALLEN, KZ & GAB! No one else! Go go go!!!! Again and again, for my pointing out what I believed to be a strategic move I apologize to Charice and her fans," he said.

Last Sunday, Charice voted to eliminate Medina, saying the vocal group Daddy's Home deserves to stay in the competition.

"First of all I have to explain kung bakit pauuwiin ko 'yung contestant na ito. You see a lot of people sasabihin sa akin, Bakit? Kasi 'yan ang uso ngayon sa atin dito. For me, I mean, Philippines, we have to change. We have to change because I think 'yung para sa akin na safe ay deserving din nila na magkaroon ng spot dito sa Pilipinas. I'm sorry, Jeric," Charice said.

After finding out that Medina received the lowest percentage of votes, Nievera gave his parting shot.

"Well all I can say it's all really about the votes. Kung magbo-bottom two kayo this is what happened. This is the way the 'X Factor' was made. Charice made her decision, everyone made their decision. Now Jeric has a beautiful journey and has nothing to be ashamed of. There are no losers on this stage but there can only be one 'X Factor' champion. I'm very proud of you and I will be behind you wherever you go," Nievera said.

Before the results show, Nievera was already hinting about the growing personal nature of the competition.

"Let me remind u all, XFPH is not about me or any judge/mentor. It SHOULD be about the future of this industry & the show not about US! " he said in a series of tweets.

"We should not play w/ these finalists dreams just to have the winningest team. Decision Sunday should NEVER be personal!"

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Paula Abdul Offers X Factor Advice for "Very Sweet" Britney Spears and Demi Lovato

Britney Spears and Demi Lovato may have already had their first day as The X Factor's newest judges, but there are still some things they could learn about being reality TV mentors.

At least that's according to Paula Abdul, who previously filled a seat on The X Factor panel alongside Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid.

READ: Britney Spears' First Day at X Factor—Did She Really Leave Early?

"Live television is just that," Abdul told us at last night's Lupus L.A. Orange Ball at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. "You have to go with the flow, speak your mind, and just remember millions of people are watching."

"I think they're going to be fantastic," Abdul said about Spears and Lovato as judges on the show. She added that Spears seems "lovely" and "very sweet," adding, "Demi seems sweet as well."

When we asked if she'll watch this season of The X Factor, the 49-year-old said, "I'm a fan. I'm a fan of all of these shows. My humble beginnings have always been mentoring and helping other people."

So with Jennifer Lopez possibly leaving American Idol, would Abdul ever return to TV and a singing competition judge?

She laughed, "That's a question I've never even thought about."

PHOTOS: 2012 American Idol Finale

source: eonline.com

Fil-Am brothers booted out from 'X Factor'

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American brothers, Nathan, 14, and Justin, 17, better known as The Brewer Boys, were eliminated from “The X Factor” reality show Tuesday night [US Time].

Despite performing the George Michael original “Faith,” it proved to be insufficient to push the brothers into the next round. The duo was one of the five acts booted from the reality show, which included Phillip Lomax, Dexter Haygood, Simone Battle, and Tiah Tolliver.

The competition began with the contestants being divided into groups to be mentored by the four judges: Girls go to Simon Cowell, Groups to Paula Abdul, Over 30s to Nicole Scherzinger and Boys to L.A. Reid.

Recall that The Brewer Boys, who play “bluegrass-inspired,” (a sub-genre of country music mixed with a little jazz) pop music, were paired up with mentor Abdul. She was responsible for selecting a medley of Hall & Oates “Rich Girl” and “Faith” for the duo to perform on the first live performance episode of the show.

In the end, it wasn’t good enough to advance the brothers on the show.

“We feel good. We just want to thank the judges. Thank you so much, Miss Paula, for everything. We've learned a lot,” Justin said on the show after finding out the duo’s fate.

“Thank you so much for this opportunity, I'm sorry we didn't live up to your expectations,” Nathan added.

“Listen to me. You surpassed my expectations, Nathan,” Abdul responded.

Despite the elimination, Abdul had words of encouragement for the pair.

“I love you guys. You're going to go on and magic is going to happen,” she told them.

Justin and Nathan hail from Temecula City in California’s Riverside County. According to a tweet on their official Twitter account posted Oct. 15, their mother hails from Manila while their grandfather hails from Cebu.

In the show, L.A. said that mentor Paula was seemingly a “little out of her comfort zone,” because the rest of the contestants were either into pop or R&B.

Meanwhile, Simon noted that the boys “have improved” but reminded everybody that what’s at stake is a multi-million-dollar contract.

The brothers’ elimination, along with the others, left the judges with 12 more contestants vying for the $5 million recording contract.

Source: mb.com.ph