ISRAEL: OFW Osang Wins X Factor Israel

ISRAEL: OFW Osang Wins X Factor Israel

Our kababayan (compatriot) Rose "Osang" Fostanes, a Filipina caregiver who works in Israel for 6 years after a 20-year stint in the Middle East, won the first ever "X Factor Israel" contest. 

Rose Fostanes puts a face to the thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Israel. As the first season winner of "X Factor Israel," Osang becomes a great inspiration to a whole lot of people who never thought that a dream could still come true at age 47.  I hope Osang, as she is fondly called by close friends, continues to be an inspiration to many, particularly OFWs. May she never change her humble ways.

She showed Israel and the world how a 47 year-old can still fulfill her dreams while striving hard abroad for her loved ones back home.

The finale of the show was shown live in Israel on January 14, 2014 (Tuesday). That's Wednesday, January 15, 2014, 1 o' clock in the morning in Manila.  

Rose "Osang" Fostanes sang the Frank Sinatra classic "My Way" with an orchestra. #myway

On behalf of Osang and the Filipino people, I would like to thank all the Israelis who voted for Osang. Thank you for not discriminating against her in your contest. #ProudFilipino #XfactorIsrael #myway

Here is Rose "Osang" Fostanes' winning performance:

My Way Performance of Osang

Osang also performed  Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" duet with her mentor Shiri Maimon :

Osang is part of the show's "Over 25s" category. Placing second is Eden Ben Zaken (Girls category), and third is Ori Shakiv (Boys category). She's one of the favorites to win the reality show's first season with performances regularly lauded by the show's judges. 

Sidelights: Her rendition of "My Way," with an orchestra as her backup, got a standing ovation from the judges: 

• rock singer Rami Fortis
• singer and composer Moshe Peretz
• pop singer Ivri Lider
• and Maimon ( Osang's mentor who was teary-eyed after her performance. Oh! I love Maimon! She's so sweet and good in singing too!)

Congratulations Osang! May you use your new found stature to help your OFW kababayan in Israel.