Filipina caregiver Rose Fostanes won The X Factor Israel. The 47-year-old Pinay from Tel Aviv was announced winner in the singing contest's finals night held January 14 (Wednesday morning in Manila) at the Nokia Arena Tel Aviv, Israel.
Rose Fostanes, fondly called Osang, performed the famed Frank Sinatra's song My Way [watch the video of her performance here] and was given standing ovation by the judges and the audience. Rose Fostanes beat three other contestants of The X Factor Israel in the finals night.
"Thank you so much for those Israeli who like my voice...thank you for giving me the chance to be in the X Factor Israel," Osang said after she won. She also thanked the thousands of Filipinos who supported her.
Rose was mentored by Israeli pop singer Shiri Maimon under the Over 25's category. She bested Eden Ben Zaken from the Girls category, her close competition in the final two. Uri Shakiv from the Boys category and groups Fusion came in third and fourth, respectively.
Rose Fostanes was an early favorite and emerged as a phenomenon in Israeli television. Her strong, soulful voice was a hit among fans and her background made her more interesting to watch.
"It’s a big change in my life because before nobody recognized me, nobody knew me. But now everybody, I think everybody in Israel knows my name. And it is very funny,” she said in one interview.
Rose Fostanes, who has been an OFW for 20 years, started working in Israel four years ago to work as a caregiver.
