By Sarah Carnvek
For the last six years, Rose Fostanes – a 47-year-old woman from the Philippines –spent her days caring and cleaning for an ailing Israeli woman. And then a friend suggested she try out for the first season of popular reality TV singing contest “X Factor Israel.”
On January 14, people from around the world cheered as Fostanes was announced the winner of the inaugural Israeli show -- even though she's not Israeli.
Fostanes received the only standing ovation during the final show for her rendition of “My Way” – and had received numerous others over the course of the contest for her performances.
"It was a giveaway that Rose was going to win when everyone stood after her performance," says Philippine Ambassador to Israel Genoroso DG Calonge, who was in the audience. "I had faith in the judges and audience and those who voted by text messaging."
Although Fostanes saw herself as an underdog going into the competition – noting that most of the contestants were young and beautiful – from her first audition with Shirley Bassey's “This is My Life,” the judges and audience knew she was finalist material.
Now Fostanes is being called the Susan Boyle of Israel. Boyle captured international attention when she appeared as a contestant on “Britain's Got Talent” in 2009.
"Rose is 47. It brings to mind Susan Boyle, who was 52 when she showed the world her excellence," said Calonge.
Even Filipino President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III sent a congratulatory message: "We are very, very proud that [Rose] has given the Philippines pride in the showcase of her talent,” spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Manila. "That is a victory also of the Filipino people.”
Cinderella in Israel
Like millions of other Filipinos the world over – and some 40,000 in Israel -- Fostanes has been working overseas for more than a decade in order to send money back home to her family. Her father abandoned the family when she was just 11 years old and as the eldest she took the responsibility.
The diminutive, shy woman arrived in Israel after stints in cleaning and caregiving in Lebanon and Egypt. To keep her costs down, she shared an apartment with friends in a Tel Aviv neighborhood, home to other foreign workers.
While she says she always had a dream of becoming a singer, Fostanes never acted on it until a friend of hers heard about “X Factor” starting in Israel.
Others may tower over Rose Fostanes physically, but the Filipina
singer, center, has a giant voice that stands out from the crowd.
Photo by Tal Givony The first show aired on October 26, 2013. The four judges were rock singer Rami Fortis, pop singer-songwriter and composer Moshe Peretz, pop and R&B singer Shiri Maimon (a former reality TV contestant herself) and pop singer Ivri Lider. Israeli super-model Bar Refaeli hosted the first season.
The majority of contestants were native Hebrew-speakers, but Fostanes was not the only foreigner. Contestants Avishachar Jackson and the group Mirage, hailed from the Black Hebrew community. There was also Gustavo Quiñones, an immigrant from Colombia; Benji Chaouat, a breakdancer from France; and Tamar Friedman, the child of American immigrants.
Just 1.50 meters tall (under five feet), Fostanes won admiration with each new rendition of contemporary songs. She belted out hits including Lady Gaga's “Born this Way,” Kelly Clarkson's “Because of You,” Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” and ”Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics.
Fostanes and her friends in Israel were surprised every time she passed another round. They could not believe that the Israeli public would actually vote for a non-Israeli.
Producers of the show surprised Fostanes when they flew in her sister and her life partner from the Philippines to provide moral support.
“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,” Fostanes said in one interview.
"I saw it with my own eyes; she had a big Israeli following," says Calonge. "One thing that came out in this contest is that in Israel you can make it wherever you come from, no matter how old you are. Israel is not different from the most developed countries of the world where open competition is really open. Whoever dares to compete and has the talent has the chance to win."
Breaking a karaoke curse
Every karaoke fan in the Philippines knows that Frank Sinatra's song “My Way” is cursed. Calonge explains that the song is so popular that fights – and even murders – have resulted in karaoke bars where there's only one microphone.
So Fostanes took a risk in choosing it for her final performance. But she broke the curse.
Now, Fostanes has thousands of adoring international fans waiting to hear more. At first, her work visa only allowed her to work as a caregiver in Israel. This was changed on 20 January 2014 when she was granted an entertainer’s visa. In April she signed a record contract with Star Records and in June her Philippine debut album, My Way, was released.
Calonge predicts Fostanes' win could encourage others. “Singing is a natural way of life in the Philippines and we have many singers. In the next season of ‘X Factor Israel’ there may be more Filipinos; Rose provided an inspiration for our community to emulate."