Celebrations broke out in the Philippines Wednesday after a Filipina caregiver working overseas became the winner of Israel's first "X Factor" television singing contest.
Rose Fostanes, one the millions of Filipino overseas workers who are lionized back home and form a crucial pillar of the country's economy, won the competition late Tuesday with a rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" that delighted fans in both countries.
Local television, news websites, and social media were filled with praise for the unmarried 47-year-old caregiver, who relatives said had worked abroad for more than two decades to support her family.
"We know the situation she was in and we are very proud that she has again given the Philippines pride in the showcase of her talent," President Benigno Aquino's spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters Wednesday.
"The Filipino has an innate advantage when it comes to the arts...It clearly shows that the excellence of the Filipino can be expressed anywhere, everywhere, when they are given the opportunity to show their talent."
Here is one of her songs:
Last year, an Arab Christian woman won Israel's "The Voice," and ersatz "journalist"/Israel-hater Max Blumenthal - in an astonishing display of stupidity even for him - tweeted "Tokenism works!"
I guess he thinks that Israeli voters again colluded to vote for a non-Israeli, not because of her talent but because they don't want to be seen as the racists that he knows Israelis really are.
"He might not speak Hebrew but he does visit Israel often, convinced the only reason he is allowed into the country is because of his "top-grade Ashkenazi Jewish sperm."
(h/t Yoel)