Dreaming big pays off for Rose

When she left the country at age 23, Rose Fostanes was an ordinary girl. All she had wanted to do was work and provide a decent living for her family. She has been working as a caregiver in the Middle East for over 20 years now.

Today, Rose at 43 and an X Factor Israel grand winner, came home famous and triumphant.

Rose bested all the other contestants of the X Factor Israel with her winning rendition of My Way, a song that has become controversial in videoke bars.

Rose’s life has made a 360-degree turn upon winning X Factor Israel. Yes, she would still be back to that country to fulfill a contract with the TV show. And in the meantime, she and her countrymen are celebrating her victory.

She has also seen the rounds of television shows which would not have happened had she not won the contest. Rose had dreamed big. She wanted a good life for herself and her family. She has spent more than 20 years working abroad and sharing the fruits of her labor with her family who has been dependent on her.

Rose had always loved to sing. She joined singing contests but most of the time would not win for several reasons — she was not fair enough; she was just too big and fat to be a winner. “Hindi pa nga ako nakakaakyat ng stage sinasabi na nila gigiba ang stage, uulan, uulan.” Disillusioned, she left the country. She thought she had no place in the music industry.

“Siguro kung meron po akong itsura, siguro baka natupad ko po ’yun. Pero dahil po alam kong wala, kaya po ipinagpalit ko po ’yung pagkanta ko sa ibang propesyon,” she said.

Since winning X Factor, there is no more turning back for Rose. She would want to inspire women to be courageous enough to follow their dreams despite obstacles and criticisms. “Dahil po du’n sa mga naririnig natin na hindi po maganda sa pandinig, ’yun po ’yung magtutulak para magsumikap tayo eh. Gaya ’pag sinabing ‘Ang taba mo naman,’ yun ’yung time na mag-diet ka na dahil nakakarinig ka ng hindi maganda sa kapwa. Saka yun din po ang nakakatulong ng malaki, dahil po sa kanila, kaya po tayo nagiging strong,” she said.

Rose is in a long-distance relationship with her partner Mel Adel whom she has been with for 31 years. Yes, Rose is a lesbian and she is proud about it. Family and friends know and are only too happy for her.

“Mahirap talaga,” said Rose of having a long-distance relationship. They had to contend with snail mail when the social media was not yet en vogue. She would only come home every four years.

Rose said she still has no plans of settling down. “Wala pa ho talagang plano. Noon po nung bata pa kami, inisip po namin yan, pero ngayon na pareho kaming busy at may edad na kami, wala po sigurong mag aalaga ng bata.”

In the meantime, while she pursues her obligations with X Factor Israel, Rose said, “Dito muna siya siguro sa Pilipinas, bibisitahin ko na lang siya.”

Thank you, Rose!