Filipina caregiver Rose 'Osang' Fostanes won the first season of singing contest The X Factor in Israel last night.
Fostanes came to Israel four years ago to work as a carer for an ailing Israeli women, and has worked across the Middle East in similar roles for the past 20 years (sources: Manila Bulletin - Opens in new tab, Jerusalem Post - Opens in new tab)
The 47 year old from Taguig, a city in Metro Manila, wowed judges with her powerful voice, singing hits such as 'I who have nothing' - Opens in new tab and Frank Sinatra's 'I did it my way - Opens in new tab'
In this clip, - Opens in new tab Rose talks about her life as a caregiver, living in a cramped apartment with fellow Filipinas - and then gives a flawless performance of Shirley Bassey's 'This is my life'
There are an estimated 700,000 migrant workers in Israel (2011, Migration News - Opens in new tab), many of them Filipina domestic workers and caregivers.
Low income migrant workers in Israel remain largely out of the public eye, despite their large numbers. Rose's X-Factor victory was a rare opportunity for a migrant woman to have her voice heard in the media (in this case, literally!), and she has now become a household name in Israel.
Rose plans to continue working as a caregiver, but hopes that her victory will put the spotlight on Israel's large population of Filipinas.
“I think I will be a leader for them because of what I did and I think also they will be proud of me. Everybody in the world will know that Filipinos, even working as a cleaner… can also share their talents" she said.