The Philippines has won the inaugural Eurovision Asia Song Contest in Bangkok, Thailand, as 19-year-old Carmelle Collado beat performers from 10 other countries with her original song Sobra-Sobra.
Bangkok: The Philippines has made music history by winning the first Eurovision Asia Song Contest, held in the Thai capital, ABC News reports.
Carmelle Allyza San Juan Collado, the event’s youngest contestant, took the crown with her original song Sobra-Sobra. She said the song was inspired by the strength of Filipino women.
“I’m really grateful that I made history,” the singer said after her win.
A star from a singing family
Collado comes from Bicol and from a family of entertainers, with several generations of singers on her mother’s side. She was already well known at home after winning the Tawag ng Tanghalan singing competition, appearing on Pinoy Big Brother and releasing a self-titled album this year.
11 nations, big names missing
Performers from Bhutan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam competed. Some of Asia’s biggest music markets, including India, China and Japan, did not take part. Pakistan also did not participate.
The show featured tuk-tuks on stage, dramatic visual effects and elaborate costumes. Fans traveled from as far as Perth, Australia, to attend.
Emotional journeys
Laos contestant Thinla, 29, spoke of growing up in rice paddies and losing her father 4 years ago. Nepal’s Pratik Himal Rai dedicated his performance to victims of the August flash floods that killed at least 1,400 people.
A slow start
The winner receives no prize money and does not automatically host the next contest. ABC noted that the Asian edition drew less excitement than the European original, which more than 130 million viewers watched in Vienna in May.
Based on reporting by ABC News.
