Rose recalls early discrimination

Rose Fostanes (Reuters)

A veteran of amateur singing contests starting at four years old, Rose Fostanes had often gotten insults and and jeers from people prior to becoming “X Factor Israel” champ.

“Masakit ’yun talaga,” she recalled on “Buzz Ng Bayan.” “Hindi pa nga ako nakaka-akyat ng stage, sinasabi na nila na ‘Gigiba ’yung stage, uulan, uulan.’

“Pero binabalewala ko kasi kailangan ko pong sumali sa contest, baka sakaling manalo.”

Despite her caliber as singer, she said that there were times she would lose in a contest just because her opponents were fairer or thinner. At 23, a disheartened Rose left for the Middle East, thinking that someone like her has no place in the local music industry.

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

Her triumph on “X Factor Israel”– a resounding one considering she was Filipina against Israeli contenders – convinced her and proved to the world that destiny trumps discrimination against age, race, appearance and even sexual preference.

Now that she’s home, the singer wants to inspire women to always take courage and to use criticisms as motivation that could turn things around for them, too.

“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 recalls early discrimination

Source: Mb.com.ph (March 03, 2014 at 10:22AM)

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