Philippines’ Carmelle wins first Eurovision contest in Asia
Filipino entry, pop and rap song Sobra-Sobra, takes 19-year-old to victory at grand final in Bangkok Carmelle Collado has won the first Eurovision song contest Asia, taking the Philippines’ entry, Sobra-Sobra , to victory in Bangkok on Saturday night, at the first regional edition of the contest to be staged outside Europe. Eleven countries competed at the One Bangkok Forum in central Bangkok,…
Carmelle Collado, a 19-year-old Filipino pop and rap artist, secured victory in the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia with her song "Sobra-Sobra". The contest took place at the One Bangkok Forum in Bangkok, Thailand. Eleven countries participated in the competition, which lasted for two and a half hours. Carmelle outperformed the hosts, Thailand, by a margin of 41 points, with Vietnam finishing in third place.
She received the majority of votes from both national juries and the public. Her music blend pop and rap, incorporates traditional Philippine instruments such as the kubing and kulintang, and is performed in Tagalog and English. Carmelle, who grew up near railway tracks in the Bicol region of south-eastern Luzon, claimed her song celebrated female empowerment and paid tribute to all Filipino women.
She expressed her gratitude to the voters who supported her during the competition, stating it was a significant responsibility as she made history on a global stage. The show began with a performance celebrating the host country, featuring Muay Thai fighters alongside drag performers on street food carts. The 11 acts were subsequently driven in tuk-tuks, each displaying their national flag.
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