Osang Fostanes on being a star: 'Medyo natatanggap ko na'

Osang Fostanes, after being declared the first ever winner of X Factor Israel, remained the hard worker that she is. She recounted during her interview on Aquino & Abunda Tonight that she only rested for a day after she won and then she went back to work. It was only her employer who told her to take more days off so she can focus on being a singer. She said nothing had really changed when she won except that now she has more things to accomplish.

Osang had been an OFW in the Middle East for 20 years, six years of that time she spent in Israel. She made Filipinos all over the world proud when she won the international singing contest.

It is undeniable however, that she’s now a star and that some things really did change. According to Osang, her relatives and friends increased after she won and that she could no longer add more friends to her Facebook account. She also now has a three-year singing contract in Israel, which she said is really the main prize of the contest. The 47 year old belter will only stay for a week in the Philippines because three concerts are lined up for her in Tel Aviv.

She said the presence of Mel, her partner of 30 years, helped motivate her in winning the contest. “Malaki ang naitulong niya, kasi noong nanonood siya kailangan ko magyabang sa kanya. Kailangan galingan ko yun.”

Midway through the contest Osang admitted she’s a lesbian and she wasn’t scared to admit it because she could not have hidden a 30-year relationship. Osang, who met her partner when she was 16 years old, also told host Kris Aquino that she’s never been attracted to a man. She added that the secret to their long lasting relationship is respect because all they had then as means of communicating to each other were letters and voice tapes. She even sang a few lines of their theme song “Hello.”

Despite these changes, she is still uncomfortable with her new stature in life. She was surprised when she was met by a lot of her supporters at the airport. When Boy Abunda asked her if she feels like a star, the funny and honest Osang said, “Medyo natatanggap ko na.” She admitted that she’s still overwhelmed because she didn’t expect all these to happen. In fact, when asked what she felt when she was announced the first ever X Factor Israel winner, Osang shared, “Wala, hindi na ako makapagsalita, parang nandun lang ang katawan ko pero blanko ako.”

To end the interview, the caregiver-turned-singer also extended her gratitude to her Filipino fans. “Maraming salamat po, maganda ang pag-welcome niyo po sa akin sa airport pa lang. Maraming salamat sa pag-suporta. Kahit malayo ako, talaga pong nararamdaman ko po kung paano kayo sumuporta.”