Aside from Rose “Osang†Fostanes who won the first X-Factor Israel, there were several other Filipino achievers abroad in 2013, including (as compiled by Funfare’s “other beauty expert†Celso de Guzman Caparas):
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines Laboratory High School Chorale, Gold Medal Spiritual Category and Silver Medal Youth Category, at the 1st Guam Pacific Choral Festival, USA, May 1 to 4;
• Muntinlupa Vocal Ensemble, 2nd Prize (Children’s); Imusicapella, 2nd Prize and UST Singers, 3rd Prize (Folk Music, Negro Spiritual and Gospel Choir); UST Singers, 2nd Prize and Imusicapella, 3rd Prize (Mixed Choir); Imusicapella and UST Singers, both 3rd Prize (Sacred Music Choir); UST Singers and Coro Tomasina, both 3rd Prize (Pop and Jazz), at the 1st Yeosu International Choir Competition and Festival, South Korea, June 11 to 17;
• Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company, Gold Award at the 14th World Folklore Festival, Buyukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey, July 7;
• Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir, 1st Prize Children’s Folk Choir, at the 67th Llagollen International Musical Eisteddfod Children’s Choir Festival, North Wales, United Kingdom, July 9 to 14;
• University of the Philippines Street Dance Club — Bronze Medal, Megacrew Division, at the 12th World Hip Hop International Dance Championship, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Aug. 11;
• Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild, Inc., Best Folklore Performance, at the Busan International Travel Fair, South Korea, Sep. 6 to 9;
View all• Himig Bulilit of Saint Paul College of Parañaque conducted by Losaida Gonzales, Grand Champion Gold Medal (Children’s Choir Open) and Saint Louis University Glee Club of Baguio City conducted by Normita Rio-Pablico, two Grand Champion Gold Medals (Folklore and Mix Choir Group), at the 3rd Asia Pacific Choir Games, Manado City, Indonesia, Oct. 8 to 18. (Note: 150 choirs from 18 countries participated.);
• Bleu Rascals (Paul Marney Leobrera, Oliver Salaysay and John Jayson Garcia), Champion, 2nd Cotai International Jazz & Blues Festival, Macau, Oct. 11 to 13 (Note: The trio beat out 117 bands from different countries.);
• Erick Christian Robles — Outstanding Performance Award, 5th Bravo! ASEAN, Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 26;
• Eric delos Santos, Asian Top Fashion Designer of the Year (Prêt-à -Porter); Justine Gabionza, Asian Top Fashion Female Model of the Year; Albert Andrada, Top 5 Finalists (Haute Couture); Nelson Cruz, Top 5 Finalists (Hair Stylist); Charmaine Palermo, Top 5 Finalists (Fashion Stylist); and Niccolo Cosme, Top 5 Finalists (Fashion Photographer), at the Fashion Asia 2013, Chengdu, China, Oct. 30. (Note: Gabionza was crowned 2006 Miss Tourism Queen International also in China);
• Avel Bacudio, Asia’s Most Influential Designer, 1st Mercedes-Benz Stylo Asia Fashion Week, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 30 to Dec. 4; and
• Ellona Rano Santiago, Top 6, The X Factor USA Season 3, Hollywood, USA, Dec. 5.
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