Two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) won big in the ASEAN+3 Song Contest 2017 held on August 21 in Vietnam, with a 29-year-old Filipina besting 20 acts from other Asian countries.
Darlin Joy Baje, a front office personnel in a Vietnamese hotel, was hailed as the champion in the singing contest held as part of ASEAN’s 50th anniversary and Voice of Vietnam’s 72nd anniversary.
She performed “One Night Only” from the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls.
Baje revealed that it was her first time joining a singing contest because she feared of rejection during her teen years.
“Never pa po ako sumasali kahit nung mga teenage years ko po kasi takot ako sa rejections and wala akong lakas ng loob sumali ng mga contest,” GMA News quoted her.
Baje was trained by her aunt, who is a professional singer. She also attributed her success to her rigorous training for the competition.
“Halo-halo na lahat — pagod, puyat, walang tulog, tapos magdamag na practice and rehearsal and mga extra activities. Swerte ako kasi napasama ako sa semifinals at finals at nanalo,” Baje said.
Despite her winning stint in the singing competition, Baje said she would like to focus on her job, but will take up singing gigs during free time. She has been an OFW for a decade.
“Sa ngayon po, nag-focus po muna ako sa current job ko. With regards to music, come what may na lang po. I just don’t expect anything. Whatever po ‘yung dumating, just grab it,” she said.
Another Pinoy singer placed in the competition
Meanwhile, Alvir Anthony Subrado emerged in the third place in the competition together with Pham Manh from Vietnam.
Subrado, a singer who already performed in Music Museum in the Philippines and Opera House in Hanoi, performed Guy Sebastian’s 2003 song “Angels Brought Me Here”.
He hopes this victory will be his stepping stone in the music industry. Subrado works as an IELTS Trainer in an International School in Hanoi.
“After my competition, I went back to my teaching career at the same time getting busy with line up show for August and September. I hope I can find someone to manage my career and get more opportunities to perform.”
ASEAN+3 Song Contest was held from August 17 to 21. The contest had 21 acts from ASEAN nations with three coming from China, Korea, and Japan aged 18 to 35.
Source: GMA News, Asean+3 Song Contest Website
Photo credit: The Voice of Vietnam
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