MANILA, Philippines — Filipino singer Arabelle Dela Cruz made history after winning the Grand Champion title at the inaugural international edition of “Veiled Cup Korea,” besting an elite roster of vocalists across Asia.
Dela Cruz emerged on top during the Feb. 1, 2026, finale of the South Korean reality singing competition produced by SBS. She triumphed over finalists from Thailand, Laos and South Korea in a blind-format contest where performers initially sing behind a veil, keeping their identities concealed.
Dela Cruz sealed her victory with a commanding performance of Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good,” earning a perfect score of 100 from judge Tiffany Young of Girls’ Generation. She amassed a total of 7,137 points from judges’ scores, live audience votes and global online voting.
In a message shared on Instagram after her win, Dela Cruz dedicated the achievement to the Philippines and to those who supported her journey.
As translated to English, she wrote, “Philippines, we won! First of all, I thank God for blessing me with life and with the talent that I am able to share with all of you today. Thank you so much to my family, who have been there from the very beginning until now, endlessly supporting everything I want in life. I love you all so much.”
She also thanked her friends and supporters, saying their encouragement helped her throughout the competition.
Reflecting on past competitions, Dela Cruz acknowledged earlier losses that shaped her growth as an artist.
“I have joined many competitions in my life, and in most of them, I did not win. But everything I went through taught me valuable lessons. I am always grateful. And I will always be. Because I would not be the Arabelle I am today if none of those things had happened. From a child who dreamed of being heard by everyone, she has now been given her moment. This victory is not mine alone. This is for everyone who believed in me and for everyone who dreams the way I do. I love you all,” she added.
Dela Cruz, whose full name is Arabelle Manalo Dela Cruz, is a Sparkle GMA artist and a familiar face on Philippine television. She finished first runner-up on “The Clash Season 7” in 2025 and is a regular performer on GMA’s “All-Out Sundays.” Earlier, she gained recognition on “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in 2018 as a daily winner and semifinalist.