Powerhouse belter Carmelle is preparing to represent the Philippines in the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia on Nov. 14, eager to introduce the universal appeal of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) to an international audience through her entry, “Sobra-Sobra.”
The “Tawag ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown” champion and former “Pinoy Big Brother: Collab 2.0” housemate will compete against 10 representatives from other Asian countries in the grand finals in Bangkok, Thailand.
During the “Carmelle: Sobra-Sobrang Send Off” event, organized by ABS-CBN and attended by her family, friends and supporters, the singer said she hopes her performance will establish an emotional connection with viewers from different cultures.
“My goal is really to leave the global audience with a deep sense of connection. I hope they will understand that Filipino music is universally relatable,” Carmelle said.
The Bicolana singer, who won seven gold medals at the 2019 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), described her participation in the competition as the realization of a childhood dream.
She recalled growing up watching international girl groups, particularly the Pussycat Dolls and Spice Girls, which influenced her desire to perform on the global stage.
“For those who don’t know, performing on the international stage has really been my dream. I grew up watching the Pussycat Dolls and Spice Girls because those were the groups my mother would play when I was young,” she said.
Carmelle also shared how the message of “Sobra-Sobra” resonates with her personal experiences, including the criticism she received about her skin color.
“I can relate to every lyric because they reflect some of the stories in my own life. I admit that I used to receive criticism about my skin color. But what I really want to say is, just listen to ‘Sobra-Sobra.’ That is my message to you,” she said.
The Philippine delegation is working to elevate the song’s presentation for the international competition. While the entry remains the same, the team confirmed that the Bangkok performance will feature improvements over the version presented during the Philippine selection.
Carmelle is scheduled to perform sixth among the 11 contestants. However, the Philippine delegation said the performance order would not affect their rehearsals, as the team remains focused on delivering a memorable presentation.
ABS-CBN Music head Roxy Liquigan is leading preparations, with songwriters Mat Olavides and Nica del Rosario, production head Jessamae Samson, and overall creatives, content and operations head Jonathan Manalo.
Stylist and creative director Ica Villanueva is also handling the wardrobe and visual direction of Carmelle and the other performers accompanying her onstage.
Manalo said Carmelle’s participation represents not only ABS-CBN but also the Filipino people, who will be rallying behind the country’s entry.
“More than ABS-CBN, this is a fight for all Filipinos. We are all waving the Philippine flag here. It is wonderful that Carmelle represents an empowered Filipina,” he said.
Samson expressed confidence in Carmelle’s ability to showcase her versatility, particularly her combination of singing, dancing and rapping.
“Carmelle can sing, of course. She is really talented and has a beautiful voice. But seeing her dance and sing at the same time, while also rapping, on the global stage is very exciting for us,” she said.
For Carmelle, the competition is also an opportunity to build friendships and connections with fellow artists from across Asia.
She said she had already begun communicating with some of the contestants through social media and was looking forward to meeting them in person.
She is also curious about the standards that will shape the inaugural Asian edition of the international singing competition.
“I am excited about the connections we will build and the friendships I will develop with my fellow finalists. I have already been communicating with some of them on social media. I am also curious about the standards because Eurovision in Europe has its own standards, and now we have the Asian edition. Perhaps our batch will be the one to set the standard,” she said.
Although an international career has long been her ambition, Carmelle said she would carefully consider any opportunity that might require her to leave the Philippines.
She recalled receiving offers after joining WCOPA, including a scholarship to study abroad, but decided not to accept them because of her family in the Philippines.
“If someone offers me that opportunity, of course, I will pray about it first. If it is meant for me, then it is meant for me. But if I am asked whether I would immediately leave, I also think it would be a waste to let such an opportunity pass,” she said.
For now, she said the journey itself remains important, as it allows her to learn from others while sharing her own experiences.
The send-off program also featured surprise video messages from Apl.de.Ap, P-pop group Bini and Carmelle’s former The Voice Kids coach Bamboo. Philippine selection night runners-up Marielle Montellano and Saga also performed and wished her luck in the competition.
Carmelle likewise surprised attendees by announcing her upcoming solo concert, “Unleashed,” scheduled for Jan. 29, 2027 at the New Frontier Theater.
The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia will bring together representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
Filipinos can watch the competition live on Nov. 14 at 9:30 p.m. through iWant, ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel and Kapamilya Online Live.
