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Carmelle takes inaugural Eurovision Asia title for the Philippines
Carmelle Collado, performing as Carmelle, won the first Eurovision Song Contest Asia in Bangkok on Saturday, giving the Philippines the inaugural regional title. Her victory matters as the contest’s first edition outside Europe, and she said her song was a tribute to Filipino women and their independence.
Her pop and rap entry, “Sobra-Sobra”, blends Tagalog and English with traditional instruments kubing and kulintang. Carmelle scored 211 points, 41 ahead of host country Thailand, while Vietnam placed third; she received the most votes from both juries and the public. Eleven countries competed, and Carmelle will perform at Eurovision 2027 in Burgas.
In short
- Carmelle won the inaugural Eurovision Asia for the Philippines.
- “Sobra-Sobra” scored 211 points, 41 ahead of Thailand.
- The song celebrates strong, independent Filipinas.
Explained simply
Eurovision is an international song contest in which performers represent participating countries, with results decided by national juries and public votes. The original contest began in Europe, and Eurovision Asia is a regional version that brings together performers from countries across Asia.
The Philippines is an archipelago in south-east Asia, where Tagalog and English are widely used. Its music draws on varied influences, and instruments such as the kubing, a bamboo jaw harp, and the kulintang, a set of tuned gongs, are part of Filipino musical traditions.
The contest gives participating countries a shared stage to present their music to audiences across the region. Its winner is also due to perform at Eurovision in 2027, linking the new Asian event with the longer-running European contest.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Philippines’ Carmelle wins first Eurovision contest in Asia”.