The Philippines’ first-ever representative at the Eurovision Song Contest Asia, CARMELLE, is preparing to take the global stage as she performs her original song “Sobra-Sobra” in pursuit of the competition’s top honor on November 14 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The rising Bicolana artist received a heartfelt send-off from ABS-CBN through “CARMELLE: Sobra-Sobrang Send Off,” attended by her family, friends, and fans. The “Tawag ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown” champion and former “Pinoy Big Brother: Collab 2.0” housemate hopes to bring Original Pilipino Music (OPM) to a wider international audience, highlighting its universal appeal and ability to connect people across cultures.
“Yung goal ko talaga is to leave the global audience with a deep sense of connection. Maiintidihan po sana nila na yung Filipino music is universally relatable,” shared CARMELLE.
A Childhood Dream Takes the Global Stage
For CARMELLE, joining Eurovision Song Contest Asia marks the realization of a long-held dream. The artist, who earned seven gold medals at the 2019 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), revealed that performing internationally has been an ambition since childhood.
“Sa mga hindi nakakaalam, talagang international stage ang pinapangarap ko po. Lumaki ako na pinapanood ko yung mga Pussycat Dolls, Spice Girls, kasi po yan ang pinapalabas ng nanay ko nung bata pa ako,” she said.
Supporting the Philippine bet is Team CARMELLE, composed of “Sobra-Sobra” songwriters Mat Olavides and Nica del Rosario, production head Jessamae Samson, stylist and creative director Ica Villanueva, and the entire ABS-CBN Music team led by Roxy Liquigan, alongside overall creatives, content, and operations head Jonathan Manalo.
For Jonathan, CARMELLE’s participation represents more than a competition—it is an opportunity to proudly champion the Filipino spirit on the international stage.
“More than ABS-CBN, ito ay laban nating mga Pilipino. Lahat tayo, flag ng Philippines ang wine-wave natin dito. Nakakatuwa na si CARMELLE ay representation ng isang empowered Filipina,” Jonathan said.
Jessamae also expressed confidence in the artist’s ability to captivate international audiences through her versatility.
“CARMELLE can sing, of course, given na magaling talaga. Maganda ang boses. But to dance and sing at the same time, and rap, in the global stage. That is very exciting for us,” Jessamae shared.
A Star-Studded Send-Off and an Upcoming Solo Concert
The send-off celebration featured special video messages from Apl de Ap, BINI, and CARMELLE’s former “The Voice Kids” coach, Bamboo. Philippine Selection Night runners-up Marielle Montellano and SAGA also performed during the event and shared their well-wishes for the upcoming grand finals.
Adding to the celebration, CARMELLE surprised attendees with the announcement of her upcoming solo concert, “Unleashed,” scheduled for January 29 at the New Frontier Theater.
Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026
CARMELLE will compete against 10 other representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Filipino audiences can catch the live broadcast of Eurovision Song Contest Asia on November 14 (Saturday) at 9:30 PM through iWant, ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, and Kapamilya Online Live.
As CARMELLE prepares to bring “Sobra-Sobra” to Bangkok, her journey stands as a celebration of Filipino talent, musical identity, and the empowered spirit of OPM on the world stage.
