Nagbunyi na naman muli ang bansang Pilipinas when our very own’ Osan’g (formal name Rose) was declared grandwinner in XFactor- Israel, a feat Osang imagined impossible to achieve in the past, till she came to this Promised Land of the Israelites. Rose “Osang’ Fostanes came to this country to work as caregiver’ four years ago.
The people of Israel, led by her bosses there, must perhaps, have taken a big liking for this woman so that they opened doors and windows for her, opportunities for her to shine and achieve one great dream.
And now she has it, a laurel for her singing voice- the Israeli government has even cleared her to do music recording in Israe,l an activity that will become a second vocation for her as she declared that never would she leave her caregiver post and her boss.
BUT..
.Parang pampatanggal ng gana daw yang BIR ng Pilipinas. Imagine, almost everyone has been agog over the victory won by this kababayan when biglang may sumingit na news item that BIR daw says hahabulin daw nila si Osang so that she pays taxes accrued from her cash prize as grandwinner of a prestigious international singing competition.
My sister who has come home to stay after living in the U.S. for over 40 years asks ‘Why does BIR do that- announce to the media its actions on certain ‘erring’ taxpayer? In the U.S., kapag may atraso, IRS sends a letter to the person concerned- this helps preserve the dignity and privacy of the taxpayer and the IRS as they discuss and possibly negotiate for an arrangement of payment or simply to prove that there is no intent to evade taxes. After all, we all know that the IRS and our own BIR must fulfil their obligations to their respective governments and that is to collect taxes from the public to add to the nation’s coffers.
I agree, Kakahiya talaga yung bangayan na nababasa, naririnig, at napapanood natin in the media between BIR Comm. Kim Henares and Manny Pacquiao a few months ago. Pinag- ugatan ang pagkolekta ng tax at di pagbabayad ng People’s Champ. Nakakababa ng uri ang matinding sagutan ng dalawang much respected personalities na ito, sa totoo lang.
KASI NAMAN…
The masang Pinoy has included Osang in its list of idols- people who inspire.This 47- year old Pinay bested several contestants in XFactor- Israel to become the champion of the first season of the show. Osang came to Israel as a hired caregiver four years ago.
Nakakatigalgal daw sa tinding inspiration that ‘Osang’s (Rose’s nickname) rise to fame created within the Filipino especially the marginalized. San ka pa, diminutive at 4feet 11 inches, with no artistahin looks and countenance, tabain pa, no college degree as she had to eke out a living for the family, openly gay way before being gay was no issue anymore, Osang became an idol in far away Israel because of her talent and powerful singing voice.
The rest of the Philippines, her native land naman, felt as if we were the winners ourselves when the announcement of her victory was made in the globally popular talent program XFactor Tuesday a couple of weeks ago. Aghast and unbelieving, Osang shed her tears of happiness as she received the audience’s praise and standing ovation, something that perhaps she should have been bestowed in much earlier singing competition she did not tire of joining.
Says her younger sister, her family would, in the past, be so nervous whenever Osang landed in the competition finals- dehado daw kasi, in this country of ours, visual appeal is gauged heavily among performers. Di nga kasi artistahin ang beauty ni Osang- at least if we took into account present- day standards of what beauty should be. Kaya. Maski ang tindi ng boses and hanep ang singing style, di nadeclare na grand winner ang ating Cinderella ng entablado in the past.
Buti na lang kamo, fate took her to Israel. At nakakilala ng mga mabubuting bossing as she worked as a caregiver and who believed she had extra special singing talent hence they allowed her some leeway and consideration to be able to join XFactor- time off for going to studios, rehearsing, and the whole lot of activities as she pursued her dream, still unfulfilled at age 47. And then there were her friends, mostly kababayan caregivers working in Israel. They were her cheering squad, encouraging her as she rose from one competition level into the next. ‘Kaya mo yan! Kaya mo yan!’
As I watched her performances at YouTube, I likewise took note of people she mingled with in the tv studios and my perception was most of them seemed to be extra kind to her- did I perceive this right? Her mentor, 32 year old Shiri Maimon is a much- admired celebrity in Tel Aviv, some Israeli friends tell me. She is a pop and R and B singer, a Television host and a film actress. She is beautiful and glamorous. The clips at YouTube showed Shiri welcoming Osang in her beautiful home, making a meal for her. When Osang declares ‘I will help’, Shiri said ‘N, You are my guest, I will make you a meal.’ For Osang siguro, nakakapanlambot sa kabaitan itong si Shiri. As the two met several times to discuss perhaps the musical pieces that both agreed to be used and the style of rendition to be delivered, Shiri would hold Osang’s face with both hands to tell her to feel more self- assured. They were as chummy as two sisters plotting something. At the penultimate show of XFactor 1st season and as Osang sang her number, the cameras cut away to Shiri, her hands clasped together, her face deep with concern that Osang make all the notes right and show the emotion that the song wished to evoke. As Osang and the other female competitor waited for the judges’ final verdict, Shiri’s hand held on to Osang’s shoulder, seemingly assuring her that she had as much chance to be declared the night’s winner as the other contestant because she did her best and everybody knew it. Reality tv nga yan, di ba? One does and speaks as he pleases. Body language indeed speaks louder than words.
Did they imagine what this woman had to go through before reaching her dream? Perhaps they regarded her story as unbelievably sad and Osang so bent in winning inspite of her liabilities (so she thinks) so that as she embarked on this venture, they were there also to encourage her, give her more self- esteem, belief in herself thus boosting her morale some more.
All the adulation and material benefits that Osang receives from XFactor- Israel are, many feel, fully deserved by her. Osang naman does not look like she will run away from responsibilities- tingnan nyo nga, up to now, she makes herself responsible in supporting or helping out her while family- daig pa siguro ang gastos than when one has a family of one’s own.
Let’s hope the BIR allows Osang her moment of glory muna- saka na habulin at tawaging tax evader. I am sure the BIR will conduct its business quietly and efficiently.
Sure na sure, each of us has some lessons to learn from Osang. She is now looked up to not only by our masang Pinoy but also by those belonging to the sosyaleros and sosyaleras as someone worthy of paghanga. Values she has plenty of and that’s what we hope all of us in
this archipelago develop in ourselves. Para tuluy tuloy na ang asenso.
Maybe that is the solution to many of the problems confronted by our country today.
We can all be inspired and learn from Osang’s journey in life.
I and I’m sure most of you dear readers, will follow the direction where fate will take this worthy kababayan.
THANK YOU, TORONTO!
