Long-distance love: Rose Fostanes on future with girlfriend

MANILA, Philippines – After working abroad nearly half her life, Rose Fostanes returns to the Philippines a superstar, but the X-Factor Israel winner, in an interview with Buzz ng Bayan on Sunday, March 2, said she has no immediate plans of settling down.  

(READ: Rose Fostanes’ ‘X Factor’ journey)

Now 47, Fostanes first ventured abroad at the age of 23, going on to work in countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, and Israel. Among the loved ones Fostanes left in the Philippines while working abroad was her long-term girlfriend Mel Adel.

“Mahirap talaga,” (It’s really hard), said Adel when asked about their long-distance relationship, now 31 years strong.

Before the age of social media and the internet, Fostanes said they used traditional snail mail and voice tapes to keep in touch. Fostanes shared how she would only be able to come home once every 4 years.

In this new chapter in her life, she said she has yet to determine future plans to settle down with Adel.

“Wala pa po talaga ngayong plano,” said Fostanes, when asked whether the two have plans to settle down and adopt children. (We really don’t have plans right now.)

“Noon po nung bata pa kami, inisip po namin yan, pero ngayon na pareho kaming busy at may edad na kami, wala po sigurong mag aalaga [ng bata].” (When we were younger, we thought about it, but now that we’re both busy and have grown quite old, maybe there’ll be no one to take care of a kid.)

For now, the couple’s long distance relationship continues. “Dito muna siya siguro sa Pilipinas, bibisitahin ko na lang siya,” Fostanes told Buzz ng Bayan. (I guess she’ll stay here in the Philippines for now, then I’ll just visit her.)

Despite returning to the Philippines as an instant star, Fostanes will soon be heading back to Israel to focus on her singing career.

Life before X-Factor

Before claiming fame as the first winner of reality singing competition X-Factor Israel, the 47-year-old overseas Filipino worker admitted harsh comments about her appearance hurt her in the past.

“Sa’kin po, masakit ‘yon talaga lalo nung bata pa ako kumakanta ako… Hindi pa ako nakakaakyat ng stage, gigiba daw yung stage,” she recalled. (It really hurt me, especially when I was young and I would sing… I haven’t even climbed on stage and people would say the stage might collapse.)

But the caregiver turned singing sensation added that she paid no mind to those words, remaining steadfast.

Fostanes’ X-Factor triumph has made her believe that criticism can fuel people to succeed. Fostanes urged all those who had experienced discrimination to use the experience as a way to become stronger.

“Sa naririnig natin na hindi maganda sa pandinig, ‘yon po ang magtutulak sa atin para magsumikap.” (The bad things we hear people say about ourselves can push us to be more determined.)

“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera, she said, is a song that best represents her life right now. – Rappler.com