OSN and Kapatid TV5 announce Middle East Champion of Reality TV Show ‘Talentadong Pinoy’

In an exciting finale that brought the most talented Filipinos in the GCC region to Dubai to vie for the top spot of Kapatid TV5’s ‘Talentadong Pinoy Middle East,’ Haina Uddin was adjudged Middle East Grand Champion. All the buzz from the exciting contest will be showcased exclusively on OSN’s Kapatid TV5 channel. 

Hailing from Laguna, Philippines and a student of the Philippine School of Doha, 16-year old Haina will go on to represent the Middle East at the global Battle of the Champions in Kapatid TV5’s leading reality talent show. She also received a cash prize of US$10,000 for winning the Middle East contest. 

“I am totally surprised, I did not expect this!” said Haina. “I was just a wildcard entry and I am thrilled to have had this fantastic opportunity.” 

When asked with what she will do with her prize money, she said: “I intend to donate part of the prize to charity and the rest will be used to open a small business for my family in the Philippines.” 

Mesmerising judges with her powerful rendition of Jessie J’s song Mamma Knows Best,  Haina  had the audience on their feet, in a closely contested event that also saw Kesiah Ariteo, a student from Saudi Arabia, and the Dubai-based 5-member all-male dance group Watawat, emerging as first and second runners-up who received US$5,000 and US$3,000, respectively. 

Award-winning host Ryan Agoncillo, and celebrity talent scouts Gelli de Belen, Arnell Ignacio and Marvin Agustin, were in Dubai for the inaugural Middle East regional talent search for Talentadong Pinoy. The Dubai event followed the first round of auditions and qualifying rounds held in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. 

The celebrity talent scouts and host unanimously praised Haina. “We have seen a lot of talented Filipinos here in the Middle East and all over the world,” said Arnel Ignacio. “But aside from talent, we are also looking for the x-factor, which Haina definitely has,” he added. 

“I think it was her fate to win this contest,” celebrity talent scout Gelli de Belen said. “I can’t help but think that maybe she is really fated to win Talentadong Pinoy Middle East,” added De Belen. 

Several lucky OSN Pinoy subscribers had the exclusive opportunity to meet Ryan Agoncillo, Marvin Agustin, Arnel Ignacio and Gelli de Belen in person after the grand finale. 

Chuck Silva of OSN added: “We are extremely pleased with the positive response we had from the auditions and qualifying rounds including the fully-packed finale. Events such as this give our valued OSN Pinoy subscribers the opportunity to connect with what they watch on TV and experience it live and in person. We are happy to provide these opportunities as it enriches our customers’ experience with OSN.” 

Talentadong Pinoy Middle East will be broadcast exclusively on OSN’s Kapatid TV5 channel every Sunday from June 23. OSN offers premium Filipino entertainment through its dedicated Pinoy packages offering over 40 TV channels including Kapatid TV5 and Aksyon TV (the official and exclusive worldwide broadcaster of the games of the Philippine Basketball Association). 

OSN recently added four premium and leading ABS-CBN channels including TFC (The Filipino Channel), Bro, Cinema One Global and ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel) further strengthening its Pinoy offering for Middle East viewers.