Regardless of an early setback when a choose pressed the reject button, promising vocalist Arabelle dela Cruz persevered to seize the crown over different Asian contestants
The Filipino voice as soon as once more shone on the worldwide stage. GMA Sparkle artist Arabelle dela Cruz emerged because the grand winner of the South Korean singing competitors Veiled Cup, the primary worldwide version of the Veiled Musician sequence, now in its third season.
Self-styled because the “Laguna Diva,” Dela Cruz captured the crown with a powerhouse rendition of Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good.” Decide i-dle’s Miyeon praised her assured stage presence, whereas one other applauded her capability to sort out a tune with difficult low bass and broad vocal scales.
She confronted stiff competitors from finalists Bangkok Soul Man and Phang Nga Bay Fighter from Thailand, Vientiane Purple Hair from Laos, and Gyeongsang-do Iron Voice from South Korea. Fellow Filipino contestants Thea Astley and Garett Bolden additionally participated, although they have been eradicated earlier within the competitors.
The ultimate judging panel was composed of i-dle’s Miyeon, 10cm’s Kwon Jung-yeol, Paul Kim, Tiffany Younger, Ailee, and Henry Lau, with actress Lee Da-hee serving as host.
Within the fourth and ultimate episode, aired on Sunday, February 1, on Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) TV, Dela Cruz amassed a complete transformed rating of seven,317 factors, calculated from judges’ scores, dwell viewers votes, international on-line cumulative voting, and music vote scores.
Veiled Cup, previously titled World Veiled Musician, options contributors from 9 nations throughout 4 episodes. The present’s defining premise strips contestants of all private identifiers besides for his or her voices. Performances happen behind a white round veil, with solely hometown and nickname provided as clues to every singer’s identification.
A world sensation
Arabelle dela Cruz graduated from Lyceum of the Philippines College–Laguna in November 2025 with a level in Enterprise Administration. However she has additionally been attempting to pursue a music profession, which has been outlined extra by endurance fairly than in a single day success.
In 2018, she was a High 5 grand finalist in Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 2, establishing herself as one of many nation’s most promising vocalists. That very same 12 months, she joined The Conflict, steadily refining her craft, culminating in a primary runner-up end in Season 5 in 2025.
These near-wins by no means stalled her momentum; as an alternative, every competitors turned a proving floor for her vocal maturity. By the point she stepped onto the Veiled Cup stage, Dela Cruz was now not merely competing.
Regardless of an early setback when choose Henry Lau pressed the reject button throughout her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “If I Aint Bought You” — noting that she hadn’t but discovered her “coloration” in singing — Dela Cruz persevered.
Behind the veil, solely her voice, she outshone competitions from Thailand, Laos, and South Korea, claiming the highest spot within the finale and carving her place on the worldwide stage.
Her win additionally comes amid a broader wave of Filipino expertise gaining recognition overseas, as Gwyn Dorado positioned second in Sing Once more 4 earlier on January 6, being the one overseas finalist of the season. Collectively, these achievements additional present the Philippines’ rising presence on South Korea’s aggressive music levels.
Recent off her worldwide victory, Dela Cruz is getting into a brand new chapter. She just lately carried out dwell on GMA’s Unang Hirit and appeared on It’s Showtime on February 3, signaling a assured return to the Philippine mainstream as international alternatives proceed to unfold.
Reflecting on her journey, she shared on Instagram: “Marami na akong nasalihan na kompetisyon sa buhay ko, karamihan pa roon ay hindi pinalad. Pero maraming naging aral sa akin lahat ng napagdaanan ko na yun. I’m all the time grateful. And I’ll all the time be. Dahil hindi ako magiging si Arabelle ngayon kung hindi nangyari lahat ng yun. Mula sa batang nangangarap na marinig ng lahat, nabigyan na sya ng panahon ngayon!”
(I’ve participated in lots of competitions in my life, most of which weren’t profitable. However all of these experiences have taught me many classes. I’m all the time grateful. And I’ll all the time be. As a result of I might not be Arabelle immediately if all of that had not occurred. From a toddler who dreamed of being heard by everybody, she has now been given her second!)
After years of refining her craft underneath the general public eye, Dela Cruz’s story is now not one in every of shut calls or close to finishes. The “Laguna Diva” now stands on the threshold of a profession that lastly matches the voice that has carried her this far. – Claire Masbad/Rappler.com
Claire Masbad is a Rappler intern learning AB Communication Arts at De La Salle College.
