Filipino singer Arabelle Dela Cruz emerged as the grand winner of the international singing competition “Veiled Cup,” proudly bringing home the title after facing off against strong contenders from South Korea, Laos, and Thailand.
The highly anticipated finale aired on February 1 on the South Korean network SBS. Hosted by Lee Da-hee, the show featured a powerhouse judging panel composed of Tiffany Young, 10cm’s Kwon Jung-yeol, Ailee, Paul Kim, Henry Lau, and (G)I-DLE’s Miyeon, adding star power to the final showdown.
Following her win, the Laguna Diva took to Instagram to thank everyone who supported her journey, expressing gratitude to those who believed in her and stood by her as she pursued her musical dreams.
For her winning performance, Dela Cruz sang Michael Bublé’s "Feeling Good," earning a commanding total of 7,137 points. Her score was broken down into 4,850 points from the judges (50 percent), 1,034 points from live audience voting (20 percent), 544 points from global online cumulative votes (20 percent), and 709 points from the music vote category (10 percent).
Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay Fighter placed second with 6,064 points, followed by Bangkok’s Soul Man with 5,058 points. South Korea’s Gyeongsang-do Iron Voice finished fourth with 5,046 points, while Laos’ Vientiane Red Hair landed fifth with 4,817 points.
The Philippines also made its mark in the competition through fellow contestants Garrett Bolden, also known as the Zambales Beast, and Thea Astley, dubbed the Manila Storyteller—further showcasing Filipino vocal talent on the global stage.
