Carmelle admits feeling excited, pressured ahead of Eurovision Asia stint in Bangkok

The November 14 show in Bangkok, Thailand, is the first time Eurovision is holding a contest for Asian countries. Before flying out, Carmelle met the entertainment press at the Star Magic Spotlight press conference on October 6. She talked about what it means to represent the country, how she is preparing, and what Filipinos can expect when she takes the stage.

Carmelle won her spot on August 30 at Pili, Pinas!: Philippine Selection Night. The show was held at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City and hosted by Vice Ganda. Ten acts competed for the slot, and Carmelle came out on top. SAGA’s “Broken Beyond Repair” finished as runner-up. The final result combined jury scores (40 percent), votes from the Philippine public (40 percent) and votes from abroad (20 percent).

Her winning entry, “Sobra-Sobra,” was written by Nica del Rosario and Mat Olavides. The title means “too much.” The dance track is a tribute to Filipinas, aimed at the way women get criticized for being too much one moment and not enough the next.

Eurovision began in Europe in 1956 and is run by the European Broadcasting Union. Seventy years later, the contest is coming to Asia for the first time. Competing acts come from countries including Bhutan, Malaysia, South Korea, Nepal, Laos, Bangladesh and host Thailand. ABS-CBN is the official Philippine broadcaster of the show.

Carmelle has spent much of her young career on competition stages. Viewers first saw her on The Voice Kids in 2019, where she finished first runner-up. In 2025, she was crowned grand champion of Tawag ng Tanghalan: School Showdown on It’s Showtime. She then joined Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0.

She said Eurovision feels different because this time she is singing for the whole country.

Each of her past competitions came with its own worries. On Tawag ng Tanghalan, it was the gong.

“‘Yung mga different competition na ‘yun, may kanya-kanya silang kinakabahan ako. Siyempre, ‘yung Tawag ng Tanghalan po, may gong. Kakabahan ako doon. ‘Yung tipong dati, noong hindi pa po ako nananalo, every time na makikita ko po ‘yung gong, hindi ko siya tinitingnan kasi parang, hala, nakakatakot ‘yun,” she told PUSH ABS-CBN.

For a singer, she said, getting gonged is embarrassing. Inside the PBB house, her biggest fear was being the first housemate sent home.

“Siyempre, as someone na kumakanta, pag na-gong, nakakahiya ‘yun. Parang sumalang ako, nagkamali ako, tapos na-gong ako, tapos nabilangan ako. ‘Yun ang kinakatakot ko. Sa PBB naman, siyempre ‘yung ma-evict sa unang eviction night,” she added.

At the Philippine Selection Night, it was her fellow contestants who made her most nervous.

“So, ‘yun ang kinakatakot ko. Pero itong Eurovision, ang kinakatakutan ko ay ‘yung mga nakalaban ko rin noong Philippine Selection Night kasi sobrang galing po talaga nila. As in, lahat, parang mahihirapan ang mga tao pumili kung sino ba ang ipapadala nila sa Bangkok. So, ‘yun talaga ‘yung pinakakinabahan ko during the Philippine Selection Night po ng Eurovision,” she said.

Now that she is officially headed to Bangkok, the pressure has grown, since people around the world will be watching. Still, Carmelle said she is choosing to focus on the opportunities ahead and to be grateful that she was picked.

“Kasi sabi ko nga po, when you represent the country, it’s a huge responsibility po. ‘Yung Tawag ng Tanghalan kasi, dito sa Philippines. But in Eurovision, talagang pang-worldwide, global audience po ‘yung manonood. So grabe ‘yung pressure po. But at the same time, mas nagfo-focus din po ako sa kung ano po ‘yung mga opportunities na puwede pong mangyari sa buhay ko. Win or lose po, ‘yun po talaga. Kasi ngayon po, happy na po ako kasi ako po ‘yung napili na mag-represent ng Philippines. And alam mo ‘yun, tina-try ko rin po ‘yung best ko na hindi po mag-overthink,” she said.

For Carmelle, enjoying the experience matters more than winning. She has already made friends with some of the artists she will compete against. She gets attached easily, so she expects to miss them once it is all over.

“Talagang mas nagma-matter po sa akin na i-enjoy ‘yung journey. Kasi ‘yun po talaga ‘yung nagma-matter. And ‘yun po, kasi ako po, mabilis ako ma-sepanx. So parang, alam mo, after ng journey na ito, ma-mi-miss ko ‘yung mga friends. Actually, may mga friends na ako na makakalaban ko doon,” she said.

She is excited to see how things unfold in Bangkok. She is also nervous about facing her rivals, but she wants to focus on showing what sets her apart.

“Doon ako excited, sa kung ano ‘yung mga mangyayari sa Bangkok. Kinakabahan ako sa mga magiging kalaban ko kasi alam kong sobrang gagaling po nila. And we have our own uniqueness, ‘di ba? Like, meron kaming sariling strength na ipapakita po sa buong mundo,” she said.

Fans who saw her winning number should expect something new. Carmelle would not give details, but she said her Bangkok performance will be different from the one at the Philippine Selection Night.

“Ayoko po sanang ma-spoil pa ‘yung mga kaganapan. You know what I’m saying? Pero ang masasabi ko lang po, it’s a different one sa kung ano po ‘yung nakita n’yo sa Philippine Selection Night. ‘Yan lang po ang masasabi ko. For now, makikita n’yo na lang po ‘yun sa Bangkok, Thailand,” she said.

Carmelle also had a hand in planning the performance. After her win, the team met to pool everyone’s ideas. They made sure she spoke up about what she wanted, since she is the one who will be on stage.

“Actually, opo. Kasi noong nag-meeting po kami after ko pong manalo, talagang pinagsama-sama po namin ‘yung mga ideas namin from the composers, kina Sir Roxy, kina Sir Rox, kina Sir Jonathan, kina Mother Jessa, at sa akin po. So nag-agree kami na ganito, ganyan,” she said.

“But then, sabi po nila, kailangan ko po talagang magsabi kung ano po ‘yung gusto ko, kung saan po ako comfortable, kasi ako po ‘yung magpe-perform. Pero ako, ate, alam mo ‘yun, nag-unite kami na, ‘Ay, ito na lang ‘yung magandang gawin sa performance.’ So happy naman po ako kasi nagkasundo po kaming lahat,” she added.

Carmelle will perform “Sobra-Sobra” at the Eurovision Song Contest Asia grand final on November 14 at IdeaLive in Bangkok.

—By Paolo Lim