You might have heard the news that Carmelle Collado performed in the New Frontier Stage for the Philippine Selection Night that took place yesterday, for an entry song composed by Nica del Rosario and Mat Olavides titled Sobra-Sobra (transl. Too Much), which later chosen as the Philippine representative for the Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026’s Grand Final in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 14, 2026.
Born on July 16, 2007, Carmelle Collado, known as the Riles Diva of Camarines Sur, won seven gold medals at the World Championships of Performing Arts (California, United States) in 2019. At the same year, she later emerged as a contestant of The Voice Kids Philippines Season 4 under coach Bamboo, who finished as the first runner-up.
On January 18, 2025, when she was among the grand finalists of Tawag Ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown aired during It’s Showtime (premiered in 2024), who represented for King Thomas Learning Academy, Inc., delivered some of the outstanding singing performances of Natural Woman, Chain of Fools, and Ain’t No Way, all of which are popularized by Aretha Franklin.
At the end of the grand final of the reality singing competition, with an average score of 98.0%, she was hailed as the grand champion of the contest, beating her fellow contenders, Isay Olarte of City College of Calapan (97.7%), and then-TNT All-Star Grand Resbak 2025 contestant and Duets Season 2 Grand Winner Arvery Lagoring of Claret School-Lamitan (92.5%).
As a grand winner of TNT The School Showdown, she took home a million-peso cash prize, a management contract from Star Magic, a recording and music label contract from Star Music, a trophy created by renowned Filipino sculptor Ronald Castillo, and another PHP 100,000.00 cash for the school she represent. As a singer-songwriter of Star Music, the recording entity of ABS-CBN, she released several cover singles, including Maalaala Mo Kaya and Stay. She also appeared for the first time in any ABS-CBN-led event at the ABS-CBN Ball 2025, which took place at the Solaire Resort North in Quezon City on April 4, 2025.
On October 24, 2025, a day ahead before the Bahay Ni Kuya opened its doors, during the broadcast of GMA News’ 24 Oras, she became a housemate of Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0, a season of Big Brother franchise in the Philippines under a collaboration of ABS-CBN and GMA. She later became one of the final two evictees for the season a week ahead of the Big Night, alongside Kapuso housemate and re-entrant Marco Masa.
Post-PBB, ahead of her Carmelle Live concert at the SM North EDSA Skydome, she dropped her pop-dance single, Morena, composed and produced by the ABS-CBN Music CCO Head Jonathan Manalo, and co-written with Jeremy Glinoga, Russu Laurente, Ishiro Incapas, and Asi Gatdula, which is part of her self-titled album. Aside from Sobra-Sobra and Morena, the self-titled album is comprised of Stay, Salaman, Unti-Unti, Pananabik, Kinang, Checklist, No Apologies, and Pangarap Ko’y Tagumpay.
She also appeared together with co-Kapamilya ex-housemates of PBB Collab 2.0 at the Star Magical Prom 2026: The Future, on June 26, 2026. Carmelle was a regular performer as a New Gen Diva in ASAP XP, together with Alexa Ilacad, Kai Montinola, Esang de Torres, and Elha Nympha.
On the day when the Philippine Selection Night for the Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026 took place on August 30, 2026, based on the final decision from the juries (led by the veteran songwriter and FILSCAP president Nonoy Tan, songwriter Choi Padilla, concert and TV director Joane Laygo, musical director Louie Ocampo, and OPM singers Angeline Quinto, Jed Madela, and Vina Morales) and the public vote (through the criteria of 40% votes from the jury, 40% votes from viewers from the Philippines, and 20% votes from other parts of the world), the powerful anthem of women’s empowerment performed by Carmelle has emerged as the winner. It will represent the Philippines for the Grand Final in Bangkok, Thailand on November 14, 2026.
Meanwhile, serving as the second placer for the Philippine Selection Night was Broken Beyond Repair, written by Angelo Gonzales and performed powerfully by Tawag ng Tanghalan alumnus SAGA. Mapadama, penned by Jeremy Glinoga and Jungee Marcelo and performed by Tawag ng Tanghalan Duets season 1 champion JM Dela Cerna and Marielle Montellano, was placed third in the selection night.
Other song entrants for the Philippine Selection Night were Jungee’s Between Bituin performed by DNA; Nar Cabico’s Cheri(e) sung by Esang de Torres, Elha Nympha, Lance Reblando, and Nar Cabico; Jason Marvin’s Di Yan (Red Flag) performed by Jason Dy and Sassa Dagdag; Hazel Faith Santos’ Good For You interpreted by Ryssi Avila; Angelo Calucin’s Make It Exist brought to life by AJAA; Stephen Tan’s Reason to Live performed by Khimo Gumatay; and Julius James de Belen and John Michael Conchada’s Round N’ Round interpreted by VVINK and WRIVE Russu Laurente.
Also presented at the beginning of the Philippine Selection Night were AZTER, Bryan Chong, Ian Manibale, Klarisse de Guzman, Lyka Estrella, MIAH, and Reiven Umali, for their special song number of Mabuhay ang Musikang Pilipino, composed by the ABS-CBN Music CCO Head Jonathan Manalo.
ABS-CBN serves as the official Philippine broadcaster of the Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026, the inaugural Asian season of Europe’s most-watched singing competition presented by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Voxovation. Vice Ganda, Darren Espanto, and Alexa Ilacad served as the hosts for the said event.
During the Philippine Selection Night of the Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026, which aired on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live Philippines, iWant, ALLTV2, A2Z, The Filipino Channel (TFC), and Myx (delayed telecast), online viewers took over the trending spots on X/Twitter in the Philippines, with multiple related topics leading the platform’s trending list, including hashtags PhilippineSelectionNight, EurovisionAsia, PSN2026, and CarmelleCollado.
The DRPS PHCA is always online, anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Facebook, X/Twitter, Threads, and Instagram for updates. Visit DRPSPHCA.com/Blog or download the DRPS PHCA App on the Google Play Store for more blog content like this. You can also support DRPS PHCA by donating via Buy Me a Coffee or Ko-fi.
© 2026 DRPS Philippine Commercial Archives (DRPS PHCA). All Rights Reserved. PHCA CID: PHCA-2026H2-4182/August 31, 2026.
