MANILA, Philippines - Former Boyzone member Ronan Keating took to social media to thank Australia for choosing 15-year-old Filipina Marlisa Punzalan as the winner of X-Factor Australia on Monday night.
“Wow I cannot believe it. Thank you so much Australia. You have chosen a worthy winner,” Keating said on his Twitter account.
Wow I cannot believe it. Thank you so much Australia. You have chosen a worthy winner. @thexfactor_au
— Ronan Keating (@ronanofficial) October 20, 2014 If you loved what @marlisamusic performed on @thexfactor_au this year. Then make sure you pre order her winners album. It's on iTunes now
— Ronan Keating (@ronanofficial) October 21, 2014 Keating was Marlisa's mentor in the said reality show. In X-Factor, the finalists are split into four groups: the Under 25 Boys, the Under 25 Girls, the Over 25s, and the Groups. Keating was the mentor of the Under 25 Girls.
Marlisa is the youngest contestant ever to win X-Factor Australia.
The 15-year-old singer was not the only Pinoy to make it to this year's X-Factor Australia.
The Filipina girl group Trill also made it in the show's top 13, only to be eliminated from the reality show during the show's first live show.
According to reports, Marlisa won a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.
In an earlier interview with the STAR, Marlisa said: “I am sincerely grateful to each and every one of you who fought with me in this incredible journey.”