Ellona Santiago @ X Factor

Young Filipina singer Ellona Santiago is a step closer to entering the live shows of hit US singing competition “The X Factor” as her group InTENsity made it as one of top 17 acts that will battle it out for a slot in the much awaited finals.Watch them take their final shot at making it to the cut via satellite this Wednesday (Oct 26), 7PM, in a two hour special on Studio 23.

Ellona belted out the high notes and was among the lead singers of the group when they sang the song “That’s Not My Name” before their mentor Paula Abdul during the Judges Home episode. Their performance was good enough that Paula and celebrity mentor Pharelle Williams sent them through the next round.Other group acts that made it to the top 17 were The Brewer Boys, Lakoda Rayne, and The Stereo Hogzz.

Judge Nicole Scherzinger and celebrity mentor Enrique Iglesias, on the other hand, sent through Leroy Bell, Stacy Francis, Dexter Haygood, and Josh Krajcik for the over 30s category. Meanwhile, representing the boys under the mentorship of L.A. Reid and celebrity mentor Rihanna are Astro, Marcus Canty, Phillip Lomax, and Chris Rene while Simone Battle, Rachel Crow, Drew Ryniewicz, Tiah Tolliver, and last minute additional semi-finalist Melanie Amaro will represent the girls under the sole mentorship of Simon Cowell.

Simon Cowell was supposed to bring in international diva Mariah Carey as celebrity mentor. Unfortunately, Mariah was caught in a storm. Her plane didn’t make it in time for the shoot in Paris. After the two hour episode this Wednesday (Oct 26) the live shows will finally begin on Nov 2 as the official finalists battle it out to impress the fifth and final judge of the competition—the viewers.

Watch how the remaining 17 acts face the music on “The X Factor” on a special airing this Wednesday (Oct 26), 7 PM, via satellite on Studio 23.