Sophia Laforteza, the only Filipina in HYBE's 'The Debut: Dream Academy' competition advances to the last round

After successfully securing the top spot in votes in the second mission of HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy,” Sophia Laforteza, the only Filipina in the South Korean contest, advances to Mission 3 or the last round before the finale. 

Mission 3 has the girls divided into three groups performing one iconic song each: Demi Lovato's "Confident," Pussycat Dolls' "Buttons" and Spice Girls' "Wannabe."

Sophia belongs to the "Buttons" group.  

She will need her fans to vote for her by liking and interacting with her solo fan cam uploaded on HYBE LABELS+’s official YouTube account or through WeVerse. The voting will end on Monday, 10:59 a.m.

Only 10 girls will advance to the finale.

In August, Sophia was announced part of “The Debut: Dream Academy,” the only Filipina participating in the competition. A month later, in September, she took to Instagram to thank her supporters for the love, posting photos of herself holding a Philippine flag.

"The Debut: Dream Academy" is a project between record industrygiant Geffen Records and HYBE, the agency that manages global artists like BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, SEVENTEEN, ENHYPEN, NewJeans, and many more.

Geffen Records, owned by Universal Music Group, currently manages Olivia Rodrigo, Alesso, Kali Uchis, and Marshmello, among others.

"The Debut: Dream Academy" received more than 120,000 submissions across the globe. Only 20 contestants made it to the competition.

Good luck Sophia! Keep raising our flag!

— Hermes Joy Tunac/LA, GMA Integrated News