A sexier Jasmine

Just recently, outstanding Filipinos placed the Philippines in the world map for achievements we are truly proud of. This proved a much-needed respite after being whacked and pilloried by excessive political bickerings and back stabbings.

Manny Pacquiao is a beautiful man. He stood tall and pretty (he smiled gently as he walked to his corner after exchanging blows with his opponent) when he knocked down Mexican Hector Velasquez in the sixth round. And so did Rey Bautista and Bryan Viloria who also won by knock-out on the same day Pacquiao raised the Filipino flag triumphantly.

For us, the victory was a celebration of being Pinoy. It became not only double victory but a triple one because our very own Lea Salonga and 116 other Filipino performers made a head-turning performance at the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. My good friend Bobby Garcia who was my first director in Private Conversations on ANC News Channel is now show director of Hong Kong Disney.

In more distant shores, Jasmine Trias, who is proud of her Caviteña roots, recently released her first album in mainstream American music industry. This Hawaiian-born girl landed number three against Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo in last year’s American Idol.

Jasmine was in town recently to promote her self-titled album released locally by Universal Records. A new kind of Jasmine is heard on the album. She is sexy, mature and you wouldn’t know it was she who sang McDonald’s Love ko ’to…

Jasmine headed towards a sexy image? Her mom doesn’t disapprove. "My mom always tells me, ‘Anak, shake your booty ha’ everytime I would perform. We are baliktad with my mom," says Jasmine, who is trying to learn Tagalog, a language she fully understands but is having difficulty speaking.

Everything is coming up roses for Jasmine. At 18, she has beautifully grown into a young lady – quite different from the girl we saw last year. She heard that Mark Bautista whom she met in the US Kapamilya Caravan has a crush on her and Jasmine exclaims, "He didn’t tell me." She also manages her own affairs and handles her own money. From her earnings, Jasmine renovated their house in Hawaii and sent a sister to a private school.

Jasmine no longer wears a flower on her hair. She says that she is trying to change a little bit and doing away with the flower could be part of this. She intentionally wore a jasmine petal when she was on American Idol. It became part of her look. But she didn’t know a flower on the right ear means the girl is already committed. Thus, when people saw her in American Idol wearing a flower on her right ear, they thought she was "taken." That sent tongues wagging and she was news all over. When she placed it on her left, the press did it again and wrote that she has just got separated, Jasmine said in jest.

Jasmine admits she is facing a tougher life and career after American Idol. "Having an Idol tag is great. But I am trying to establish myself as Jasmine Trias." Post-American Idol, Jasmine sings her own music and builds her own repertoire. She finds it hard to sing country music which was her Waterloo in American Idol.

Jasmine can count a strong fan-base among Filipino-Hawaiians who have held a Jasmine Trias day in her honor. "All of these things that are happening seem surreal." She has the affection and support of local fans as well as those who have come to love her from her American Idol days. "Filipinos show their love more. They are more open."

Jasmine impressed American Idol judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul when she auditioned and sang the modulation part of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You. "I was so shy and very nervous. My father and I waited for two days before I finally got to audition for American Idol. I am a big fan of the show." But competition time, she heard the most stinging comment from judge Simon Cowell who told her, "You are not good enough for the competition."

"I wanted to prove to myself that I can make it," says Jasmine, who describes Paula as "cool," Simon "very nice in person and very much like you and me" and Randy "laid-back and very cool."

She is not daunted by the critics. And from American Idol, she learned to be herself. "I know who I am and I know what I want to be," she says.

As a young singer dreaming of big things happening, she is looking forward to the Grammys and the American Music Awards. Meantime, she is having the time of her life.