Jasmine voted out of ‘American Idol’

A collective sigh of disappointment echoed throughout the archipelago after Filipino-American Jasmine Trias was booted out of "American Idol" Wednesday night in New York.

It was aloha for the 17-year-old Hawaiian charmer with Filipino roots who managed to hold back her tears even as the two remaining finalists — Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo — bid her an emotional goodbye.

The cheery-faced Trias kept smiling. "I just want to thank all my fans for believing in me and embracing my talent and for making my dreams come true," she said.

The threesome shared a group hug as they said "I love yous" to each other, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.

Malacañang, after earlier expressing support to Trias’ quest to be an "American Idol," was disappointed that she failed to make it.

It was a "disappointment," Deputy Spokesman Ricardo Saludo told Palace reporters, comparing it to Manny Pacquiao’s controversial draw against Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 9.

"But I’m sure this will not dampen the drive of our Filipino achievers," Saludo said. "It was a great achievement for Jasmine to reach as far as she did in the same way that the fight that Manny Pacquiao gave was a great credit to the country."

Trias became a source of pride for Filipinos when word spread that she was crooning her way through the early rounds of "American Idol."

Her success in reaching the "American Idol" semifinals sparked near-daily articles and photos in local newspapers. Internet chat rooms were filled with Filipinos cheering her on.

The weekly 6 p.m. broadcasts became must-see TV.

"Of course we are disappointed. We were looking forward to her winning," said Guillermo Trias, 70, uncle of Jasmine’s father. "But we accept the decision and we are happy that she was able to get as far as the magic three."

Des Buenaobra, 26, a corporate secretary at a Manila hotel, said she was rooting for Jasmine, but she and her officemates also recognized that Barrino and DeGarmo, who reached the final, may be better singers.

"As a Filipino I was hoping she would win and make us proud," Buenaobra said. "But I think Filipinos could also accept that Jasmine would not win."

"American Idol" is shown here on cable television on a one-week delay from its US air time. So Guillermo Trias and his neighbors were still keeping their hopes up as they watched Wednesday night’s episode, in which Jasmine survived the final four.

About two dozen neighbors huddled close to a small television set at the elderly Trias’ mom-and-pop store in the coastal town of Tanza, Cavite, to watch Jasmine belt out songs.

Trias said he has seen Jasmine only in pictures, but has closely monitored her growth, and had been regularly updated by his brother Rodolfo Trias Sr., Jasmine’s grandfather.

Another relative, Melba Abad, said she has been clipping articles about Jasmine to make into a scrapbook.

Her children in Vancouver, Canada, had been following the scompetition closely and sending updates through cell phone text messages.

For Dan Dave Abad, 9, the "American Idol" contestant is a winner no matter where she finished"Jasmine is my idol," he said.

The Honolulu Advertiser said that though Trias has "popularity on her side," she had "the weakest voice" of the three finalists.

And British judge Simon Cowell, known for his acerbic tongue, had this to say to Jasmine: "You’re a lovely girl but the reality is, in my opinion, that you’re so young and so sweet and you have this unbelievable support from Hawaii, which is why you are still in the competition. It has to end tonight."

According to the Honolulu Advertiser, the contestants sang three songs each. One chosen by themselves, another picked by the judges and another selected by guest judge, music executive Clive Davis.

Trias belted out "Saving All My Love For You" by Whitney Houston, "Mr. Melody" and "All by Myself."

She received lukewarm praises from the judges.

Davis commented it was an "okay night" for Trias, but pointed out that to bag the "American Idol" prize, one has to be "unique and special." Davis’ record company gives the "American Idol" winner a recording contract.

Rudy Trias Jr., Jasmine’s father, said his daughter was "relaxed" and felt "great" about her performances despite getting the boot.

Last week, Trias shed tears after her performance was harshly criticized by Cowell. But she still made it to the final three after viewers chose to vote off La Toya London.

Fellow Fil-Am Camille Velasco was booted out of the race last April. - With Marichu Villanueva, AP