Renaldo Lapuz is your BRAWDER til the end of time.

by Leonard Cervantes

Since the beginning, American Idol has seen its share of Filipino contestants. Mostly a steaming arroz caldo pot of also-rans and broken dreams, it’s hard to even remember some of their names today (Camile Velasco, Sway Penala, Jasmine Trias and Canada’s own Mikey Bustos).

Last night, in one fell swoop, Filipinos all over the world finally got their wish – an Idol contestant that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression: Renaldo Lapuz. Dressed like an angel in all-white with feathered hat, silver cape and platform shoes, and singing his own original song, “I Am Your Brother”, Lapuz wowed the judges. His inspired performane went on to incite a group singalong AND a line dance routine by Idol judge Paula Abdul. Unfortunately, the judges didn’t send Renaldo through, saying that he just wasn’t “right” for the competition.

Maybe they were right – Renaldo wasn’t “right” for such a competition as this – evidently, he was already a shining star. Spreading love and happiness through the positive lyrics in his self-scribed tune, Lapuz touched each and every member of the Idol broadcast team, including host Ryan Seacrest who commented that he “had never been bowed to before”. Lapuz assured him that he was “admired by so many” and then wasted no time in bowing before Seacrest. “That felt nice,” said Seacrest, obviously expressing relief at Lapuz show of graciousness.

What the Idol judges don’t know is that talent like Lapuz’s has been the cornerstone of Filipino musical taste for decades; this is no trend. A song like “I Am Your Brother” is the proliferation of Filipino love for sentimental and uplifting songs, or “senti” reflected in such favourites as “The Impossible Dream”, and “Born Free”. In fact, Filipinos all over the world have been hearing their Titos sing songs such as these at family parties (or fam-jams) since the beginning of time (AAIIIII!!!). To see Simon, Randy, Paula and Seacrest react with such fervor was no surprise for Filipinos all over the world; this is the expected knee-jerk reaction that only a Filipino singer on the microphone can bring.

Fan reaction can’t be wrong. Not even an hour after the broadcast, Lapuz was a hot topic on message boards and blogs. His now infamous clip is already popular on youtube and his official fansite launches tomorrow. You can watch him sing the song (that you liiiiiiiiike) again and again, AND buy your very own Renaldo t-shirt. Check out your brawder HERE.

So, why has Lapuz created such a buzz where other Filipino Idol contestants have failed? It’s simple. Renaldo Lapuz makes no apologies for being who he is. He’s not doing a not-as-good Christina Aguilera imitation, or twisting his voice to sound like the smoothest black r&b singer, NO. Renaldo Lapuz is sang HIS song — OUR song. And the world loves it.

And why the angel costume? Perhaps Lapuz was brought to Idol to remind us that we should be proud of who we are and where we came from — we don’t need to be anyone but who we are — and that through being positive, proud and respectful, we can all bring light into the world and ultimately into our own lives.

Before sending Renaldo Lapuz onto his next journey, perennial “tough judge” Simon Cowell summed it up by predicting, “this song is probably going to be a big hit”.

Music that we LOVE, indeed.