Renaldo — 14 minutes and counting

It’s been a week since Renaldo Lapuz shocked the world with his infectious tune and it looks like he’s already fading from view.

His ‘official’ website is up for auction and while he’s still ‘hot shet’ in the blogosphere, mainstream media seems to be on the next thing already.

I promise that this will be my last post regarding this unless something ridiculous happens next, but I did want to comment on a few keen observations since what I like to call “Lapuz-Gate”.

1. Renaldo Lapuz is now, undoubtedly the most successful Filipino contestant on American Idol.

Note that you don’t necessarily have to be in the top anything to qualify as a contestant. Hopefully this means that we won’t have to see the same sub-par performances from Filipino American Idol has-beens next year around Philippine Independence Day. I hope come June 12, Renaldo becomes a very busy man (come to Toronto!)

2. Renaldo Lapuz crunched into what looked like either a lumpia or a turon on Access Hollywood.

This is big. Filipinos who have grown up in North America carry major food shame with them that probably roots back to having their lunchtime suman kicked around the schoolyard until it burst by mean racist kids. The more we see our food on TV, the better we’ll feel about taking it to school, or the office. Today Lumpia, tomorrow… Dinuguan. Your sandwich eating office-mates can go f*ck themselves. Smell it and weep, kids!

3. Renaldo Lapuz exposes our own self-hate.

What’s wrong with a Filipino accent? Obviously there are two groups of people who have a problem with them when it comes to musical superstardom — Journey fans, and Filipino American Idol fans who sat back and muttered, “I EM BERRY EMBARRASSED AND AS-YAMED OB BEING PILIPINOE”, after seeing Renaldo on TV. Ironically, no one else seems to have a problem with Renaldo, but some Filipinos do. My question is “Why?” (I can’t however, defend the feathery hat, cape or platform shoes. Renaldo, you are on your own on that.)

4. Renaldo’s song transcends race, age, gender, nationality.

There’s a reason why “We Are Brothers” is resonating within anyone who hears it and is being covered endlessly online. It’s actually a GREAT SONG. Songs that hit the mark musically, lyrically and even emotionally come along only seldom. This is one does just that and it shouldn’t be so far off to imagine that a Filipino janitor from Reno could have come up with it.

Remember the song, “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony”. I wonder if Renaldo Lapuz knows that he’s succeeded in doing just that.

Check this out:

The best place to see what folks all over are doing with this song, or to find all things Renaldo, visit his “official” website, at RenaldoLapuz.com and if you see someone down or depressed today, take an extra second to say…

“I LOVE YOU BROTHER!”