MANILA, Philippines - He didn’t make it to the Hollywood round of “American Idol,” but 45-year-old Filipino-American Renaldo Lapuz has achieved the seemingly improbable: 15 minutes of global fame for a former tricycle driver in Sikatuna Village who later worked as janitor in Wal-Mart Reno.

Make that 15 minutes and counting.

The world-famous reality talent search devoted 11 minutes to Lapuz in its two-part season premiere last week.

Fox News conducted at least two separate interviews with him, clocking at over three minutes each. On Fox TV alone, that’s at least 16 minutes.

And the clock is ticking.

Inquirer Entertainment conducted a phone interview (along with two other journalists—from Hong Kong and Malaysia) with Renaldo, who was in Texas, on Thursday.

Upon learning that he was being interviewed by a compatriot, Renaldo blurted out, “I love you po!”

He proceeded to talk in Filipino—unmindful of the foreigners who were listening in. He would later shift to English.

When the Hong Kong-based reporter asked if it was the musical “Grease” that had inspired his love for music (and possibly his look), the question was obviously lost in translation.

Lapuz instead invoked the movies “Gladiator” (which, he said, inspired his “Pimp Wizard” costume) and “The Count of Monte Cristo” (which, he noted, encouraged underdogs to persevere).

After the circuitous response, the HK interviewer could only sigh, “Okay.”

Earlier, on a Fox news show, an off-camera interviewer asked Lapuz of his feelings after watching his audition on TV. The Fil-Am “church choir” member quipped: “Over-to-the-maximum of happiness!”

The disembodied interviewer’s flat response: “That’s great.”

Clearly, Lapuz is more comfortable speaking in his native tongue, but his unique way with the English language has inspired not a few bloggers to go on a posting binge.

A Netizen dubbed him “everyone’s favorite tito (uncle).”

Another blogger commented that Lapuz “outshines William Hung by far. He’s got more personality, creativity, and actually, better singing ability … He’s the new idol of rejects.”

US-based web master Dave Desvousges, who put up www.renaldolapuz.com, recounted that “the homepage has had over 100,000 hits (a week after its launch). It had around 20,000 in the first 24 hours,”

Different versions of Lapuz’s audition song, “We’re Brothers Forever” have also been posted on the site: from rap and hip-hop to cheerleader remixes.

Desvousges related that “many companies … [are] offering jobs. A car dealership and a US sports team want to invite him.”

Although Lapuz isn’t aware of the “official” site, Desvousges explained that proceeds from the T-shirts sold online would be given to the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization.

As for those who are wondering about Lapuz’s status—civil or otherwise—Lapuz declared unequivocally that he’s “single and a permanent immigrant” in the US.

When did you move to America?
Aug. 6, 2004. My mother petitioned me.

What do you miss most about the Philippines?
’Yung mga best friends ko po doon sa Marikina. Kumbaga, doon ako lumaki kaya nami-miss ko sila. Akala ko ang homesickness para sa mga kamag-anak lang. Pati pala mga kaibigan puwedeng ma-miss. (My childhood friends in Marikina. I thought I'd miss only my relatives. But I also miss my friends.)

How old are you now?
I turned 45 last Dec. 18. Kayo po parang 16 years old lang.

What was your job in the Philippines?
Tricycle driver sa Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. Thirteen years din ’yon, 1992 to 2003. Ay, 11 years pala. Mahina ako sa math, e. (I was a tricycle driver in Sikatuna for 11 years.)

What’s your job in the US?
Janitor po. Sa clean-up, maintenance. Kasi nagtrabaho rin ako bilang janitor sa Pasig,
from 1988 to 1989.
Dito sa US, nagtrabaho ako sa Wal-Mart in Reno. More than one year. Doon ako pinakamatagal. Sa iba, hindi ako tumagal, tatlong buwan lang ako sa warehouse. Pitong buwan sa Greyhound Bus. (I was a janitor. I also worked as janitor before. I worked at Wal-Mart in Reno for over a year. I worked three months in a warehouse, and for seven months with Greyhound Bus.)

How does it feel that you’re called the new William Hung?
Actually, hanggang ngayon wala pa akong naririnig na official from AI management, na ako nga ang World Idol.
Nasisiyahan ako sa pagtanggap ng mga tao pero ayokong magbilang ng mga sisiw hanggang hindi napipisa ang mga itlog. (I still have to hear the official word from AI. )

Do you know who William Hung is?
Kilala ko. Siya ’yong kumanta ng “She Bang, She Bang.” Yumaman siya. (I know him. He sang 'She Bang, She Bang.' He became rich.)

What are your plans for your career?
Wala pa po akong naririnig na official. I have to respect my contract with AI. Pero bukas po nasa Los Angeles ako. May guesting ako sa TV. Tinuring akong big time; nilinya ako kina Brad Pitt at Tom Cruise. (Nothing official yet. I'll be guesting in a TV show in LA.)

What’s your style of music?
Ballads. I like serenading.

Is “We’re Brothers Forever” your only composition?
In 1998, I recorded 10 songs in the Philippines, in a recording studio near V. Luna. I translated two songs into English.

Who persuaded you to join AI?
My friend Chris Pascual and his cousin Jimboy Pascual. We’re friends but we treat each other like brothers.

How do you feel about all the attention being given to you?
This is just the start of my dream. My singing career has just started.

Do you get mobbed by fans?
Yes. That’s happening now. [But] the fans are so decent, elite, educated. Young and old.