MANILA, Philippines - Although she was recently given the boot on the reality talent show “American Idol,” Filipino-American aspirant Ramiele Malubay remained her usual bubbly self when she was interviewed by media outfits from all over the globe, including the Inquirer, in a phoner on Friday morning, arranged by Star World (which airs the program in Asia).

The Florida-based Malubay told the Inquirer that the last time she visited the Philippines was two years ago.

“We try to visit every other year. I’m now due for a vacation. I hope to visit this Christmas.”

Malubay has always been vocal about being Filipino and even declared that she hoped to be the first Asian American Idol.

She admitted that this goal had put much pressure on her, though. “I wanted to do well, not only for myself and for my parents, but also for people of the same race. I hope I didn’t disappoint anyone.”

An online critic pointed out that, unlike previous Fil-Ams, Malubay proudly carried the Pinoy flag from day one.

She even included Filipino singers Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha on her online list of musical idols, along with Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin and the Jackson 5.

She told the Inquirer that American interviewers invariably looked perplexed every time she mentioned Regine and Lani. “They always gave me the face … [a look that said] who’s that? Some knew who they were and would move on to the next question,” she related. “I wanted it known that Regine and Lani were among my favorites.”

Another strong musical influence, she said, were her parents. “I grew up listening to their records from the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s.”

Those influences would certainly find their way in her debut CD, she noted. “I’d like for it to be R&B, soul.”

One song she would’ve wanted to do on the show was Burt Bacharach’s “A House Is Not a Home.”

“Maybe I’ll get to do it on tour,” she said. As part of the show’s Top Ten, she is set to join the other finalists in a concert tour after the season finale.

She insisted that she had “no regrets” even though she got cut a week before the grand charity show “Idol Gives Back.”

“I’ve learned so much and one thing I can be proud of is that I’ve remained the same,” she said.

More than one US journalist complimented Malubay for holding her own in the competition, even though she was among the few amateurs who had to slug it out with professionals.

Malubay clarified: “I didn’t feel that I had to catch up. We were all on the same level. We each had our strengths and weaknesses. We all had the same coaches and training.”

She intimated that, post-“Idol,” she plans to stay in Los Angeles, “to pursue singing and acting.”

“If things don’t work out, I’ll go back to nursing school,” she said, adding that she plans to share a pad with her best buddy on the show, Danny Noriega.

“I’m not sure when, but we are moving in together,” she said. “We’ll support each other no matter what.”

A duet with Danny, she said, was definitely in the works.

Email: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com

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“American Idol” Season 7 airs live Wednesday and Thursday, 6 p.m., on Star World and QTV, with same-night replays on Star World at 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.