MANILA, PhilippinesThe pinoy William Hung has gotten the last laugh.
In spite of snide comments dismissing him as a one-hit wonder, Renaldo Lapuz, the Filipino tricycle driver who auditioned in the latest season of the US reality talent search American Idol, has become an Internet sensation.
There are various versions of his composition Were Brothers Forever on the Nettechno, hip-hop, ballad, including a politicians remix that features former Presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, as well as President Macapagal-Arroyo, in a video montage.
Lapuzs official website (www.renaldolapuz.com) is holding a contest for the best remixed version of the song.
At press time, there were five finalists, according to web master Dave Desvousges, who is also Lapuzs manager. The winner will be announced on Thursday (Manila time), the same day as the grand finals of American Idol Season 7.
2.5 million hits
On the website, Desvousges says the video of Lapuzs audition on AI received 2.5 million hits in its first few days before it was pulled from YouTube.
Successive remix versions on YouTube have cinched over 200,000 views and counting.
Desvousges also says Lapuzs homepage has logged more hits than the website of Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of American Idol.
Lapuzs two TV commercials for US telecommunications giant AT&T, which were launched this month, have also been posted on YouTube.
Star Spangled Banner
The first ad, in which he sings Were Brothers, has received five stars on the sites five-star rating system. The second ad, in which he belts out the US national anthem The Star Spangled Banner, also merited five stars.
In a January interview with the Inquirer, Lapuz recalled that his father taught him how to sing The Star Spangled Banner at age 5.
In the same interview, he said he was inspired by his friends to write Were Brothers.
I was crying. I was homesick. The song is for my friends who treated me well. They gave me food, shelter, a bed to sleep in. They gave me everything I needed. It took me three days to write it, he told the Inquirer in that interview.
According to Desvousges, Lapuz spent his last dollar on a plane ticket that brought him to AIs Dallas, Texas, auditions last year.
In Texas, he again relied on the kindness of strangers and hitched a ride to the AI tryout venue.
Although he was overaged (the age limit for contestants is 28), AI producers allowed Lapuz, in his feathered hat, quilted white suit and silver cape, to sing in front of the three judges.
Lapuz has surely gone a long way from his days as a struggling wannabe. Theres even talk that Lapuz may perform in the grand finals of American Idol on Thursday.
On the website, his manager points out that Lapuz has been cast in a Filipino movie (to be shot in Hollywood in June), along with another Fil-Am AI graduate Jasmine Trias.
Trias was in the Top Three of American Idol Season 3.
Hes set to play himself, says Desvousges on the website.
In July, he is slated to perform in a homecoming concert in Reno, Nevada, with his fellow AI sensation William Hung.
Prior to auditioning on AI, Lapuz worked as a janitor in a Wal-Mart store in Reno.
Lapuz elicited a back-handed compliment from judge Simon Cowell, who quipped: I have a horrible feeling [that song] will be a hit record.
With all those remix versions of Were Brothers Forever flooding cyberspace, Lapuz can very well fulfill Cowells sarcastic prediction with the click of a mouse.
In a recent e-mail to the Inquirer , Desvousges says Lapuz has plans of visiting the Philippines to spread his message of peace, love, unity and happiness among his countrymen.
First stop for the balikbayan is Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, where Lapuz used to work as tricycle driver. He wants to perform with his old friends, Desvousges says.
