MANILA, Philippines?A surprise announcement from David Cook himself had his web fan site buzzing with excitement, especially from its Filipino subscribers: ?American Idol??s Season 7 champ is coming to Manila for a concert.

Comments from the website ranged from incredulity to amazement to simple joy, in a thread whose common question was the need to present proof.

Inquirer pursued a tip that the evidence was earlier posted on YouTube, and indeed, there it was (type in: CHUMFM interview with David Cook). The audio clip, 4 minutes and 15 seconds long, has Cook being interviewed by DJ Richie on a Canadian radio station. The conversation starts with Cook?s scheduled visit to Toronto as part of the ?Idol? tour.

Cook proceeded to discuss his coming major-label debut CD, set for a November release and with Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) as producer.

And then the announcement: ?We just booked my first show, post-?Idol,? Jan. 27 in the Philippines ? a one-off show and then we start the tour in the States ?? Pocholo Concepcion