Aloha, Jasmine

THE PHILIPPINES has just undergone a presidential election characterized by more than 150 election-related deaths and marred by charges of electoral fraud. Filipinos in America have just exercised their first ever right to vote in those elections. So what issue most preoccupies Filipinos in America?

Jasmine Trias and the "American Idol" contest.

After last week's column ("Unprecedented national spotlight on Filipino-Americans") appeared in the op-ed section of the San Francisco Chronicle on May 13 (sfgate.com), I received some negative reaction to having encouraged my sons to vote for Jasmine Trias because she is a "kababayan".

One reader, Bert Beltran, asked if "suggesting that millions of us should vote for either or both of them (Jasmine or Camile), regardless of whether we think others may be better than the two... isn't taking chauvinism to extremes."

"I like to think that in any competition involving diverse candidates," Beltran wrote, "the primary consideration in making a choice is merit, not any extraneous influence like ethnic identity. Jasmine Trias, in last night's voting, remains in the final three, with elimination of LaToya London who has been established as the best of the remaining four. On top of that, she and Fantasia Barrino, another African-American, received the fewest votes, which surprised a lot of people. Well, after LaToya was eliminated, you could just see the gnashing of teeth among the judges and the stunning surprise that must have overtaken the millions of those who regularly watch the show."

In my column last week, which was written on the Sunday night before the show was aired, I expressed resignation that gamine Jasmine was going to be eliminated. I thought her disco tune would be her "swan song" as she was up against formidable divas.

When I revised my column on Wednesday for the Chronicle's Thursday publication, I had watched the Tuesday night "American" Idol performance where Jasmine sang "Everlasting Love" and "It's Raining Men" during the disco-themed show. The judges, particularly Simon Cowell, were merciless in their unusually harsh criticism of Jasmine. Cowell bluntly told Jasmine it was "definitely your week to leave the show," causing the usually poised 17-year-old to break down to tears.

Jasmine was so certain that she lost Tuesday night that she handed out farewell gifts to the American Idol staff and was already rehearsing her farewell song.

But Cowell also told Jasmine that she had better hope that all of every Hawaiian has five phones as that was her only chance of avoiding elimination.

As it turned out, Hawaiians did. AT&T confirmed that out of the 28 million votes that "American Idol" received on Tuesday night, 4.8 million votes came from Hawaii. Not bad considering that Hawaii only has a population of 1.23 million. Uncanny Simon.

Hawaii had an edge because it is six hours behind New York's time zone so the two hours following the show in Hawaii is a less crowded calling period and callers have improved chances of getting through. My sons and I tried to vote for her but we just couldn't get through despite all our efforts.

Hawaii's top newspaper, The Honolulu Advertiser, published a full-page color ad encouraging readers to call in and vote for Jasmine. Its top-rated TV anchorman on the Fox Honolulu affiliate openly rooted for Jasmine and asked his viewers to vote for Jasmine. The top morning deejays of Honolulu also took up the Jasmine cause, encouraging callers to vote for Jasmine as many times as they can, which is allowed by the rules.

Hawaii Circuit Judge Sabrina McKenna told Hawaii newspapers that she is a "huge" fan of Jasmine Trias and that she took time off from her judging duties to text message her votes for Jasmine.

Even Hawaii's congressman joined the fray when he was honored as the keynote speaker in a Washington DC celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

"If you want to show your support for Asian Pacific Americans tonight," Representative Ed Case (D-Hawaii) said, "you know what number to call on what TV show right about now. Jasmine just finished singing."

The "American Idol" competition dominated the Internet message boards. One Fil-Am "Idol" fan identified only as "Mabuhay USA" observed : "The worst thing that Simon (Cowell) did last night was beat up on Jasmine. He woke those people who felt he was ganging up on her obnoxiously. Thus, Jasmine got the 'underdog sympathy votes.' Also, Simon castigating Hawaiian Jasmine Trias unified the Hawaii vote more than ever." And the Filipino vote as well.

Judge Randy Jackson labeled the Tuesday night vote a "travesty" after learning that Honolulu television newscasters signed off their telecasts with a reminder to vote for Jasmine.

But it was Cowell who told Jasmine not to "carry this load on you just because a better singer left the competition. You got more votes, that's 'American Idol,'" Cowell said.

You know why Jasmine is such a role model? Despite all the flack and all the boos she received from disappointed LaToya fans, she remained poised. "Anything is possible, follow your dreams, never give up," she said.

Jasmine Trias didn't write the rules for "American Idol." It's the judges' job to critique the performances of the contestants but it is the viewers right to call or text message in their votes.

Al Gore received half a million more votes than George Bush did in 2000 but the Electoral College rules dictated that Bush won so the rules have to be followed. When you are rooting for the Sacramento Kings in an NBA final, do you second-guess yourself and say well maybe I should cheer for the Los Angeles Lakers because they're a better team? Do you think that Diana deGarmo's Georgia fans are voting for her just because they think she's the best singer in the competition?

I make no apologies when I ask Telltale readers to root for the home team and vote for a kababayan. Jasmine. Jasmine. Jasmine. As many times as you can. I do hope America credits the Filipino community as much as it does Hawaii for Jasmine's strong showing.

Aloha is hello and goodbye in Hawaii. Unfortunately, I think this will be Jasmine's last week (Trias was eliminated Wednesday night--Ed.). But thank you, Jasmine, for unifying our community and for inspiring us with your talent and your never-say-die spirit.

Rodel E. Rodis is a columnist of the Philippine News, an attorney in private practice, and a member of the San Francisco Community College Board. Send comments to rodel50@aol.com.