Fans burn with 'Jasmine Fever' at the Big Dome
Updated 04:06am (Mla time) Oct 21, 2004
By Jocelyn R. Uy
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on Page A2-1 of the October 21, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
FIL-AMERICAN Jasmine Trias was finally living a childhood dream, right in the heart of her parents' native land.
After making it to the top 3 of "American Idol," the 17-year-old is in new commercials endorsing a fast-food chain, a clothing line and a telecommunications firm. Her face is on huge billboards and posters all over town.
And last Saturday night, she was the star of a two-hour show at the Araneta Coliseum, where the crowd screamed her name as she sang.
"This moment right now," Jasmine told the Big Dome audience before launching into "Love Ko 'To," the McDonald's theme song, "here I am in front of all of you with this big dream of mine. I am so grateful for all your support! This is for all of you, for all of my fans, ang mga pinaka-love ko sa mundo."
She was paraphrasing the local Golden Arch's jingle, but she somehow made it seem like she was saying it to her Filipino fans for the first time, and that it came from the heart.
The audience, in response, waved glow sticks in the air and sang along with her.
Jasmine repeatedly thanked her Filipino fans. "You guys have supported me so much," she said in between songs. "Thank you! You have made my dream come true. Mahal ko kayong lahat (I love you all)!"
Public demand
The diminutive teener finished third in the latest season of "American Idol" (AI), the wildly popular singing competition in the United States, with the help of votes from Filipinos all over the US. Two weeks ago, she completed the 50-city AI tour which ended in Singapore, and then she flew to the Philippines for a series of commercial deals with McDonald's, Her Bench and Smart IDD, as well as TV appearances and her Araneta Coliseum concert.
The two-hour show, directed by Audie Gemora with Gerard Salonga as the musical director, was opened at 8:30 p.m. by MTV VJ KC Montero.
The producers, Starmedia Entertainment, had initially announced that the Araneta concert was "strictly invitational." But due to "public demand," they said, they decided to sell "limited tickets" to Jasmine fans. The tickets went for P2,110, P1,266, P844, P528 and P317.
A Ticketnet staffer told the Inquirer that Patron A and B, Lower Box and Upper Box A tickets were sold out.
It was easy to spot the Jasmine diehard fans in the audience. They either wore "American Idol" shirts with Jasmine's autograph on it, or flowers in their hair. They also made "Jasmania" merchants happy by snapping up handmade posters that said "Jasmine Fever" in bright colors.
Their share of fans
The homegrown idols had their share of fans in the huge crowd. One group in a far corner of the coliseum spelled Erick Santos' name in big, colored cardboard letters while others waved banners also bearing the singer's name.
Erick sang three Martin Nievera hits: "Say That You Love Me," "Be My Lady" and "You Are My Song."
Someone in the audience shouted an advanced greeting to Christian Bautista, who celebrated his birthday last Oct. 19.
Jay-R sang R&B songs, including "Bakit Pa Ba," which obviously thrilled the audience.
Christian Bautista sang "The Way You Look at Me," "Hands to Heaven" and Josh Groban's "You're Still You."
Jasmine had five costume changes and sang 15 songs, starting off with Pink's "Get the Party Started," and Beyonce's "Crazy in Love." Wearing a blue haltered midriff, denim pants and white heels, she showed off her dancing skills.
She then changed into a blue velvet spaghetti-strapped top and sang "Love Ko 'To," following her "this big dream of mine" spiel.
She did Alicia Keys' "Heartburn" and "If I Ain't Got You," the latter while also playing the keyboards. Jay-R later joined her.
A self-confessed Alicia Keys fan, Jasmine had watched the concert of the five-time Grammy award winner last Oct. 9, also at the Araneta Coliseum.
'Otso Otso'
Although she admitted that her Filipino was still rusty, Jasmine showed the audience that she could do "Otso Otso." With Jay-R, Erick and Christian, she sang OPM, such as "Noypi" by Bamboo, "Hanggang Ngayon," "Pangarap Ko'y Ibigin Ka," and "Magpakainlan Pa Man."
She also sang "Mula Sa Puso," and, supposedly the last number, "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw." She sings the latter in her Smart IDD commercial.
When the audience clamored for an encore, Jasmine reappeared on stage, this time dressed in a white gown, and sang Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You."
"I can't go without singing this song," Jasmine told the audience and started to sing another number. Hearing the opening strains, the audience went wild, for the song was "Inseparable," the Natalie Cole hit that viewers associate with Jasmine Trias on "American Idol."
And then it was time to thank the audience again. Jasmine had a lot to be thankful for. She was, after all, "home" and living her big dream.