Jasmine lives her dream

No, American Idol third placer and the Philippines’ newest darling Jasmine Trias divulged, she doesn’t have a boyfriend back in Hawaii. But yes, she admitted, she did have boyfriends way back in high school, "although nothing serious." She used to have a crush on Troy Montero, too.

Add these three revelations to the seemingly endless list of Jasmine trivia Filipinos are lapping up during her current visit to the Philippines–people can’t seem to get enough of the soon-to-be debutante (on Nov. 3).

Who can blame them? Filipinos love success stories, and they relish Filipino success stories best of all. Though born in Hawaii, Jasmine’s parents are both Filipinos, and so her success overseas has celebrated, in a way, the hopes and triumphs of eight million Filipino OFWs and their families. And with a personality as sweet and likable as Jasmine’s, it’s no wonder that Filipinos have fallen head over heels for the singer.

Where It All Began

If there’s anyone surprised by her meteoric rise, it’s no less than Jasmine herself. "It’s a great feeling, you know," she muses. "I’m really living my dream. I can’t ask for more. I’m doing it, I’m really doing it. It feels so surreal to me; it still hasn’t sunk in. Yes, I’m still floating on cloud nine."

Jasmine reckons that she inherited her singing talent from both parents. "My mom’s brother is very musical, he likes the guitar and he loves to sing," she shares. "And then my dad’s dad likes to sing also."

Jasmine says she started singing "since I could talk." "I think my first song was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (which I sang) in school," she recalls. "I think I was three or four."

She joined a singing contest during her freshman year in high school "for fun." Winning the contest made her think seriously about singing although she never thought this would become her profession. "I kind of imagined it–me being famous," she relates. "I thought that was really cool. And then singing was just my way."

Jasmine studied music at a performing arts school in Hawaii and sang with gusto at weddings and birthday parties. "I just tried to do as much as I could to try to get my name up there," she says. "Oh yes, I love to sing and perform."

"I was just a typical high school student studying to get good grades, good SAT scores so I would be able to get into a college that I wanted," she continues. "And all of a sudden American Idol took over my life and I’m here!"

People were telling me there were auditions for American Idol in Hawaii," Jasmine recalls. "There were about 3,000 or 4,000 (who auditioned) in Hawaii alone. I just thought of a song to sing and it was a Whitney Houston song (Run to You). " She hadn’t prepared for the audition, she adds, because "it was a last minute thing".

Rocketing past stiff competition all the way to the top three, Jasmine became a bona fide pop idol.

"American Idol changed my life completely," Jasmine admits. "I can’t walk down the street and not be noticed. (Here in the Philippines) I have security guards around me all the time, but in America I have one or two. And there are cameras all around, people greeting me... It has changed my life completely."

Though she says she doesn’t dwell on her American Idol stint anymore ("I’ve moved on"), Jasmine credits the talent search for boosting her confidence, making her more sociable, and overcoming her shyness.

How good must a contestant be to make it in Idol? Jasmine believes it is not so much possessing talent as having "the X-factor, how you carry yourself–the whole package–that matters."

Jasmine admitted that stardom does come with a price. "(I have to) sacrifice being home, seeing my family," she relates. "Privacy is a luxury now. Sometimes I want to do my own thing but I have to stick to a schedule." But the good thing about stardom, Jasmine hastens to add, is that "I am finally living my dream and doing what I really love to do."

If she was surprised by her reception in America, Jasmine was floored by the welcome she received during her first visit to the land of her parents’ birth. "I always wanted to (come) to the Philippines and when I came here I had a great homecoming and a very memorable one," she enthuses.

"I did not know what to expect (in the Philippines), no idea when I got off airplane," Jasmine shares. "The whole paparazzi experience–it was crazy. Everyone was trying to say ‘hi’ to me."

Growing Up Pinoy

According to Jasmine, the one Filipino trait that has served her well on her road to success has been "being proud of who you are, your ethnicity, your culture."

As a Filipino growing up in Hawaii–which she describes as "a big melting pot of ethnicity"–she recalls interacting with a lot of Filipinos, thus learning a lot about Pinoy culture. "I’m proud to be Filipino," she adds, "and proud to be representing Filipinos."

Asked whether she was brought up the Pinoy way or the American way, Jasmine replies, "Fifty-fifty. My parents are both Filipino and they raised me with my good values and morals, respect for elders, and (they stressed that) education is important –you have to go to school, make the right choices in life so that you could be successful in the end."

How much of Jasmine Trias is Filipino, then, and how much is American? " I guess the part of me that is Filipino is that I’m proud to be Filipino, proud to be who I am–I’ve said that like a million times. I think Filipinos are proud of who they are. Just knowing your culture is very important. Living in America, knowing the American way–that’s the part of me that’s American."

Jasmine also grew up on Pinoy food, which she loves. "I love sinigang–my mom cooks really good sinigang–great lumpia and banana lumpia, pancit, dinuguan– the list goes on. I eat everything," she gushes.

She’s even familiar with Pinoy teleseryes–which her mom relishes watching on The Filipino Channel (tfc)–and says that she would welcome a chance to join one. "Oh yes, that would really be cool," she remarks, "(because) I think I want to get into acting also."

Getting into acting is not the only thing Jasmine is considering. This high school graduate (she finished last June) wants to go to college, too.

"I’m just putting college on hold for now," Jasmine relates. "I can always go back to college–college is always there. I have to strike while the iron is hot."

When she finally does return to school, it will be to take up a course in business. She shares, "Initially I wanted to be like a doctor or a nurse or something but then now– American Idol really changed my life! I think that if I do have this career (performing) I can’t have time (to be) a doctor."

Jasmine, who will record an album in L.A. after her Philippine visit, hopes to go international with her singing career, which she envisions she can do while being based in Hawaii. "Home (for me) is Hawaii," she says, "Work is just elsewhere."

She’s also looking forward to celebrating her coming 18th birthday with a party in Hawaii, though she rues that she has such a busy schedule.

If the spotlight proves unsettling to those enjoying stardom, Jasmine is glad she has her family to rely on. "Without my family," she says, "I don’t think I would be here. (They’ve been) supportive from day one and they will be with me ‘til the end."

"They still treat me the same like I’m still Jasmine, you know, a typical 17-year-old," Jasmine says of her family. "My mom still yells at me during my tours (or) sometimes at home. Yes, I do the dishes, clean my room, do the laundry in the house. They don’t treat me any different and they’re very proud of me and they’re very supportive."

Home for Jasmine is where she can relax. "I just like to fix my bed and just–you know–do my regular thing. When not in the limelight, (I enjoy being) just a home girl, just to relax."

She listens to music, enjoying "different styles... just to create my own distinct style. I love listening to Alicia Keys, Beyonce. Usher is really good too, a great guy singer. I like listening a lot to jazz. Aretha Franklin." Her favorite Filipino singer is Regine Velasquez.

Jasmine also enjoys shopping in malls where she usually splurges on "shoes, clothes, bags," and talking on her cellular phone to family and friends, making her the perfect endorser of Smart’s International Direct Dial Service (idd). Now airing on television is an ad that celebrates the warmth and love that telephone calls foster among Filipino ofws and their families back home which features Jasmine singing Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw.

"I love cellphones!" she laughs. "(I talk on the phone) 24/7 trying to keep in touch with friends and family. I love playing games on it and it’s also great for business."

And what about that other concern of teenagers, guys? "They have to make me laugh," she explains about the kind of guys she prefers. "They have to be very sweet, very smart, they have to really intrigue me in conversation. Of course they have to be good-looking (laughs). I think looks matter but I think personality is what matters most. Because looks–that’s what attracts you... and then you get to know the person, you know what I mean?"

Despite her success, Jasmine acknowledges that she still has a lot to improve on. "The challenge for me is that there’s always someone better than me, so I have to improve as a person and as a performer."

That should be easy enough for Jasmine Trias to do. As she herself has proven, there’s one sure-fire way to accomplish anything.

"If you have determination and passion," she says with conviction, "nothing can get in the way."