'American Idol' finalist has Filipino blood
02/22/2007 | 07:36 PM
One of the top 24 “American Idol" contestants, AJ Tabaldo, proudly says he has Filipino blood.
"An ethnic mutt! I'm part Filipino and Portuguese with Spanish, French, Italian and Chinese," was how AJ describes himself.
Now 22 years old, AJ works for UPS Customer Center in Santa Maria, California. He took a vacation for two weeks for the “Idol" auditions in Los Angeles.
AJ considers his "mom and dad" as his "heroes" because “they have molded me into who I am today...they are great!"
Tabaldo's Philippine roots is not immediately known.
In the American Idol website, AJ listed Brian McKnight, Justin Timberlake, and Stevie Wonder as his favorite male pop artists and Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, and Kelly Clarkson as his female pop artist favorites.
He said he does not have any formal training on singing, although he started singing at age 5.
He prays and relaxes before singing, and he gets embarrassed when he forgets the lyrics of the national anthem and hums the rest of the song.
"Making it on American Idol and being one step closer to my dream" was his "proudest moment so far.
If he wouldn’t be lucky enough to win the Idol title, AJ said he would "keep pursuing music" because he wants to “have a successful music career" before getting married and have kids.
AJ said he also wants to be a male model or actor, or play basketball.
To AJ, an American Idol is someone who is talented, makes an impact on the world, and is humble. - GMANews.TV
"An ethnic mutt! I'm part Filipino and Portuguese with Spanish, French, Italian and Chinese," was how AJ describes himself.
Now 22 years old, AJ works for UPS Customer Center in Santa Maria, California. He took a vacation for two weeks for the “Idol" auditions in Los Angeles.
AJ considers his "mom and dad" as his "heroes" because “they have molded me into who I am today...they are great!"
Tabaldo's Philippine roots is not immediately known.
In the American Idol website, AJ listed Brian McKnight, Justin Timberlake, and Stevie Wonder as his favorite male pop artists and Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, and Kelly Clarkson as his female pop artist favorites.
He said he does not have any formal training on singing, although he started singing at age 5.
He prays and relaxes before singing, and he gets embarrassed when he forgets the lyrics of the national anthem and hums the rest of the song.
"Making it on American Idol and being one step closer to my dream" was his "proudest moment so far.
If he wouldn’t be lucky enough to win the Idol title, AJ said he would "keep pursuing music" because he wants to “have a successful music career" before getting married and have kids.
AJ said he also wants to be a male model or actor, or play basketball.
To AJ, an American Idol is someone who is talented, makes an impact on the world, and is humble. - GMANews.TV
