In my earlier post about Pinoys in American Idol Season 7,

Danny Noriega or Daniel Noriega was not mentioned as the info are still slowly coming in about Filipinos who made it to American Idol Season 7 top 24. Apparently, Danny Noriega made it to Top 24. He auditioned in San Diego, California.

So that makes two Idol wannabes with Philippine roots. The other one is Ramiele Malubay, although sometimes spelled as Ramielle Malubay who auditioned in Miami, Florida. Danny Noriega’s Philippines connection though is still sketchy. He may have a Filipina mother.

But yeah, its been reported that Daniel Noriega a.k.a. Danny Noriega has roots from the Philippines. Danny Noriega is rumored to be the son of Panama’s former dictator Manuel Noriega. If you don’t know about Manuel Noriega, he has a biopic called whatelse but, “Noriega.”

Also, Danny Noriega is no t just any American Idol contestant of AI7. Danny Noriega not only has Philippines roots/folks but he is openly gay too, a first for American Idol. That is, if you can count out Sanjaya Malakar and the original queen! Clay Aiken out of the picture.

Danny Noriega’s myspace profile ( which btw, is always private, not good for someone starting out in showbiz! ) says:

Danny Noriega
Age: 18
Birthdate: September 29th, 1989
Hometown/Residency: Azusa / Los Angeles, California
Orientation: What do you think?

Since Danny Noriega would be controversial as it is,  and obviously cannon

fodder for attacks, American Idol didn’t show his audition . Only a snippet of who made it through at the end of an audition, as seen in a photo here.

Ramiele Malubay audition for American Idol was shown today. She auditioned in Miami, Florida since Ramiele Malubay is a waitress from Florida.

Ramiele Malubay got the nod of Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul but not Simon Cowell. Randy Jackson even said that he was surprised since for someone like Ramiele Malubay who stands 4′ 11″, she has that big powerful voice. The audition started with a story about another Filipina who made it to third place in American Idol, Jasmine Trias. Ramiele wants to duplicate or even surpass Jasmine’s feat by declaring that she will be the first Asian-American, American Idol.

Well, Ramiele Malubay is on her way to that dream as it was confirmed by paparazzi photos taken, when the Idol contestants who made it to the Top 24, had a photoshoot in California that indeed Ramiele Malubay is one of the Top 24.

Although unfortunately, another Filipina Neyshia Go who passed the San Diego auditions, did not make it through the Top 24.

Judging from the American Idol Miami audition, Ramiele Malubay is really good. And she’s proud to be Filipino too. Her surname distinctively Filipino, when asked her name, she said Ray-miel Malu-Bai for Ramiele Malubay of course. And right after the audition, her father was also shown and also looking very Pinoy..whatever Pinoy look it is, don’t ask me…I just feel it, just like when Renaldo Lapuz appeared in AI7 too.

Here is Ramiele Malubay’s audition video for American idol season 7:
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