‘American Idol’: Pinay in Top 3

Filipino-American Jasmine Trias made it to the final three of the "American Idol" television phenomenon after diva La Toya London was voted off by the audience in New York Wednesday night.

Just before she made the cut, the 17-year-old Trias, known for her sunny smile and trademark flower, could not help but shed tears when "Idol" judges criticized her performance on Tuesday.

The acerbic-tongued British judge, Simon Cowell, called Trias’ choice of the song "Everlasting Love" a "really average karaoke" during disco week in the hit contest, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.

She also received less favorable remarks from judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and celebrity judge Donna Summer.

Rudy Trias, Jasmine’s father, said his daughter was "fine" even after Cowell’s brutally honest remarks made her cry, drawing a hug from Idol host Ryan Seacrest.

"I thought she did well, but the judges didn’t like her," the Honolulu Advertiser quoted Rudy Trias as saying.

The lass from Oahu, Hawaii went on to smile even as tears trickled down her face while Seacrest comforted her, the newspaper added.

The tongue-lashing from Cowell drew jeers from Trias’ friends and classmates at the Maryknoll High School, who watched the show on TV. Trias is a senior at Maryknoll.

Even the faculty and parents joined in the gibe, most of them shouting "Shut up!" at Cowell, the Honolulu Advertiser said.

The Honolulu Advertiser report said several Maryknoll students went into a "text voting" mania on their cellular phones for Trias to stay in the contest. Each contestant is assigned his or her own toll-free number and text message short number.

The audience determines who among the contestants bite the dust.

Judges play an advisory role after helping winnow the field of 70,000 applicants to 32 semifinalists and then, with viewers, to 12 finalists. The audience takes charge from there until the winner is picked.

Trias is joined by Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo in the top three.

Fellow Fil-Am Camille Velasco was booted out of the race last April.

Reports say Filipino newspapers in the East Coast have published calls of support for Trias, while leaflets cheering Trias on were reportedly seen scattered in a consular office there.