American Idol finalists arrive in Manila for concert

"We wouldn't be here if not for you guys," said Pia Toscano, one of the American Idol Season 10 finalists who are in Manila for the last leg of the American Idol Live! Tour 2011. "We are so excited. You guys have pretty much watched us grow," said Toscano, who placed ninth in the long-running reality competition. The eleven top finalists were all smiles at the press conference in Manila Hotel, held hours after landing at the airport, where fans gave them a warm welcome. "We're all so excited to be here, I know I am. The plane ride here was awesome, Just arriving here was beautiful, the food is amazing, our fans are incredible. Greeting us at the airport, it was pretty cool experience," Toscano said "We cannot wait to perform tomorrow and we look forward to seeing around. It's gonna be really nice," Toscano added. Idols get warm Pinoy welcome Runner-up Lauren Alaina shares that this is her second time outside the United States. "I'm really excited to meet all these new people because everyone's really loving here," she said. Naima Adedapo said that apart from meeting the fans and being able to perform for an international audience, she looks forward to learning about the Filipino culture. "I've been learning some words in the language and tell me if i say it wrong but, salamat po," she said to the audience's delight. Jacob Lusk had the audience laughing when he said he was excited to shop, adding that he had already tried some of the local food. "Yeah! Because this is the place to shop shop shop shop shop! And it's a great place for eating... I had some of the purple stuff that's sweet what's it called, ube?" he said. Haley Reinhart said she was excited to see how different the country really is. "It's so beautiful and all of you guys are so beautiful inside and out...your manners, and everything it's a really different place," she said. Fil-Am Thia Megia Filipino-American singer Thia Megia said it's good to be back. "I haven't been here since i was four. It's really lovely to be back with my mom. I was always telling her one day I would eventually take her and I didn't expect that it would be this soon. I just want to thank you all for having us here." “I'm really looking for to just learning more about the importance of my culture and seeing my family again. I've missed them terribly, I'm looking forward to the idols enjoying their first time here in the Philippines. It's really amazing, and I'm really excited. Thank you so much, salamat po," she said. The road ahead Now that the tour is coming to a close, the finalists say they will keep busy writing songs, and will see each other at least once a year. The season's top four finalists will release EPs featuring songs they performed on the show, like winner Scotty McCreery's "I Love You This Big" and Alaina's "Like My Mother Does. Reinhart's rendition of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" and James Durbin's version of Carole King's "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" are also featured in the singers' respective EPs, which are all distributed under MCA Music. Reinhart said that their batch is "really special in particular." "We're all performers and i think we've had that sparkle in our eyes since day one and we really really really wanted to sing. We're gonna be singing our entire lives because it's our passion and we love to do it, so whether or not we get that single out next week or it takes us another decade, we're gonna do it," she said. Megia also said that she will be singing for the rest of her life, no matter what. "I promise you this will not be the last that you here from me. I'll be working and working and working on my music, and I hope you guys stay tuned," said Megia. Asked how they felt about the judges, the finalists were in agreement that Steven Tyler was their favorite judge. "It's just like this is the quintessential rock star, anything that comes out of his mouth I'm gonna listen to because that's what I aspire to be," said heavy metal singer James Durbin. "He just judged from a different place, he judged straight from the heart," said Lusk. The finalists were delighted when a nine year-old girl came up to the microphone and asked "For young followers like me, what would be your advice for them?" They told her to follow her dreams, reach for the stars, and never give up. Just follow your dreams, work on what you're weak at, and build from there. You can't always hear that was amazing all the time, sometimes you're told you know that wasn't really your best, thats when you go home and work harder and you get better. And we all are growing, and are still growing," said Toscano, who says she's been told "no" so many more times than she's been told "yes." American Idol Live! Tour 2011 will presented at the Araneta Coliseum on September 20 and 21. Gates open at 8pm. Casey Abrams, Haley Reinhart, Jacob Lusk, James Durbin, Lauren Alaina, Naima Adedapo, Paul McDonald, Pia Toscano, Stefano Langone, Thia Megia and Scott McCreery will perform hits from the competition. — Carmela G. Lapeña, ELR, GMA News