Back among friends, Jordan's idolized
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
So what do those "American Idol" judges know anyway?
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
Jordan Segundo, the Hawai'i teen who emerged from a national cattle call of 70,000 performers to become one of 32 finalists on the Fox TV show, got a hero's welcome yesterday from his classmates and teachers at Farrington High School.
Jordan Segundo, back from competing in "American Idol," sang Stevie Wonder's "For Your Love" in front of his family and schoolmates at Farrington High School yesterday, which the governor designated as "Jordan Segundo Day."
With an official proclamation from Gov. Linda Lingle designating yesterday as "Jordan Segundo Day," Farrington feted its own favorite at a noontime rally.
Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona read Lingle's proclamation and was joined in honoring Segundo by legislators, including Farrington alumni Sen. Donna Kim and Rep. Dennis Arakaki.
Segundo performed on "American Idol" on Feb. 18 but got a lukewarm reception from the judges and didn't garner enough call-in votes to advance outright to the next round.
His only chance at staying alive in the competition is to be awarded one of two wild-card spots among the top 10 finalists. He'll find out this weekend whether he's one of five who get a chance to perform one more time Tuesday in a shot at the wild-card positions.
Regardless of what happens, Segundo's supporters at home say he has already done enough for his school and his state.
"I thought he did pretty good even if the judges didn't like it," said senior classmate Tony Luu. "He made Farrington and the whole state of Hawai'i look good to the rest of the U.S."
A couple of hundred students crowded the open-air stage yesterday, several waving homemade signs. Freshman Gina Bedan had a "You Go, Boy!" sign she made in class.
"Everybody is just going crazy," she said.
Sophomore Chester Centino, a friend of Segundo's, said Jordan's popularity on campus has gone through the roof.
"Everyone is like, 'Ho, I know Jordan. He's like my brother's uncle's father's sister's brother's uncle's mother's friend,' " Centino said.
Jordan will perform at the Sacred Hearts carnival tonight and join a reading of Dr. Seuss stories at his brothers' classes at Kalihi-Waena School on Monday. Kamehameha Schools wants a piece of Segundo, as well. So do the Honolulu Symphony and a host of local performers.
"It's been great so far," Segundo said. "I appreciate everything that's happened to me."
