I’ve been following the goings-on over there at JYPE camp, notably the one about Park Jaebeom and 2PM. That issue has given me so many ideas to write about that I ended up writing… nothing. Opinions overload, I guess. 
I’ll just drop a few of my views regarding this (the ones I can still remember, anyway):
1. Rabid Jaebeom fans have warned everyone that in case Jay decides to talk about the issue, do not believe him because JYPE told him to lie. Seriously? I don’t get that. Jay’s contract with JYPE has been terminated; to put it simply, JYPE has absolutely no hold over him anymore. So if JYPE told him to lie, why should he still do it? In fact, if what they’re saying is correct and Jay was just a pawn that JYPE used to make the remainder of 2PM look good, then Jay should just kick JYPE’s butt and spill the beans on them. The company has basically ruined his career and his life, anyway, so why not bring everyone else down with him, right? Eye for an eye and all that.
2. It was a low point in fandom history when the butt-hurt Hottests decided to reveal incriminating - or so they think - evidences of the “dirty lives” of the other members of 2PM. I really don’t know what’s the point in that. In the first place, what have they uncovered, anyway? That some of them got girlfriends even if they said they were single, that some loves clubbing, that they drink and/or smoke, flirt/have a good time with girls who throw their selves at them… aren’t they just like every other boy in the world? The fans said some of the 2PM guys say nasty things about their fans behind their backs; some throw away fans’ gifts. Girls, I’ve got news for you: practically every idol in the universe have done that at some point in their lives as celebrities. I’m not saying they are right with their actions, in fact I would bop them in the head if they act like that in front of me. I’m just saying, don’t be too butt-hurt because that should be expected. Genuinely nice celebrities, especially top stars, are more like exceptions rather than the rule.
The thing I hate most about the Idol System in East Asia is the fact that they bank on the gullibility of fangirls and boys to assure their continued support and loyalty. They make each idol look like little angels, innocent and clean, and the fans buy it hook, line and sinker. Here’s some news for you, people: EVERYBODY HAS A SECRET. These idols are humans, too. They eat, drink, fart, take a crap, have sex, etc just like everyone else. They have problems, they make mistakes, they fall in and out of love, they have their own dreams and aspirations. Just like everyone of us.
3. I don’t know Jaebeom personally, in fact I was never familiar with him until his MySpace scandal happened. But to say that he’s ‘clean’ unlike his ‘trash’ co-members? Err… I’m not judging him or anything, but I ain’t gonna proclaim him as ‘clean’ just because nobody has, so far, managed to unearth a trashy thing about him. In fact, this is the thing that’s been bugging me about this issue: what exactly is that serious personal issue that he committed? How serious was it that it led to the termination of his contract? I don’t know about you, guys, but I know a thing or two about contracts, and I know that contracts cannot be terminated just like that without due cause. There must’ve been some breach of contract involved, a clause of which specifically states that there will be automatic contract termination if such terms are violated. Otherwise, Jay should sue JYPE’s asses off for termination without just cause.
4. Reading the transcript of the conference has given me serious migraine attacks. 
There’s this one part which I find really laughable because the question had to come from, of all people, a mother of sons who are of the same age as 2PM. I mean, she, of all people, should understand this. She repeatedly asked the 2PM members how could they say that Jay cannot be the leader and a part of 2PM anymore and at the same time say that he’s still their friend?
There is a line that separates business and personal matters. That line is very thin, but it separates the two, nonetheless. I can relate to this very well because this was the exact same experience I had with the band I used to stalk. When they kicked out a couple of their members, the issue of ‘betrayal of friendship’ came in. Their constant response is, “we still consider him as a friend and we have no personal issues with him; we simply cannot work with him anymore.” I have a lot of friends whom I really love, but if you ask me to work with them, I will find a way for that to NOT happen, especially if I still want to remain friends with them.
Most 2PM fans are probably too young to have experienced being around a work environment, hence they cannot fathom how the two could be treated as separate entities. But for the mother fan to not understand that? Then again, maybe she’s a stay-at-home-mom and has not experienced being in a work environment herself.
5. I think it has been a documented fact on this blog that I’m not exactly a fan of JYPE. But on this issue, I think I’m kinda siding with them more, for the simple reason that most of the angry Hottests have become too unreasonable.
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On to American Idol…
This early, I think I may have found my Blake Lewis/Jason Castro/Kris Allen this season. It’s none other than… Alex Lambert. Yup, surprise, surprise! I dunno, I just find him so endearing even if he looks like he’s going to faint every time he’s on stage. The singing is quite good, too, and you gotta admit: he’s adorable. I’m really looking forward to that day when he would finally get over his nerves and start kicking some major butt.
Casey James is still eye-candy and whoa! at the guitar playing, but I agree with Simon: he lacks the grit that a true rock singer should have. He’s too much of a pretty boy when he sings. It worked with Heaven because he was basically serenading Kara on that one, but it’s not gonna work with I Don’t Wanna Be because it’s supposed to be an angry song.
Lee Dewyze is ok, but he reminds me too much of my high school best friend who also reminds me of Danny Gokey, but he resembles Lee more, including the voice and the stage manner. All that’s missing is the eyeglasses. This fact puts Lee into my “I like him, but not quite enough” category.
For now, that’s my top 3: Alex, Casey and Lee. None of these three would win, but so what? None of my bets ever win, anyway, with the exception of Kris Allen and his win was a total shocker.
As for my bets to get booted off: Could they please, please, PLEASE vote off that Jermaine guy already?
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Edited to add my comments on the Top 10 Girls:
I think I’m gonna go Team Quirky this year. 
Siobhan Magnus - her name alone carries a gazillion wattage - has caught my attention and she’s now my top girl for this season. She’s pretty, has an interesting personality, and can actually sing. I like it that she hits high notes without sounding shrill. And the best thing about her is her unpredictability. I am one of those who have and will look forward for whatever she will do every week. Crystal is a given because she’s really good, but the over-pimping from the judges might work against her. See: Danny Gokey. See: Adam Lambert. But watch out for Siobhan, she’s really going to be the dark horse this year. Hopefully, she already knows the meaning of ‘dark horse’ by this time. 
I really don’t get all the Didi Benami love, especially after tonight. Yes, she’s not your usual AI diva contestant, although come to think of it, it seems this year’s divas are not even female (Toddrick and Jermaine). 
Didi is more of the singer-songwriter, folksy kind of category, but she’s not even the best in that genre. Crystal and especially Lilly trumps her on that. I also don’t like her Imma-cry-to-get-me-some-sympathy-votes attitude. If she can’t handle criticism very well, then she is SO in the wrong business. In the real world, Simon Cowell is practically an angel. Even Brooke White, who practically had a nervous breakdown onstage two seasons ago, wasn’t as bad as her. At least Brooke broke down halfway through the finals.
My top 3 ladies this season, for now, would be Siobhan, Crystal and Lilly. And since the AI people want a female winner this year, I think The Chosen One this year is Crystal. Methinks someone will just come out from nowhere and do a Kris Allen, though, and I’m counting on Siobhan or Alex to do that. Go, Team Quirky! 
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The everything else in between:
It all started when Shinee graced the Arirang event for the Fil-Korean festival in November last year. 4Minute was here in Manila last month. FT Island is arriving in Manila tomorrow. I already have my ticket for the showcase and guess what: I turned down the chance to attend their fanmeeting TWICE. Yup, feel free to 
me anytime.
Next up is Super Junior on April 10. No, wait. Next up is, surprise, surprise: U-KISS. They are coming to Manila for a mall tour on March 26-28, en route to a major concert in June. According to the press release from the people behind this event, they are currently in negotiations to bring Big Bang, Wonder Girls and 2NE1 here, too.
If everything works well, the promoters of FT Island in Manila might bring in C.N. Blue next (and as early as now, I’m already reserving front seats AND fanmeeting invites for that one hehe).
Then, I go to the forums and read that there is a rumor that Rain, yes, our dear “Prince” Rain, is having a Legend of Rainism concert in… Egypt. 
No offense to Egyptian fans, I’m happy for you if it’s true, but… how depressing is that for our country, huh? Rain is performing in the most improbable place he could perform a concert in, and our country is passed on AGAIN. For the Nth time.
If anyone still intends to drop me a, “who knows? It might still happen” comment, I would like to let you know in advance that I will delete that comment because I’m annoyed by that. Face it, pigs might fly, Hye Kyo might really end up with Hyun Bin, but a Legend of Rainism concert in Manila? Not.gonna.happen.
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