HE DIDN’T MAKE IT TO THE HOLLYWOOD round of “American Idol,” but the 45-year-old Filipino-American Renaldo Lapuz has achieved the seemingly improbable: 15 minutes of global fame for a former tricycle driver in Sikatuna Village, who worked as a janitor in Wal-Mart Reno when he migrated to America.

Make that 15 minutes and counting.

The world-famous reality talent search devoted 11 minutes to Lapuz in its two-part season premiere last week.

Fox News conducted at least two separate interviews with him, clocking at over three minutes each. On Fox TV alone, that’s at least 16 minutes.

And the clock is ticking.

Inquirer Entertainment conducted a phone interview (along with two other journalists—from Hong Kong and Malaysia) with Renaldo, who was in Texas.

Upon learning that he was being interviewed by a compatriot, Renaldo blurted out, “I love you po!” He proceeded to talk in Filipino—unmindful of the foreigners listening in. He would later shift to English.

When the Hong Kong-based reporter asked if it was the musical “Grease” that had inspired his love for music (and possibly his look), the question was obviously lost in translation.

Lapuz instead invoked the movies “Gladiator” (which, he said, inspired his “Pimp Wizard” costume) and “The Count of Monte Cristo” (which, he noted, encouraged underdogs to persevere).

After the circuitous response, the HK interviewer could only sigh, “Okay.”

Earlier, on a Fox news show, an off-camera interviewer asked Lapuz of his feelings after watching his audition on TV. The Fil-Am “church choir” member quipped: “Over-to-the-maximum of happiness!” The disembodied interviewer’s flat response: “That’s great.”

Clearly, Lapuz is more comfortable speaking in his native tongue, but his unique way with the English language has inspired not a few bloggers to go on a posting binge.

A Netizen dubbed him “everyone’s favorite tito (uncle).”

Another blogger commented: Lapuz “outshines William Hung by far. He’s got more personality, creativity, and actually, better singing ability … He’s the new idol of rejects.”

US-based web master Dave Desvousges, who put up www.renaldolapuz.com, recounted that “the homepage has had over 100,000 hits (a week after its launch). It had around 20,000 in the first 24 hours.”

Different versions of Lapuz’s audition song, “We’re Brothers Forever” have also been posted on the site: from rap and hip-hop to cheerleader remixes.

Desvousges related that “many companies … [are] offering jobs. A car dealership and a US sports team want to invite him.”

Although Lapuz isn’t aware of the “official” site, Desvousges explained that proceeds from the T-shirts sold online would be given to the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization.

For those who wonder about Lapuz’s status—civil or otherwise —he’s declared unequivocally that he’s “single and a permanent immigrant” in the US.

He moved to America in August, 2004, petitioned by his mother. He says what he misses most about the Philippines are his “best friends doon sa Marikina.”

Renaldo Lapuz has been called “the new William Hung,” that 25 year-old student in California Berkeley who gained fame in early 2004 for singing the Ricky Martin hit song, “She Bangs,” off-key on the third season of American Idol.

How do you feel about all the attention being given to you? I asked Lapuz, who classifies himself a balladeer. “This is just the start of my dream. My singing career has just started,” he said.

And does he now get mobbed by fans? “Yes. That’s happening now,” he says, adding “[But] the fans are so decent – elite, educated, young and old.”