Yaminoys
Encyclopedia
"Yaminoys" refer to the Filipino
supporters of American singer Elliott Yamin
. The author of the term—a combination of "Yamin" and "Pinoys," which is the colloquial label for "Filipinos" -- remains a mystery, though it is widely believed that one of the regular posters at the "Filipino Elliott Fans" thread in Elliott's sub-forum at americanidol.com during American Idol Season 5
, came up with the name
.
was born 10
days before that, with the initial goal of having 100 members; this was achieved in June 2006. At that point, members brainstormed on ways to make Elliott aware that he had an active fan base
in the Philippines
and convince him to come to the country
for a concert
. These included sending him a birthday
gift
, posting updates on his MySpace
page regarding the status of the group, and coordinating with his marketing
arm, the Croshal Entertainment Group, to ask for updates on when his debut and self-titled album
would be available in the Philippines. The group would also request radio stations to play Elliott's first single
"Wait For You
" following its official release
in the U.S.
, and track its status.
s, which followed the design
of a similar top from New York
, except that the heart was in Elliott's favorite color
, green
. At the meet-and-greet session following Elliott's TriNoma
show on September 21, some members of the group handed a "mini-me" Elliott doll
, with the word
"Yaminoys" on the figurine
's shirt, to the singer-songwriter
. Elliott put up a picture
of the said replica
on his MySpace profile
section, soon afterwards.
"I can't speak for all, but we never really know how big of a following we have and how big American Idol was outside the States," he said during a press conference in Glorietta
mall in Makati
a few hours after he arrived.
But he revealed being familiar with the world-renowned Filipino warmth.
"I have got some Filipino friends back home, people I have grown up with. I just know how warm and friendly the Filipino culture is. Everybody is so warm and so accepting. I'm just thrilled to be a part of it."
Among those friends is fellow American Idol Season 5 contestant
Sway Peñala, who told him to expect royal treatment when he comes to the Philippines.
"To actually get here and to experience it first hand has been such an honor. It's been so amazing. And so far, everybody's been so warm and friendly. They just wanna see me do well and succeed. And it's just great. I'm just honored to be even asked to be here to be able to share my music with everybody here," Elliott said in an interview by Myx
Mag.
During his shows, Elliott would give shout-outs to the Yaminoys, repeatedly calling them the warmest people in the world. He would also utter "mabuhay" and "salamat,"
two Tagalog
words he learned in preparation for his tour.
When he came back to the U.S. and went on a nationwide tour there, Elliott would happily recount his experience in the Philippines:
Elliot would occasionally mention the Yaminoys in his MySpace blogs. He dedicated his October 21, 2007 entry to his Filipino fans in the wake of the Glorietta blast, which occurred nearly a month after Elliott performed in that mall.
, Multiply, and MySpace accounts. They also exchange views via PinoyExchange.com
and a special forum at Etrainstation.com.
The Yaminoys hold meetings on occasion to discuss ways to increase airplay of Elliott's songs and sales of the American Idol alum
's debut CD, which is distributed by MCA Music Philippines. Their efforts enabled four songs from "Elliott Yamin" -- "Wait For You," "Movin' On,"
"One Word,"
and "You Are The One" -- to make the charts in several radio stations.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
supporters of American singer Elliott Yamin
Elliott Yamin
Elliott Yamin , born Efraym Elliott Yamin, is an American singer known for his hit single "Wait for You" and placing third on the fifth season of American Idol....
. The author of the term—a combination of "Yamin" and "Pinoys," which is the colloquial label for "Filipinos" -- remains a mystery, though it is widely believed that one of the regular posters at the "Filipino Elliott Fans" thread in Elliott's sub-forum at americanidol.com during American Idol Season 5
American Idol (season 5)
The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006 and concluded on May 24, 2006. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell returned to judge, and Ryan Seacrest returned to host. It is the most successful season to date ratings-wise and also with 18 contestants getting record deals -...
, came up with the name
Name
A name is a word or term used for identification. Names can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. A personal name identifies a specific unique and identifiable individual person, and may or may not include a middle name...
.
Early history
The Yaminoys thread transferred to Etrainstation.com when the latter was created on May 18, 2006. The Yaminoys yahoogroupYahoo! Groups
Yahoo! Groups is one of the world’s largest collections of online discussion boards. The term Groups refers to Internet communication which is a hybrid between an electronic mailing list and a threaded Internet forum, in other words, Group messages can be read and posted by e-mail or on the Group's...
was born 10
10 (number)
10 is an even natural number following 9 and preceding 11.-In mathematics:Ten is a composite number, its proper divisors being , and...
days before that, with the initial goal of having 100 members; this was achieved in June 2006. At that point, members brainstormed on ways to make Elliott aware that he had an active fan base
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and convince him to come to the country
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
for a concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
. These included sending him a birthday
Birthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
gift
Gift
A gift or a present is the transfer of something without the expectation of receiving something in return. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may contribute to...
, posting updates on his MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page regarding the status of the group, and coordinating with his marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
arm, the Croshal Entertainment Group, to ask for updates on when his debut and self-titled album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
would be available in the Philippines. The group would also request radio stations to play Elliott's first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Wait For You
Wait for You
"Wait for You" is a song by former American Idol contestant Elliott Yamin. It is the first official single from his self-titled album Elliott Yamin .-Song information:...
" following its official release
Release (music)
In the music industry, a release is usually a term referring to the creative output from an artist available for sale or distribution; a broad term covering the many different formats music can be released in, and different forms of pieces .The word can also refer to the event at which an album or...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and track its status.
Reaching Public Consciousness
The wider public became aware of the group during Elliott's concert tour in the Philippines in the latter part of September 2007. Aside from the tarpaulins welcoming Elliott to the Philippines and cheering him the loudest during his shows, the Yaminoys were noted for their "I (heart) EY" shirtShirt
A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...
s, which followed the design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
of a similar top from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, except that the heart was in Elliott's favorite color
Color
Color or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
, green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
. At the meet-and-greet session following Elliott's TriNoma
TriNoma
TriNoma is a large shopping mall in Quezon City, Philippines, owned by property development firm Ayala Land Inc...
show on September 21, some members of the group handed a "mini-me" Elliott doll
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
, with the word
Word
In language, a word is the smallest free form that may be uttered in isolation with semantic or pragmatic content . This contrasts with a morpheme, which is the smallest unit of meaning but will not necessarily stand on its own...
"Yaminoys" on the figurine
Figurine
A figurine is a statuette that represents a human, deity or animal. Figurines may be realistic or iconic, depending on the skill and intention of the creator. The earliest were made of stone or clay...
's shirt, to the singer-songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Elliott put up a picture
Image
An image is an artifact, for example a two-dimensional picture, that has a similar appearance to some subject—usually a physical object or a person.-Characteristics:...
of the said replica
Replica
A replica is a copy closely resembling the original concerning its shape and appearance. An inverted replica complements the original by filling its gaps. It can be a copy used for historical purposes, such as being placed in a museum. Sometimes the original never existed. For example, Difference...
on his MySpace profile
User profile
A user profile is a collection of personal data associated to a specific user. A profile refers therefore to the explicit digital representation of a person's identity...
section, soon afterwards.
Elliott Yamin and the Yaminoys
Elliott acknowledged that, prior to his visit to the Philippines, he did not have an idea on the magnitude of his music's popularity in the country."I can't speak for all, but we never really know how big of a following we have and how big American Idol was outside the States," he said during a press conference in Glorietta
Glorietta
Glorietta is a large shopping mall in the Ayala Center in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The mall is owned by the Zobel de Ayala family and its holding company, Ayala Corporation...
mall in Makati
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
a few hours after he arrived.
But he revealed being familiar with the world-renowned Filipino warmth.
"I have got some Filipino friends back home, people I have grown up with. I just know how warm and friendly the Filipino culture is. Everybody is so warm and so accepting. I'm just thrilled to be a part of it."
Among those friends is fellow American Idol Season 5 contestant
Contestant
A contestant is someone who takes part in a competition, usually a professional competition or a game show on television. The participants competing against each other have to go through rounds...
Sway Peñala, who told him to expect royal treatment when he comes to the Philippines.
"To actually get here and to experience it first hand has been such an honor. It's been so amazing. And so far, everybody's been so warm and friendly. They just wanna see me do well and succeed. And it's just great. I'm just honored to be even asked to be here to be able to share my music with everybody here," Elliott said in an interview by Myx
Myx
myx or MYX is the music channel of ABS-CBN brand and the #1 music channel in the Philippines. It is also a part of Studio 23's program line-up. In 2007, MYX North America was launched in the United States....
Mag.
During his shows, Elliott would give shout-outs to the Yaminoys, repeatedly calling them the warmest people in the world. He would also utter "mabuhay" and "salamat,"
Salamat
"Salamat" is the word for "Thank You" in many Filipino languages, including Tagalog, Cebuano, and Ilongo. It most likely comes from the triliteral Semitic root S-L-M, due to Arabs who roamed the area.- Other meanings :* HC Salamat, a Finnish ice hockey team...
two Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
words he learned in preparation for his tour.
When he came back to the U.S. and went on a nationwide tour there, Elliott would happily recount his experience in the Philippines:
"We got to play five shows there. We had the time of our lives. Everybody knows all the words to all the songs," the pop/soul/R&B artist told Houston ChronicleHouston ChronicleThe Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
ahead of his show at the Meridian.
"It was great, to go halfway around the world and see how much love and support is out there. I was blown away by how much they know my music. They're very keen on 'American Idol.' They're 10 times more fanatical than people here . . . [We were there for] a music tour. We did five acoustic shows to help promote my record. My song ['Wait For You'] and video have been No. 1 over there for weeks and weeks and weeks . . . It was really awesome, man. Probably the best shows I've ever had in my life,", Elliott said to Richmond Times-DispatchRichmond Times-DispatchThe Richmond Times-Dispatch is the primary daily newspaper in Richmond the capital of Virginia, United States, and is commonly considered the "newspaper of record" for events occurring in much of the state...
.
"My experience was unforgettable, amazing. It was very eye-opening as to how powerful music is and how blessed I am to be a part of it. It was amazing to see how strong and how much that Filipinos admire American music and are so devoted to it. Some of the most loyal fans I've ever met, and I honestly can't wait to play a full show over there and do a full set with my band. I had an absolute blast and I would love to go back any day," the highly gifted singer said in response to a question during the live chat sponsored by Oscar MayerOscar MayerOscar Mayer is an American meat and cold cut production company, owned by Kraft Foods, known for its hot dogs, bologna, bacon and Lunchables products.-History:...
to promote its "Sing the Jingle Be A Star" contest, in October 2007.
Elliot would occasionally mention the Yaminoys in his MySpace blogs. He dedicated his October 21, 2007 entry to his Filipino fans in the wake of the Glorietta blast, which occurred nearly a month after Elliott performed in that mall.
Yaminoys Today
As of May 2008, those registered in the yahoogroup number more than 300. Their online presence has grown—the Yaminoys have FriendsterFriendster
Friendster is a social gaming site that is based in Malaysia, KL. The company now operates mainly from the three Asian countries namely in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore....
, Multiply, and MySpace accounts. They also exchange views via PinoyExchange.com
PinoyExchange
Pinoy Exchange is a Filipino online message board community founded by Dr. Michael Nolledo a.k.a. "batanguliran" with help from close family members on July 12, 1999. As of September 15, 2010, PEX has 49,248,745 posts made by 391,809 members, making it the largest message board in the country by...
and a special forum at Etrainstation.com.
The Yaminoys hold meetings on occasion to discuss ways to increase airplay of Elliott's songs and sales of the American Idol alum
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
's debut CD, which is distributed by MCA Music Philippines. Their efforts enabled four songs from "Elliott Yamin" -- "Wait For You," "Movin' On,"
Movin' On (Elliott Yamin song)
"Movin' On" is a song by American singer Elliott Yamin from his self-titled debut album. It was released to U.S. online music retailers on February 27, 2007. A preview of the song was released to AOL on February 9....
"One Word,"
One Word (Elliott Yamin song)
"One Word" is the second official single from his self-titled album Elliott Yamin -Song information:...
and "You Are The One" -- to make the charts in several radio stations.