JESSICA SANCHEZ GETS NOD OF 2 'IDOL' JUDGES /
SHE'S ALMOST THERE, MAY 23
[PHOTO - Jessica Sanchez performing
Aerosmith's "I Dont Want To Miss A Thing" during American Idol's Top 3
performance night Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) Photo
taken from Youtube Video]
MANILA,
MAY 18, 2012 (INQUIRER) By:
Matikas Santos - Filipino-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez drew praises for
her performance from two "American Idol" judges Wednesday night (Thursday Manila
time) despite having throat problems.
And while Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler continued to complement Sanchez,
Randy Jackson was more lukewarm in his review, earning boos from the crowd.
Sanchez's first song, Mariah Carey's "My All," was chosen by Lopez.
"I knew I wanted to hear her sing a song like this; it's one of my favorite
songs," said Lopez, who on Wednesday was named by Forbes magazine as the most
powerful celebrity in the world.
"There's a tenderness in this song that I feel that she will kill," she said.
Her performance was likewise praised by Jackson, saying, "I think it's one of
the best times a Mariah song has ever been performed on TV."
"Perfectly the right song for you," he said.
Lopez said it was a hard song, "but you did it so beautifully, and you did it
in your own way."
Tyler said to Sanchez that "you will be the last one standing here, I
believe."
Jessica Sanchez performing Aerosmith's "I Dont Want To Miss A Thing" during
American Idol's Top 3 performance night Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) Photo
taken from Youtube Video Sanchez's second song was Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to
Miss a Thing."
Tyler, lead vocalist of Aerosmith, praised her for making the song "greater."
"Well, you just took a great song and made it greater. Thank you," Tyler said
after Jessica's performance.
Lopez shared that Tyler has never complemented any contestant who chose to
perform his songs.
"When people come up there and sing his songs, he's never said one good
thing," Lopez said.
Lopez said she "sent everybody to the heavens" with that performance.
Jackson said Sanchez "delivered" on the "big moment" that he has been waiting
for.
The third song Sanchez performed was "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5, which
both got nods from Tyler and Lopez.
Tyler said "Perfect song, perfect voice. You nailed it, delicious."
Lopez told Sanchez after her performance "You had perfect tone in
your voice, you almost sounded like Michael," referring to the late Michael
Jackson who originally sang the song when he was young.
Randy Jackson said "I liked it okay, I didn't love it," which drew boos from
the audience.
"Once again we're at the end here and you're on the stage with all these
dynamic singers, there was never a moment moment," Jackson said.
He said he was looking for some "more emotional moments" in her version of
Mariah's song.
"It was okay, it wasn't like 'Oh my god!' and I'm looking for that now,"
Jackson said.
Sanchez tweeted a day before the competition that her "throat was not at its
best."
Sanchez is competing against Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips for the finals
of "American Idol".
First posted May 17, 2012 | 12:34 pm
Jessica almost there; finale May 23 Philippine
Daily Inquirer May 19, 2012 | 1:59 am
NEW YORK—And then there were two.
Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips are left to battle for the "American
Idol" season 11 crown on next week's finale after Joshua Ledet, who brought the
"American Idol" judges to their feet many times over, couldn't win over fans and
was sent home from the top-rated TV talent show on Friday.
Sanchez has impressed the judges from the beginning of the current season
with her technical mastery of music, despite being the youngest contestant at
16. The other night, the judges cheered the Filipino-Mexican when she sang
Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," leading Steven Tyler, the rock
band's lead singer, to say "you just took a great song and made it greater."
Singer-songwriter Phillips has won plaudits for bringing his own distinctive
style of guitar-playing music to other artists' songs. Mentor Jimmy Iovine and
judge Randy Jackson agreed that Phillips' performance song "We've Got Tonight"
was his best performance to date.
Ledet was gracious in defeat. He closed the singing contest on Thursday with
his rendition of "It's a Man's World," replicating one of his most popular
performances of the season.
Friday's results show included performances from two artists with new albums
out this week—Lisa Marie Presley and "Idol" season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert.
Presley sang "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," off her album "Storm and Grace" and
Lambert did "Never Close Our Eyes" from his sophomore album "Trespassing."
Audience voting was based on Wednesday's episode that included three
performance rounds of contestants singing songs chosen by the judges, songs of
their own picking and a tune chosen by Iovine.
Palace support
Hours after Sanchez reached the "Idol" finals on Friday, Malacañang appealed
to Filipinos in the United States to vote for the Philippine bet.
"Please show your support in any way possible for Jessica Sanchez. This is
the last stretch and we know that when Filipinos gather and put their minds into
it, it will happen," said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte during
Friday's news briefing.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement that Sanchez
"inspires us to pursue excellence in everything we do—no matter how big or small
the stage may be."
From Orani, Samal
[PHOTO- Jessica's dad Gilbert Sanchez and Mom Editha]
The frenzy surrounding Sanchez is spreading to the towns of Orani and Samal
in Bataan province—where her mother Editha Bugay and maternal relatives hail—as
residents hope and pray that her "Idol" journey ends in triumph.
"Our support here is solid. Everybody loves her," said Manny Morales, 32, a
tricycle driver in Orani town.
Morales said a tarpaulin is displayed in front of the town plaza showing
their support for Sanchez. A lot of people have also come looking for the house
of her grandparents there since she became an "Idol" finalist.
"She has really become well known, even if she hasn't been here," he added.
The house of Sanchez's grandparents in Barangay Apollo in Orani has become a
local landmark as Sanchez advanced to the finals.
Orani residents interviewed by the Inquirer said even before Sanchez joined
the popular singing competition, the Bugay family was already known in the town.
Morales said one of Sanchez's relatives, Rene Bugay, is a longtime councilor and
politician in the town.
Morales said they were hoping Sanchez would visit Bataan after her "Idol"
stint.
Orani Mayor Benjamin Serrano Jr. said he had been asking residents of Bataan,
who have relatives in the United States, to urge them to support Sanchez and
vote for her to become this year's "American Idol."
In a text message from the United States, Dinalupihan Mayor Joel Payumo,
president of the Bataan Mayors' League, said the Filipino community in the
United States is behind Sanchez all the way.
Payumo's brother, Jojo, a member of the provincial board, said the provincial
government filed a resolution in support of Sanchez three weeks ago.
Free 'Idol' viewing
In this town, the local government had prepared a free public viewing of
"Idol" through Cignal, a cable TV provider, on Thursday and Friday.
On Thursday night, almost 1,000 Samal residents flocked to the town plaza to
watch her perform.
Samal Mayor Generosa dela Fuente said Sanchez had become an inspiration to
the youth in their town.
"Even though Samal is relatively smaller and poorer than the other towns in
Bataan, we are slowly becoming well known because of Jessica," she said.
Dela Fuente said she had organized little gatherings to watch Sanchez's
performances.
"In the beginning, we only had a small projector that we used to show her
performances in the plaza. But now, we have support given to us by Cignal so
that a lot more people can watch her," she said.
[PHOTO -Jessica's family on her mother's side (from L): mom Editha,
Lola Virgie Bugay and Lolo Eddie]
Sanchez's great, great grandfather was a former Samal councilor and a
musician. Her grandfather, Eddie, is a retired US Navy personnel.
"They bought a house in Orani; that's where they live now. But their
ancestral home is here," Dela Fuente said.
Mass for Sanchez
Fr. Paul Bugay, head of the finance ministry of the San Pablo diocese in
Laguna, has been closely following the show and is rooting for his second cousin
Sanchez.
A Catholic priest in Laguna, who traces his roots to Samal, Bataan, Bugay has
offered prayers and Holy Masses for her to win.
Bugay said his father and the grandfather of Sanchez are cousins.
Since Sanchez became one of the "Idol" contenders, he said the Bugay clan in
the United States as well as relatives living in Germany, United Kingdom and
Australia had been in close contact with each other through the social
networking site Facebook.
He said all the Bugays scattered throughout the world are now unanimous in
their campaign to vote for Sanchez.
"They have been encouraging and appealing to fellow Filipinos to vote for her
through phone or the Internet," he said.
The finale will consist of a two-hour performance episode on Tuesday
(Wednesday in Manila), followed by a results episode on Wednesday (Thursday in
Manila), with guest performers Rihanna, Jason Derulo, Aerosmith and the "Idol"
season 11 Top 10.
The face-off between Sanchez and Phillips will be aired in the Philippines
via satellite on ETC on May 23 at 6 p.m. The season's grand finale will be
broadcast live on May 24 at 8 a.m., with replays at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. also on
ETC. With reports from Norman Bordadora, Robert Gonzaga,
Inquirer Central Luzon, Romulo Ponte, Southern Luzon Bureau
FROM MANILA BULLETIN
Samal, Bataan, Philippines Hopes To Ride On Jessica's Fame
By KRISTINA MARALIT May 19, 2012, 8:48pm
[PHOTO - Samal is a 4th class municipality in the province of
Bataan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of
45,677 people in 7,346 households. Samal is formerly known as Samel. Samal is
the leading producer of rice in the province. Gene M. Dela Fuente is the current
mayor of Samal, she comes from a very big family in Samal, the Malibiran family.
Samal also produces "Araro cookies" , cookies that look like biscuits with a
balanced taste. Samal has copper and gold deposits.Samal is located at the south
of Orani, at the north of Abucay, west of Manila Bay and in the east of Morong.
Samal is also the town where Jessica Sanchez mother lives. WIKIPEDIA]
SAMAL, BATAAN – Samal Mayor Generosa "Gene" dela Fuente hopes Jessica
Sanchez's fame will help put the little town on the map.
"Samal is not as known as Orani or Balanga. We hope Jessica's current
popularity will bring more people to visit our town and see what we have to
offer," dela Fuente said during Cignal Digital TV's "American Idol Night" held
at the town plaza. "Not too many people know that our main product is capiz. We
have a lot of skilled crafters and I'm hoping Samal will one day become a major
exporter of capiz products."
Besides the making and selling of handicrafts, Dela Fuente hopes Samal
(population is around 37,000) will also attract more tourists, but for that to
happen, the first-term mayor said some public structures have to be refurbished.
Right now, a lying-in clinic and a pre-school building are being built on a lot
where a public market once stood.
"We are a fourth-class municipality, a lot still needs to be done for us to
progress. Thankfully, with the Samaleños' cooperation, we have started moving
forward. If before Samal seemed like a ghost town and was rebel-infested, it's
now slowly coming to life and is one of the most peaceful towns in Bataan," the
mayor said.
Asked what kind of impact the 16-year-old Sanchez's amazing run on "American
Idol" had on the Samaleños, Dela Fuente said "Jessica has inspired everyone
here, especially the youth. She's so young but overflowing with potential.
Everytime she takes the stage, you can sense her confidence. She has that aura
of a winner. That's what I want my town, mates to have, the belief that they can
do great things."
Dela Fuente said ever since the Filipino-Mexican singing sensation caught the
world's attention, different media organizations have flocked to their once
sleepy town to look for Jessica's relatives.
Jessica's mother, Editha, traces her roots to Samal and Orani. While some are
open to being interviewed, there are also those who would rather shy away from
members of the media.
"We will definitely roll out the red carpet for her (Sanchez) and pull out
all the stops to give her a grand welcome," dela Fuente said.
"I've said time and again that Jessica is superstar material. She's a very
talented child. I have no doubt that she will be the next American Idol winner,"
Berning Bugay said in the vernacular. Bugay is the cousin of Jessica's
grandfather, Eduardo Bugay, a retired US Navy serviceman.
The Idol finale will be aired live on Thursday, May 24 (Manila time).
If Sanchez wins, she will be the first American Idol with Filipino blood.
The farthest a Filipino has ever gone in the competition was when Jasmine
Trias made the top three in the show's third season.
ABOUT JESSICA SANCHEZ:
Jessica Sanchez was born in Chula Vista, California on August 4, 1995
to parents Gilbert and Editha Sanchez. She was raised in Eastlake, Chula Vista,
along with two younger brothers.
Her father, a Mexican American originally from Texas, is a U.S. Navy veteran
who fought in the Iraq War, served in Afghanistan and, as of April 2012, was
expected to soon be deployed to Singapore. Her mother is Filipino American
originally from Bataan province in the Philippines. Her maternal grandfather,
Eddie Bugay, is a retired U.S. Navy sailor.
Inspired by her Roman Catholic grandmother, Sanchez carries a rosary
everywhere and prays quietly before going on stage.
She is a former student of Eastlake Middle School in Chula Vista. Back in her
eighth grade, her favorite subjects were science, physical education, and choir.
Her teacher remembers Sanchez as a humble girl, for when word spread at school
that she sang the national anthem at a San Diego Chargers home game, she did not
brag and preferred to stay in the background. She was selected for full
scholarship training at the Theater of Arts in Hollywood and is currently a
home-schooled high school student in 11th grade.
She started singing at the age of 2 and aspires to be a mainstream singer
that can "belt but sing upbeat songs". Eminem and Beyonce are her favorite male
and female artists, while Jennifer Hudson is her favorite American Idol
contestant. Other musical influences include Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston,
Celine Dion, Etta James, Christina Aguilera, and Michael Jackson.
Early career
Showtime at the Apollo
At the age of 10, Sanchez got a standing ovation for performing
Aretha Franklin's "Respect" on Showtime at the Apollo. The host Whoopi Goldberg
called her back on stage to accept a second round of applause.
America's Got Talent
Sanchez competed on the first season of America's Got Talent at the age of
11. Despite a successful audition, she was not seen on the show until during the
wild card round of the semi-finals when judge Brandy Norwood chose her to
comeback for a chance to compete for the finals. Norwood predicted, "You're
gonna be huge, I promise," after seeing her perform "I Surrender" by Celine
Dion. The show's executive producer and former American Idol judge Simon Cowell
named her "one of the best I have ever heard."
National Football League
On September 22, 2008, Sanchez sang The Star-Spangled Banner before a
San Diego Chargers versus New York Jets matchup. She got invited again to sing
the national anthem on September 27, 2009 before a San Diego Chargers versus
Miami Dolphins matchup.
Single releases
In October 2009, Sanchez recorded a cover of "Don't Stop the Music" by
Rihanna for iTunes with independent record label Spin Move Records. The
following spring, Sanchez recorded another single with Spin Move Records, a
cover of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" for YouTube and exclusive download on
the label's website.
We Are the World remake
Sanchez was one of the singers in Lisa Lavie's collaboration video "We Are
the World 25 for Haiti (YouTube Edition)" for charity relief for victims of the
2010 Haiti earthquake, along with American Idol season 10 finalist Thia Megia.
The video's participants were collectively recognized as "Persons of the Week"
on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer on March 19, 2010.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
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