Jessica Sanchez wants to visit the Philippines

LOS ANGELES/MANILA – “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sanchez is proud of her Filipino and Mexican heritage as she aired hopes that she could one day visit the Philippines and Mexico.

Sanchez, whose mother is a Filipina from Samal, Bataan and father a Mexican raised in Texas who is a US Navy veteran in Iraq and Afghanistan, said she was thankful for the all-out support of all Americans, especially Filipinos and Mexicans who rooted for her to win the popular television talent show.
The Chula Vista, California singing sensation, who is dubbed by her supporters as the “World Idol,” said she grew up with both cultures, adding that she loves “adobo” and other Filipino food.
Early reports indicated Sanchez maybe performing with Latina singer-actress and American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez in a concert at the Arena at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City in November. The MOA show will be part of the world tour of Lopez. 
In case her Manila trip and show will push through, President Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Congress are expected to honor her. Already, Congress is set to adopt a resolution paying tribute to Sanchez for her talent and feat in the American show. Sen. Manuel B. Villa Jr. initiated the measure in the Senate. 
Sanchez wowed the National Memorial Day celebration in Washington D.C. over the weekend in honor of active soldiers, veterans and their audience. She was selected to sing in the concert which was part the celebration the US national anthem, “Star-Spangled Banner,” and “The Prayer,” one of her top songs in the talent show. With Jessica in the concert, her first appearance after the “American Idol,” were fellow “American Idol” graduate Chris Daughtry and Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole.
 Among those in the audience was his Filipino grandfather, who is a retired US Navy man.
Interviewed by Filipino journalists before the concert started, Sanchez said she was honored to be part of the celebration. “It means the world,” she said, adding: “My dad is part of the military and so is my grandfather. I’m excited, I feel like I’m really part of this and it’s an honor to be singing for everybody here today.”
“I’m excited because my grandfather is a big part of the military, and he’s here to celebrate this time with me,” she said. “It’s like I’m singing not only to him but to everybody else here.”
Meanwhile, Fox News reported that Sanchez is already discussing a possible album with Tommy Mottola, former Sony Music Entertainment executive and currently co-owns Casablanca Records in a joint venture with the Universal Music Group.
Mottola helped music superstars Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan and “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez in their early careers. 
Sanchez said she was determined to pursue her singing career, but voiced her desire to also finish college.
In another interview earlier with Fox News, the pint-size singing star stressed: “I’m proud of both of my heritages.”
 ”There’s never a time when I’m more one than the other. I grew up with both [cultures],” she added.
 Sanchez said she hopes a stop in the Philippines and Mexico will be part of the upcoming “American Idol” tour.
“I’ve never been out of the country, so I would love to go. I hope they let me in the tour,” she said.
Even as many of her supporters, some of them “American Idol” finalists and contestants, continue to protest her not being crowned the “American Idol,” Sanchez defended the winner, Phillip Phillips, saying he deserved the title having worked hard in the show.
For one, the Migrant Heritage Commission which is based here in Washington D.C. and identified with Fil-Am leaders, was reported to be asking Fox TV to disclose “in the interest of transparency” how the “American Idol” voting was counted and how many of the 132 million votes went to Sanchez and Phillips.
 Sanchez shrugged off the MRC initiative. “I don’t think it’s necessary,” she stressed. 
“I think Phil deserves to win, I think it was all fair. They wouldn’t ever cheat or anything like that. I think it was completely fair,” she added.
Others who criticized the contest result were  former contestants Stefano Langone of season 10, and season five top three finalist Elliot Yamin who both rooted for the teener from Chula Vista in San Diego County.
“What a travesty,” Langone said in Twitter of the results. Langone, who placed seventh in last year’s edition, added that he is not alone in noticing that the show has become a popularity contest, in lieu of results being based on talent.
“Let me clarify — congrats to Phillips! — [but] for the integrity of the show, to me this is a travesty. The result this year solidifies the reality of idol no longer being a talent show but a popularity contest. Unfortunately, I’m not the first to have noticed,” said Langone, whose “Idol” stint saw the crowning of country singer Scotty McCreery.
Yamin seconded Langone’s observation, saying Sanchez’s second place finish was a “shame.”
“Missed the ‘Idol’ finale tonight, but it sounds like I didn’t miss much by the sounds of who ‘won.’ Jessica Sanchez is a real singer. I thought this was a singing competition? What a shame,” Yamin tweeted, according to an ABS-CBN report.
The former disc jockey also likened the latest season of “Idol” to politics, implying doubts as to the results of the show.
“‘American Idol’ has become much like politics, in the sense that we as a people get mad at who’s in office, when we are the people who put them there, or are we?” he said.
Although vocal of their frustration over Sanchez’s loss, both Langone and Yamin still congratulated Phillips, who has been popularly tagged in social networking sites as the fifth consecutive “WGWG” or “white man with a guitar” winner on “Idol.”
“I tip my hat to both Jessica and Phillip. [But I] hoped for a different outcome,” Langone tweeted.
“Look, ‘American Idol’ has been so good to me and gave me a career I’ve always dreamed of, so I’m not ‘biting the hand that’s fed me,’ and I am in debt with the amount of gratitude I have towards them,” Yamin said, adding, “I’m just saying that I don’t get it, that’s all. Hats off to the winner and all the finalists.”