Jennifer Holliday has advice for Jessica Sanchez

MANILA, Philippines – Tony- and Grammy-award winning singer Jennifer Holliday said she hopes Jessica Sanchez will have a “balanced life” following her successful stint on “American Idol.”

Tony- and Grammy-award winning singer Jennifer Holliday hugs "American Idol" finalist Jessica Sanchez after their "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" duet during the show's season finale.

ABS-CBN News was able to interview Holliday during the Independence Day celebration in Georgia, where she was the special guest.

Holliday said Sanchez “has an exceptional instrument and I think she knows instinctively exactly what to do.”

She, however, has a piece of advice for the 16-year-old singer, who’s truly enjoying her newfound fame after her runner-up finish on “Idol.”

"The main thing I told Jessica I didn't want her to be like me in my young life. It happened so fast. I just was not ready. It was an overwhelming responsibility to be a young person in an adult world, carrying adults," she said.

Holliday said she “felt connected with Jessica early on, especially when she was in the bottom 3 and got eliminated."

Holliday also took the opportunity to thank her Filipino fans.

Many Filipinos became fans when Holliday started supporting Jessica Sanchez on “American Idol.”
Their duet of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” during the latest “Idol” finale is one of the highlights of the season.

“Hello to my dear Filipino family, fans and friends. This is Jennifer Holliday. I am so happy to greet you finally and thank you for your love and support during the time when Jessica and I were together on ‘American Idol.’ We felt your love, we felt your support, and most importantly your prayers," she said.

‘Philippine Day’ in Georgia
Meanwhile, the governor of the state of Gerogia declared June 12 as "Philippine Day” for enriching America's culture and economy.

"It's a very active community, it's a very business-oriented community, it's a very professional community. i'm very, very impressed. sets a great example," said Sheriff Richard Lankford.

"It is an awesome feeling that the governor gave a proclamation. That is really nice," said Filipino community leader Venus Soriano.

The award was presented during the Philippine Independence Day celebration.

Various Filipino organizations in Georgia attended the event. Most of the Filipino-Americans are professional doctors, nurses and business owners.

Many of them give back to the community and to kababayans in need back home.

They recently held medical missions in Siquijor and Puerto Princesa. Each member spent about $3,000 to undertake the project.

"May mga kababayan tayo sa Pilipinas na kung hindi namin pupuntahan, hindi mabibigyan ng kailangan nila, whether operasyon, gamot o diagnosis kasi walang-wala eh," said Dr. Lemuel Villanueva.

Other Fil-Am organizations in Georgia support Bantay Bata and Sagip-Kapamilya relief efforts.

Athough they're far away from the country, the Filipinos in Georgia said the Philippines is always in their hearts. – Report by Yong Chavez, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/06/13/12/jennifer-holliday-has-advice-jessica-sanchez

Did You Know? No solo Manila concert for Jessica Sanchez

Now IT can be told: “American Idol” season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez will not have a solo concert in Manila anytime soon, because a “bidding war” simulated by a US-based Filipino —who has become notorious for her anomalous deals as an agent for visiting foreign concert acts—had scuttled the negotiations.

Instead, Sanchez’s fans here will have to settle for watching her perform a few numbers as part of the “Idol” tour, which includes a stop at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sept. 21.

This development also practically preempts efforts to have Sanchez as front act for Jennifer Lopez’s concert which is set on Nov. 24 at Mall of Asia Arena. Reports quoting Lopez’s promoter for her Manila show say nothing has been confirmed, as far as Sanchez’s participation is concerned.

Early bid
Sources told the Inquirer that local promoters had been bidding for Sanchez to perform solo in Manila as early as the Top 6 final episode of “Idol” (when she sang “Dance with My Father”).

Problem was, the US-based Pinoy agent joined the bidding, only to back off when the quoted figures were said to have reached $800,000 (P34.4 million), because apparently the agent had no promoter willing to back her bid.

Businessman Ben Chan, according to the sources, was very interested to sponsor the Sanchez concert, but dreaded the hassle of talking to the agent. Pocholo Concepcion

Read more American Idol news and about Jessica Sanchez news here.

Jessica Sanchez’s trainer says she’s only just begun

LOS ANGELES, California — Vocal coach/mentor Robert Talon confessed that when his now-famous ward, “American Idol” Season 11 runnerup Jessica Sanchez was nearly eliminated seven weeks into the final stretch, it affected her so much that “she started trying too hard.”

Sanchez was declared to have received the lowest number of votes on the April 13 episode of the show, but judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler pulled out the lifeline for her. “You’re not going home! This is ridiculous! We’re using the save,” exclaimed Lopez, interrupting the proceedings onstage. “This girl is one of the best singers in America, ever,” Jackson added.

(Sanchez lost to 21-year-old Phillip Phillips at the grand finals on May 23.)

Biggest critic
“Jessica is her own biggest critic. She likes things to be perfect,” Talon said of the 16-year-old powerhouse singer from Chula Vista, California. “I think her near elimination played with her head a little. After that, she started trying too hard instead of singing from the heart, like she’s used to doing.”

Talon added that Sanchez eventually “pulled it together when she needed to and continued on in the competition like the champ that she was.”

He pointed out that the future is certainly looking bright for Sanchez, who is among the Idol Top 12 to be featured in a concert tour starting this month. She was also invited to sing the US national anthem in the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley boxing match in Las Vegas yesterday.

Singer-actress Thalía—wife of Tommy Mottola, who coowns Casablanca Records—announced on Twitter recently that Mottola was “ready to work” with Sanchez.

Talon received a brand-new car from “Idol” as a reward for helping out Sanchez for the duration of the show. The Filipino-American mentor took time to chat with the Inquirer about his exceptionally talented student.
What is Jessica like as a person? How serious is she about music?

Jessica is one of the humblest people one can ever meet. At the same time, she is quite focused on what she wants to do with regards to her music. She is driven, and she aims for the top.

Is she really so mature as to keep assuring the whole world that the results were fair and Phillips deserved to win?

Jessica may only be 16, but she is mature beyond her years. When she said the results of “American Idol” were fair and that Phillip deserved to win, she meant it. She’s not one to sugarcoat.

Who picked the songs that she sang on “Idol”? What more do you think the girl can do that wasn’t already highlighted on TV?

At the end of the day, Jessica picked every single song she sang on the show. She was positioned as the female singing powerhouse on the program. Although she’s great at that, she still has so much in her arsenal to give to her fans, which is why they should be excited to see what she puts out in her first album. I can’t wait!
What should Jessica look out for?

She’s only 16. When it comes to talent and image, she’s got it … But we’ve told her repeatedly to always keep her feet on the ground and never forget where she came from. We’ve seen this scene played over and over in Hollywood—fame easily goes to one’s head if not managed right. There’s got to be one stern individual in her circle who’ll be able to tell her, “No!” when needed.

How does she take care of her voice?
 She rests her voice when she needs to. Her mom whips up some ginger tea when her throat is a little sore. Other than these, vocal exercises keep her voice strong.
How does she dress offstage? Does she have a boyfriend?

She’s a very simple girl. Dress her up in jeans and T-shirt and she’s fine. No time for boys right now.

How long have you been working with Jessica? How did you feel when she was almost booted?

I’ve known Jessica since she was 9. My heart dropped when she was almost eliminated. Thanks to the judges, that was short-lived.

What are your qualifications as a coach?
I was never officially her vocal coach—just someone who helped guide her in making good, smart, sound decisions during the competition. And I’m definitely one of her biggest fans!
How do her parents treat you?

Her mom and dad became my best friends throughout this journey. It was like a roller-coaster ride, but well worth it.

How unique is Jessica’s talent compared to other singers that you have also helped?
I have yet to see another undiscovered person with Jessica’s talent in the years I’ve been working with her. She’s truly a diamond in the rough. We are all blessed to have witnessed this rising star on the show this year. What’s crazy is that she has only started. It’s the infancy of her career and the whole world now gets to come along for the ride!

Read more Jessica Sanchez news here.

‘AI’–the aftermath

ONCE again, true singing talent has been upstaged by boy-next-door cuteness on “American Idol,” with Philip Philips winning over Jessica Sanchez—and there are many lessons to be learned from that aftermath.
First, don’t take the popular talent tilt all that seriously—certainly not as a matter of life and death, as some of our friends have.

They’re still smarting from the monumental snub—but, hey, get a life. There’s more to human existence than the shrieking approval of a bunch of pimply tweens.

And, there’s more to “national pride” than being collectively rebuffed by them! Fact is, “national pride” didn’t even enter into their consciousness at all! They turned up their noses at Jessica because she wasn’t of the right gender (as they consistently have since 2007), period.

Are the Mexicans, whose ethnic persuasion comprises half of Jessica’s gene pool, freaking out just because she lost? No, it’s her Philippine side that’s going bonkers—ironically, because of Philip Philip-ine’s victory over “our” best bet.

Belated admission
Other postscripts: The winner’s belated admission that he had medical problems all along, and in fact may have to go under the knife soon is seen by some desperate local straw-clutchers as a duplicitous denouement that may just possibly alter the tilt’s outcome in Jessica’s favor.

But, we think that the likelihood of that happening is so minuscule a probability that it will have to be appreciated by its diehards with the help of an electron microscope! After all, the young man won as the tilt’s most popular bet, not its healthiest.

She may not have romped off with the “American Idol” crown, but Jessica has benefited enormously from the exposure and showcase that the tilt gave her.

At only 16 years of age, she has exhibited a range and musical maturity beyond her years that’s sure to be further developed and showcased by top record producers.

If their different moves and gambits are successful, Jessica should emerge as the most acclaimed part-Filipino talent on the international performing scene.

Best proof
To us, the best proof of her precocious claim to global fame came by way of her extremely rigorous duet with the Jennifer Holliday in the “AI” finals, when they mutually “attacked”—and “conquered”—the most difficult number from “Dreamgirls,” “(And I’m Telling You) I’m Not Going.”

The number was made even more “symbolic” by the fact that it was the song that “made” Holliday a star when she first rendered it as young talent on the musical stage.

Now, it was Jessica’s turn to benefit from the song’s starmaking ability, by holding her own as they performed it, despite Holliday’s vastly greater experience—and penchant for “killing” the competition.
Depite Holliday’s best efforts, Jessica survived the mano-a-mano “duel of divas”—a harbinger of future triumphs to come! More Jessica Sanchez news here.

Jessica Sanchez defends ‘American Idol,’ says protest ‘not necessary’

WASHINGTON, D.C.— “It was completely fair. Phil deserved to win.”
With those words, “American Idol” runner-up Jessica Sanchez brushed aside a protest by a Filipino-American community group. Migrant Heritage Commission, which is based here in D.C., is asking Fox TV to disclose “in the interest of transparency” how the voting was counted and how much of the 132 million votes went to the young singer.

Jessica, a close second to winner Phillip Phillips, told The FilAm: “I don’t think it’s necessary. 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.”

I caught up with Jessica at a rehearsal of artists scheduled to perform at the May 27 National Memorial Day Concert to honor soldiers and veterans. With Jessica in the program are fellow Idol Chris Daughtry and Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole.

“It means the world,” the 16-year-old was gushing. “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.”

Jessica’s Mexican father, Gilbert, is a Navy veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mother Editha is Filipino. Her maternal grandfather is a retired U.S. Navy man.

“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 of the PBS program dedicated to active duty soldiers, veterans and their families. “It’s like I’m singing not only to him but to everybody else here.”

Wearing tight black jeans and an airy gray top that bared her belly, Jessica arrived here in late morning and took her place at the stage directly across from the Capitol’s west lawn. She looked drained and a wee bit cross. I was looking for the toothy smiles that became her endearing Idol trademark, but they did not flash naturally across her face. Maybe the post-Idol schedules are now taking their toll on her disposition.

She listened to a briefing by the PBS production crew then proceeded to belt the “Star-Spangled Banner.” There were moments when her voice cracked, but she would pause and continue to sing as if in a whisper. Seemed to me she was saving her big voice for the big night.

From two songs, PBS decided that Jessica will be singing three — the national anthem, “The Prayer” and “America, the Beautiful,” which is the finale song. After rehearsal, she took a 30-minute break to rest, freshen up, retouch her makeup and settle down for her interview.

“I think Philip deserves to win,” she told me, flashing what appeared to be a forced grin. “I worked hard and it got me to the Top 2 so I’m happy about that and I’m content with it.”

She said she was eternally grateful to her Filipino-Mexican background which formed the backbone of her overwhelming support. “I had a lot of support and it doesn’t necessarily mean voting-wise, I just had support from my people, and I appreciate it so much.”

Jessica, the oldest of three children – she has two younger brothers — said she speaks only English at home, but is looking forward to learning Tagalog in the future. “I grew up with my grandma and so is my mom who are from the Philippines, they make Filipino food and dishes for us all the time.”

Jessica said she plans to pursue her music career wherever it takes her, but will definitely go to college “as a back-up.”

“Music is pretty much my number one priority, next to family. I’m going to be working on some songs pretty soon,” she said. The latest word is that Tommy Mottola has offered to produce her first album for his Casablanca-UMG label Jessica was mum about the details.

“I’m definitely working on some things right now,” she said. “I’m at this event and we all worked it out and definitely trying to keep myself busy and I’m excited for the future. More Jessica Sanchez news here.

‘American Idol’ reality: No guaranteed big bucks for Jessica Sanchez as No. 2

LOS ANGELES—Coming in second on “American Idol” may still be a path to superstardom, but it no longer offers guaranteed paychecks worthy of the next pop idol or rock star.

Wednesday night’s (Thursday morning in Manila) runner-up, 16-year-old Filipino-Mexican Jessica Sanchez, doesn’t have a definite shot at producing an album and could be paid as little as $30,000 in advances for recording singles, according to the “Idol” contract she and other season 11 contestants signed earlier this year.

The agreement appears to be the first time in “Idol’s” history that producers are not offering the show’s runner-up an album deal that in previous years came with a guaranteed advance of at least $175,000, an Associated Press review of the Fox show’s contracts reveals.

The analysis covers eight of “Idol’s” 11 seasons during which contracts filed for contestants under the age of 18 were available. The contracts were reviewed by judges in accordance with a California law that requires at least 15 percent of a minor entertainer’s earnings be set aside for their benefit once they reach adulthood.

Read more Jessica Sanchez news here.

Jessica tells Filipino fans: I love you all so much

SAN DIEGO—For “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sanchez, home is where the heart is—and that’s still her hometown Chula Vista, where she was born and raised.
Thousands of people turned out to show support for the Filipino-Mexican bet on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in two grand homecoming events—set in a high school stadium and on a historic aircraft carrier—in the “American Idol” tradition of a hero’s welcome.

“Thank you for showing up,” Sanchez told adoring fans on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum, where she auditioned for the “Idol” judges last year.
The 16-year-old Top 3 finalist performed the “Star-Spangled Banner” and three other songs, including Luther Van Dross’ “Dance With My Father,” which she dedicated to her father, Mexican-American Gilbert Sanchez, a member of the US Navy.

“I’m very proud of her,” Gilbert told the Inquirer.

It was a family affair for Sanchez, who was joined in the landmark aircraft carrier by her father, Filipino mother Editha Bugay (who hails from Samal, Bataan province), her two brothers and other family members.
Earlier, Sanchez performed before 6,000 fans who gathered at Eastlake High School’s Canaris Football Stadium in Chula Vista. More Jessica Sanchez news here.

Jessica, Joshua, Phillip last 3 standing on ‘Idol’

LOS ANGELES—It’s going to be a race to the finish for Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips—the last three standing on “American Idol” season 11—after Hollie Cavanagh was sent packing in the reality singing competition’s elimination night on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Philippine bet Sanchez, who got her fourth standing ovation this week, thanked her followers on the social networking site Twitter, saying it’s an honor to land on the Top 3. “Just hit 300k followers :) Love you,” posted the 16-year-old high school student from San Diego, California, with Mexican and Filipino heritage.

Sanchez’s father Gilbert is a Mexican-American originally from Texas while her mother Editha Bugay is a Filipino who hails from Samal, Bataan province.

Sanchez got no less than US Ambassador Harry Thomas cheering with Filipino-Americans after she earned a slot in the final three and a ticket to homecoming week, during which she will return to her hometown in Chula Vista, San Diego.

Big fan

“I hope she wins,” said Thomas, who met with Fil-Ams at an evening meet-and-greet event hosted by the US Pinoys for Good Governance at Carla’s Café inside CBS Studio in Studio City, California.

Should Sanchez fail to make it to the top, Thomas said she is still poised to have a stellar career. “Jessica is a winner no matter what,” he said.

Sanchez is the second contestant of Filipino descent to get elevated to the Top 3 of “Idol.” Filipino-American Jasmine Trias finished third..... Read more  Jessica Sanchez news here.

Jessica Sanchez sings the blues, ‘steals away’ the hearts of millions

MANILA, Philippines—Jessica Sanchez is definitely not going anywhere but to be on top of her game after she got her fourth standing ovation with her renditions of Jennifer Holiday’s “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” for the Top 4 performance in the final stretch of “American Idol.”

The four remaining contestants, Sanchez, Phillips Phillips, Joshua Ledet, and Hollie Cavanagh were made to choose two songs on Wednesday night (early Thursday, Philippine time) to perform; the first coming from
California artists while the second has to be the song they wish they had written.

Sanchez picked Holiday’s song from the hit Broadway musical, “Dreamgirls.” It became a dream come true for her with all the praises given by the judges.

For the second choice, she did Etta James’s “Steal Away”.


Judges’ reactions

Jennifer Lopez said it felt like it’s going to be a real race to the finish.
Sanchez’s rendition of “Steal Away,” which is basically a blues classic, impressed the judges more.
Randy Jackson said, “She’s 16 and singing Etta James. The blues is all about pain.”
He added Sanchez was really in it to win the competition.
Rock icon Steven Tyler said her performance was “just over the top”.
“You’re just one of the best,” Lopez told Sanchez.
Jessica Sanchez news

Four to go: Fil-Ams rally behind Jessica Sanchez to the end

LOS ANGELES, California—On Friday, another “Idol” heads for the chopping block.

As “American Idol” season 11 nears the homestretch, Filipino-Americans continue to rally behind Filipino-Mexican Jessica Sanchez, as she sang her heart out in Thursday’s episode “British invasion” for a slot in the Fox reality singing competition’s Top 4 this week.
Filipino-American followers were all praises for Sanchez, who at 16 is the competition’s youngest finalist.

Performing two very different songs, Sanchez rocked it with Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and showed her soulful side in Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful,” once again drawing raves from the judges and fans.

“It’s like listening to an old soul,” actor Bernardo Bernardo, now based in the United States, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “She looks so innocent but there’s maturity and depth in the way she sang her songs. There’s such beauty in her voice.”

Bernardo, who has launched a social media campaign to garner more votes for Sanchez, said he included both the Philippine and Mexican flags in the flyer he designed and posted on Facebook “to also get support from the Mexican-American community.”

‘Seasoned pro’
Filipino-American concert director Vic Perez noted Sanchez’s “mature rendition of songs way beyond her age.”

“She sang like a seasoned pro,” said Perez, who cast his vote online and via text many times over after watching Sanchez and the four other finalists perform songs from the ’60s in the first round and Brit pop in the second. “Her performance was so enchanting, so magical.”

“I am confident she will win,” said Minerva Cobilla, a city government worker who voted for Sanchez for the first time after hearing from friends that she nearly got the boot three weeks ago.

“I never really paid close attention to ‘American Idol’ until Jessica almost got eliminated,” she said. “I’m now more inspired to vote and I’m also asking others to show their support for her by voting.”

Mixed reactions
The “Idol” judges, though expressing mixed reactions on Sanchez’s song interpretations on Thursday, were once again impressed with her powerful pipes.

“You’re so grown-up there, it’s crazy,” Jennifer Lopez told the high school student from Chula Vista in San Diego County after her rendition of “Proud Mary.” “You were a little bit of Tina, a little Beyoncé.”

Randy Jackson thought Sanchez did not live up to Turner’s iconic performance of the song and said it was “barely OK,” but Lopez quickly defended her, saying they can’t compare a 16-year-old to Tina Turner.

Jackson, however, loved Sanchez’s take on “You Are So Beautiful.” “It’s so pro. People who have been singing 50 years can’t do this. Your talent level is unbelievable.”

Steven Tyler agreed. “You once again showed America just how beautiful your voice is and what a great singer you are. You’re gonna be No. 1, girl.”

In Washington, D.C., the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) said they were successful in getting both Filipino-American and Mexican-Americans to support Sanchez through social media,  phone calls and e-mail blasts.

“We got a lot of Mexican-Americans in our database who promise to support Jessica,” said Arnedo Valera, MHC coexecutive director. “We also gave them specific instructions on how to vote.”

Top 5 songs
The Top 5 had guest mentor Stevie Van Zandt joining buddy Jimmy Iovine this week.

The judges thought Joshua Ledet did a great job with his take on the Temptation’s “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” and the Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody.”

Hollie Cavanagh also got rave reviews for her rendition of Ike and Tina Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High” and Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love.”

Skylar Laine continued to wow the judges with her performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” and Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.”

Phillip Philips less than impressed with rocking The Box Tops’ “The Letter” and The Zombies’ “Time of the Season.”

More Jessica Sanchez news here.

Jessica Sanchez in top 3 as ‘Idol’ trims hopefuls to 5

LOS ANGELES—Budding diva Jessica Sanchez was in the top three while Elise Testone won’t be winning it all on “American Idol” as the popular talent show trimmed its hopefuls to five.

With the finale less than a month away, Sanchez, 16, gave a soulful rendition of “Dance With My Father” by American R&B-soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross.

“You’re so natural, your tendencies vocally, where you go with your melodies, your ideas, how it flows, and now you got the feeling in there, now you’re making the connection,”  said Idol judge Randy Jackson. “You know what’s wrong with it? Absolutely nothing!”

Filipino-Mexican  Sanchez, who hails from San Diego, California, was sent to the bottom by American Idol viewers two weeks ago, prompting the shocked judges to use their one-time save option.

Since then, the Filipino community in the US vigorously campaigned for their celebrity compatriot.

Testone, meanwhile, was revealed to have received the fewest viewer votes Thursday on the Fox singing competition. The rockin’ 28-year-old teacher delivered energetic renditions of Queen’s “I Want It All” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Bold as Love” on Wednesday but wasn’t able evade eviction after appearing at the bottom of the pack six times this season.

Testone was joined in the bottom three Thursday by 18-year-old vocalist Hollie Cavanagh, who tugged at the judges’ heartstrings with Queen’s “Save Me” and Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb,” and 18-year-old country rocker Skylar Laine, who wowed with Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” and Jason Aldean’s “Tattoos on This Town.”

In Testone’s  farewell tribute video, she said that her favorite part of her Idol journey was connecting with the other contestants. “I want to be an inspiration for people,” she said. “That’s what this is all about.”

Aside from Sanchez, the other singers in the top three  are powerful 20-year-old gospel singer Joshua Ledet and blusey 21-year-old pawn shop worker Phillip Phillips. The five finalists will return to the stage next Wednesday and face another elimination Thursday.

An 11th season “Idol” champion is scheduled to be crowned May 23. With the Associated Press

Jessica Sanchez news

Moment of truth for Jessica

SANCHEZ. Sheer talent is its own cause for being.

JESSICA Sanchez’s initially easy-breezy ascent to the top of the “American Idol” hit parade has turned out to be a decidedly dicey roller-coaster ride that ended last week with her being booted out of the singing tilt—despite having received raves from the judges.

That was the unkindest cut of all, that she went down right after the celebrity jurors had extolled her talent and performance to high heavens. But, what good are juridical raves when viewers don’t support you with their all-important “votes”?

It’s a good thing that the jurors are allowed one “save” per season—so, of course they used it to give “their” Jessica a new lease on life. But, it still isn’t clear how long she can survive in the competition, now that her inability to generate enough votes has been so shockingly revealed.

Fil-Am vote
What happened to the vaunted Fil-Am vote that pushed Jasmine Trias all the way up to third place? And, what about the similarly strong Asian and Latin-American vote-generating “machines” that, for lack of a specifically Latino bet, should have gone to Jessica?

One never knows about these things, so Jessica goes into the next round with hopes flying high—but reality pulling her back to earth again. —Especially after it was announced that two finalists will be cut this time around, to come up with the tilt’s Final Five.

Will Jessica’s “AI” hopes still be Alive at Five? Hey, Fil-Ams and other groups, if you’re going to finally, belatedly spring to life, the time to do is is now, not next week!

The recent downbeat developments on “American Idol” are a good reminder to us why we personally have stopped being as “invested” in the competition as we used to be only three seasons ago. It took us all that time to finally realize that the tilt was too dominated by the preferences of young female viewers and pop-music fans, which was why most of its winners have been cute, young males.

That’s patently unfair to all the other types of talents out there, so why care so much about how the tilt turns out from year to year, one way or another? —Why, indeed?

In any case, should Jessica fail to go the distance due to the fact that she doesn’t fit the bill for the show’s main demographic (female teenyboppers who get turned on by cute singing hunks-next-door), she should still be able to carve out a good and even glowing show biz career for herself.

The “AI” jurors have become her biggest fans, so they’ll be sure to put in a good word for her in the music biz and allied fields.

In fact, if we’re given permission to dream off the top of our heads, we can see her making it in the same way another non-survivor, Jennifer Hudson, has become a star despite her less-than-stellar showing on “Idol.”
With her pipes and remarkable musical maturity (and fashion sense), Jessica can go beyond viewer-votes’ disdain—and prove them (predictably) wrong. If she and her handlers play their cards right, she could find victory in defeat, and prove that, even in an unfair show biz universe, sheer talent is its own cause for being—and being celebrated.

Jessica Sanchez news

Jessica Sanchez in top 6 of American Idol

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino-Mexican Jessica Sanchez has made it to American Idol’s top 6 after surviving this week’s elimination.

The show, aired live on cable television channel StarWorld, saw Colton Dixon booted out. In the bottom three with Dixon were Elise Testone and Hollie Cavanagh.

Singing Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’” and Otis Redding’s classic “Try A Little Tenderness,” Sanchez got the nod of the three judges.

Jennifer Lopez said “I’m so glad you’re here with us. I’m so glad we had a save and I’m so glad we used it on you.”

More on Jessica Sanchez news here.

Conspiracy theories surround ‘American Idol’ voting

NEW YORK CITY—Filipinos around the globe are up in arms: Jessica Sanchez was nearly ousted from “American Idol.”

And whoever said we Filipinos are not a united people? This obsession with Jessica on Idol is fueling a united front never before seen since the Edsa Revolt of 1986.

The outcry ranges from vote manipulation to voter complacency. Filipinos are saying Jessica became a victim of reality show hype after her rendition of “Stuttering” by Jazmine Sullivan did not earn enough votes to keep her in the running. To widespread puzzlement and dismay, she was among the bottom three contestants. Of the three, she had the lowest votes. But to keep her from being eliminated, the three judges moved to “save” her.

Like Kanye with cleavage, judge Jennifer Lopez grabbed the mic and declared, “We are saving her!” Randy Jackson rallied for support saying, “Please save the best!”

To legions of Jessica  followers, it is unthinkable that this fast-rising FilAm musical talent who has consistently wowed the judges and pulled in phenomenal votes would rank lowest of the low. Marketing
executive Adora Penn said she smelled “something fishy.”

“Jessica is for sure the best among the contenders,” said filmmaker Kim Mende Itskov.

GMA News representative on the East Coast Grace Labaguis suggested there may be more to the voting than meets the eye. “Some may not like the idea of her being the ‘favorite’ so they just had to pick another finalist. Let’s face it, Jessica is the strongest and most talented contender for this year’s American Idol,” she said.

There is no shortage of conspiracy theories.

“I think the voting process was rigged,” aesthetician Virgie Potolin put it bluntly.

The episode was choreographed to “raise the ratings and keep the show interesting,” said Mylz Tolentino, a manager at Sprint.

Federal employee Nicky Despi said the show – like many reality TV shows — was attempting to “create drama.”

Psychology professor Kevin Nadal did not discount race as a “huge factor.”

“Many have cited race as a major influence throughout the history of ‘American Idol.’ In fact, African Americans cited race as the main reason Jennifer Hudson was voted off in Season 3,” he said. But if it
was, why did the three judges move to “save” Jessica?

Others blamed it on voter complacency.

“I think we’re being too reliant on others, we slackened off,” said student Gail Banawis from the Bronx. “She’s great, yes. But she needs our votes. We need to vote!”

It could be, said Nadal in agreement, that people simply were “overconfident and didn’t vote.”

“Perhaps this is a call for the FilAm community and other Jessica supporters to step it up and vote if we really want to see her win,” he said further.

At the end of the day, said Nadal, “it’s just a contest.” A contest that he conceded can be powerful for the Filipino American community if Jessica becomes another Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood.

More on Jessica Sanchez news.