Jessica Sanchez invited to perform in PH's 2026 ASEAN hosting

MANILA, January 4 ------ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday he invited "America’s Got Talent" Season 20 grand winner Jessica Sanchez to perform during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit in the Philippines.

During Sanchez’ courtesy call in Malacañang, Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos said that Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong — a music aficionado — is a fan and looks forward to seeing the Filipina songstress perform in Cebu in May. "We were in Cambodia with the Prime Minister of Singapore. My husband was nervous about the ASEAN and the Prime Minister said, 'You guys have no problem. You are so musical, you know you have Jessica Sanchez.' And my husband was, 'Oh, she’s singing [in ASEAN 2026],'" Mrs. Marcos said. "And he (Wong) was like, 'What? What? Can I see her?' Even in Singapore, they know you," she said. "You made us all very, very proud. The problem is with the ASEAN, they expect now a really high level of performers and of musicality. We got the best," the President added.

Sanchez thanked the President and the First Lady and responded, smiling: "I got you, I got you." After her meeting with the Chief Executive, the "AGT" grand winner told reporters that she is "very excited" to perform before world leaders next year. "I'm very excited for that. I think I need some time to really plan out what I'm gonna be singing because I’ll be representing the Filipinos. So I wanna take my time figuring out my song choices," she said. "I'll be releasing my album the first quarter of this upcoming year and I also plan on doing some Tagalog songs and also collaborating with Filipino artists," she said. "I'm very excited for you to hear the new music," she added.

Sanchez, who recently gave birth to her firstborn, is in the Philippines to perform during the New Year's countdown celebration at the Newport World Resorts in Pasay City. The singer, who traces her roots in Bataan, rose to fame in 2012 when she landed on the second place of "American Idol."

She inspired more Filipinos after her comeback on "America's Got Talent" this year, winning the competition while she was pregnant. "I feel like when something is really worth it, when something is meant for you, it's a long journey. And I'm so happy that my journey was recorded for my world to see. Starting when I was 11 years old trying out for 'America's Got Talent,' being rejected, and then coming back to 'Idol' at 16 and not winning, and again coming back 20 years later and taking it home, winning 'AGT' Season 20," Sanchez said. "That was amazing, and waiting in that amount of time, that was a struggle. But this was really my year because not only did I win, but I was also pregnant and I gave birth to my first baby, and I've been on cloud nine," she said. "It's well worth it so just keep on pushing, keep on fighting. And I feel like us Filipinos, we are just naturally talented with that voice. so I say just keep on pursuing your dreams," she added.

Sanchez will return to the United States after her New Year Countdown stint in Manila to spend time with her family. She is set to work on her independently-produced album, which she hopes to release "by the first quarter of next year."

Source: news.abs-cbn.com