ANGELES CITY – Bataan folk have launched a prayer crusade for the victory of American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez whom they described as “Bataena by blood”.
Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III also said that “through Youtube.com, our city government has sent a congratulatory message to American Idol’s Season 18 finalist Jessica Sanchez.”
“Through our efforts in praying, Jessica will win. Perhaps Jessica has become a good singer because of (eating) boneless bangus (milkfish) that other contestants do not have,” he said. Bataan is known for its boneless milkfish, as well as tuyo (dried fish) and tinapa (smoked fish).
Enrique noted that Sanchez’s mother Editha hails from Orani and Samal towns in Bataan. Her father is Mexican-American who had retired from the US Navy. Garcia said that Balanga City’s message to Jessica read:
“Congratulations Ms. Jessica Sanchez – galing ng Pilipino, galing ng Bataan (talent of a Filipino, talent of Bataan) we will always love you!,” and “Congratulations Ms. Jessica Sanchez –Talentong Bataeño, Idolo ng buong mundo – ipinagmamalaki ka naming lahat.
(Talent of a Bataeño, an idol throughout the world – we are proud of you).”
Some of Sanchez’s latest performances in the popular singing contest included the song “Turn the Beat Around”, “I Will Always Love You”, “Love You I Do”, and American Idol judge Steven Tyler commented “Jessica, you could be the one,” after she sang Whitney Houston’s classic “I Will Always Love You.”
The other day, columnist Matt Carter of TV Examiner commented that Jessica could “end up winning the competition, and if nothing else, she is expected to make it rather far.”
In Twitter over the weekend, Adam Lambert, who is one of American Idol’s most successful products after landing second in the competition two years ago, said that while “all of them are great this year”, “Jessica Sanchez is a Star.”
“Get the girl a microphone that can handle her big notes,” he said.
