Jessica Sanchez, other top 9 American Idol finalists arrive at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-American Top 5 Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez arrived at the NAIA terminal 2 5:30 a.m. today on board PAL flight PR103 from Los Angeles, California.

Seventeen-year-old Sanchez, together with American Idol Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips and eight other finalists Joshua Ledet, Colton Dixon, Skylar Laine, Hollie Cavanagh, Elsie Testone, Heejun Han, DeAndre Brackensick, and Erika Van Pelt, was mobbed by adoring airport fans upon entering the arrival area.

They are scheduled to perform in a one-night concert dubbed "American Idol Live! Tour 2012"on Friday, September 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. This is the group’s first Asian concert tour after completing a 45-day tour across the US mainland.

Tickets - ranging from VIP seats priced at P11,090 to General Admission at P845 - are reportedly sold out.

The group was immediately whisked away by the concert organizer’s security personnel to their hotel, but Sanchez according to sources will reportedly make a side trip to her mother’s hometown in Samal, Bataan to meet her grandparents and other relatives. Major networks are waiting for her appearance there.

Fans waited for hours at the airport for their idols’ arrival, and were happy to meet and greet them. Some managed to catch a glimpse and have souvenir photos taken with their idols. Joshua Ledet and Heejun Han were the most accommodating to fans.

A Sta.Monica, California recording studio Interscope Records signed up Sanchez for her debut album scheduled for release before Christmas.

source: interaksyon.com

Jessica Sanchez drew thousands in recent hometown visit

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-Mexican “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sanchez has not won in the tilt yet but she’s already enjoying the rockstar treatment as seen in her recent hometown visit on May 12 (US Time).

Thousands of fans packed the Eastlake High School’s football stadium in Chula Vista, San Diego, California to get a glimpse and hear the voice of the young “Idol” superstar. They lined the streets and screamed the 16-year-old singer’s name while holding homemade signs as her motorcade drove by.

The “Idol” Top 3 finalist couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the huge amount of people that trooped to the venue. According to a report posted on Fox5sandiego.com, about 4,000 fans crowded the field while a whopping 2,500 people packed the stands.

Sanchez sang three songs during her first stop – “Try A Little Tenderness,” “Stuttering” and “I Will Always Love You.”

The Whitney Houston hit was supposed to be her last number in the venue but after much prodding from her fans the youngest contender in “Idol’s” Season 11 agreed to do an encore, “Proud Mary.”

The teen continued her homecoming celebration at the USS Midway Museum around midafternoon. There she sang the U.S. national anthem and “Try A Little Tenderness” for fans aboard the ship. Sanchez asked her US Navy dad, who is set to be deployed to Singapore soon, to come up with her on stage while she dedicated her emotional performance of “Dance With My Father” to him.

In honor of Sanchez's achievements, city leaders County Supervisor Greg Cox and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders proclaimed May 12 as “Jessica Sanchez Day” in San Diego.

After her performances aboard USS Midway, Sanchez left via a helicopter from the ship to head back to Los Angeles in order to resume her preparations for the Wednesday (US Time, Thursday morning in Manila) performance night together with other finalists Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips. For this week the Top 3 are tasked to perform three songs – judges’ choice, “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine’s choice, and the finalists' own choice.

The two finalists who will be moving on to the finale will be announced on Thursday (US Time, Friday morning in Manila).

article source: mb.com.ph