What will it take for Jessica Sanchez to be the next 'American Idol?'

Hours before the finale of the singing reality competition "American Idol" on May 22 (May 23 a.m. in Manila), the fans of Filipino-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez rally behind her on Twitter.

 

One Twitter user —  @AaronPaulSongs — said: "Jessica Sanchez fans, are you ready? Vote night is tomorrow Tuesday. Charge those phones, exercise those fingers, coz we are going to win!"

Another user — @swaggernaut17 — said: "Jessica Sanchez doesn't need to prove anything. We all know she's a STAR and so amazingly talented. #blujays"

 

Sanchez, of Chula Vista, California, will go up against Phillip Phillips, of Leesburg, Georgia in the two-night season finale of "American Idol."

 

The winner will be announced the following day (May 24 a.m. in Manila).

 

A Reuters report on Tuesday quoted the show's mentor, Jimmy Iovine, as saying Sanchez must reach viewers emotionally to win the contest.

Iovine told reporters on a conference call that  to win the contest, Sanchez "has to find that balance between her capabilities and reach inside and have the right song to click the emotion. She has to get people to vote for her who haven't in the past."

Sanchez, a 16 year-old with a big voice but who has been criticized for failing to connect with her lyrics, and Phillips, 21, a singer-songwriter with an indie vibe and sometimes quirky song choices, will sing three numbers each on Tuesday night in a bid for public votes. 

 

Iovine said he was impressed by both the young singers but gave little away on who he thought would win the 2012 title and a guaranteed recording contract.

 

If Sanchez wins, she will be youngest "Idol" champion and the Fox TV contest's first female winner since Jordin Sparks in 2007.

 

Record producer Iovine said he was impressed that a singer-songwriter as unusual as Phillips had got to the final, and surprised that he had been overlooked by the music industry before now.

 

"I think he has crazy charisma and an incredible sound," Iovine said. "He has a certain thing that some of the other (recent 'Idol' winners) didn't have. I don't know how he was missed in the industry because he has such charisma and such a great character."

 

Regardless of the outcome from Wednesday's finale, Iovine said both singers have promising futures ahead of them.

 

"(Jessica) is a pro, she is 16 years old.. but when this girl is 18, she is going to do really, really well. She has all the capabilities and all the pieces to just do really great. I get excited when I work with her."

 

Phillips "has the advantage of being exposed and people hearing him...Now he has to go and make a record that lives up to the popularity and the hype and yet make his first record as an artist, which is not always the easiest thing," Iovine said.  

 

If Sanchez is announced as the winner of the "American Idol" competition on May 23 (May 24 a.m. in Manila), she will make history as:

(1) the first Asian-American to win the contest;

(2) youngest ever winner, and

(3) first saved contestant to win the competition.

Sanchez received the lowest number of votes after the performance night on April 12 (US time). However, the next day, the three "American Idol" judges -- Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, and Jennifer Lopez, chose to save her to keep her in the competition. -with a report from Reuters, VVP, GMA News

Jessica's got to connect to win, says Iovine

LOS ANGELES - "American Idol" finalist Jessica Sanchez must reach viewers emotionally in order to win the contest this week, while rival Phillip Phillips has a "crazy charisma" that will serve him well in his career, the show's mentor Jimmy Iovine said on Monday.

As "American Idol" approaches its climax on Tuesday, Iovine said he was impressed by both the young singers but gave little away on who he thought would win the 2012 title and a guaranteed recording contract.

Sanchez, a 16 year-old with a big voice but who has been criticized for failing to connect with her lyrics, and Phillips, 21, a singer-songwriter with an indie vibe and sometimes quirky song choices, will sing three numbers each on Tuesday night in a bid for public votes. The winner will be announced on Wednesday.

Iovine told reporters on a conference call that in order to win the contest, Sanchez "has to find that balance between her capabilities and reach inside and have the right song to click the emotion. She has to get people to vote for her who haven't in the past."

If Sanchez wins, she will be youngest "Idol" champion and the Fox TV contest's first female winner since Jordin Sparks in 2007. The home-schooled teen was saved from elimination by the show's judges last month after coming bottom in the public vote.

Record producer Iovine said he was impressed that a singer-songwriter as unusual as Phillips had got to the final, and surprised that he had been overlooked by the music industry before now.

"I think he has crazy charisma and an incredible sound," Iovine said. "He has a certain thing that some of the other (recent 'Idol' winners) didn't have. I don't know how he was missed in the industry because he has such charisma and such a great character."

Regardless of the outcome from Wednesday's finale, Iovine said both singers have promising futures ahead of them.

"(Jessica) is a pro, she is 16 years old.. but when this girl is 18, she is going to do really, really well. She has all the capabilities and all the pieces to just do really great. I get excited when I work with her."

Phillips "has the advantage of being exposed and people hearing him...Now he has to go and make a record that lives up to the popularity and the hype and yet make his first record as an artist, which is not always the easiest thing," Iovine said.

Jessica to sing with Jennifer Holliday on 'Idol'

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino-Mexican American contestant Jessica Sanchez will perform with the original "Dreamgirl" Jennifer Holliday during the season finale of "American Idol" later this week.

In her official Twitter account, actress Jennifer Holliday, who originated the role of Effie White in the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls," announced that that she will perform with Sanchez.

"My heart is filled with overwhelming joy!. It is a miracle from God that you and I will meet and sing together," Holliday told Sanchez on Twitter, calling the contestant "sweet Jessica."

Sanchez received a standing ovation for her performance of the "Dreamgirls" showstopper "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" for the Top 4 performance night.

There are speculations that they will sing that song for the finale.

Sanchez, meanwhile, also said she will have a duet with the other final two contestant Phillip Phillips on the hit "Love The Way You Lie," originally recorded by rapper Eminem and pop star Rihanna.

"I remember when he sang that backstage before SFYL round #memories," Sanchez tweeted.

"American Idol" will crown its latest winner on Thursday morning, Manila time.

Pinoy volunteers to help in London Olympics

Carol Panday and Benedict Carandang are volunteer performers at the London Olympic Games' opening ceremonies.  Photo by Rose Eclarinal

LONDON  - They will help  make the biggest sporting event in the world happen. The London Olympic and Paralympic volunteers, collectively known as the "Games Makers" will play various roles  from menial to skilled and from everything in between to make sure that things go smoothly during the Olympic and Paralympic games. 
These volunteers will assume a variety of roles such as welcoming visitors, transporting the athletes, distributing food, serving as guides, performing in the opening and closing programs, helping behind the scenes in the technology department to make sure that results are in as accurately and quickly as possible, among many others.
Up to 70,000 Games Makers from diverse professional and social backgrounds and ethnic communities from across the UK and from abroad will take part in the Olympic and Paralympic games. 
As early as 2010, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG),  which is responsible for preparing and staging the 2012 Summer games, started the selection process of more than 240,000 applicants. LOCOG  interviewed more than 100,000 applicants in various UK centres.

Many young, accomplished,  talented and adventurous Filipinos in London wasted no time to take on the challenge of applying and auditioning.
"To be part of history"
Performing Arts student in London Carol Panday and British Chevening scholar Benedict Carandang will be performing in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics games on July 27.
The application and screening process alone were no mean feat but they were determined and focused.
"I applied online. Of course, I submitted my credentials and then I was called to audition. Nung tinatawag  kami, tatlong beses yung audition. May recall at sa final, saka mo pa lang malalaman na tanggap ka,"said Panday.
She applied in August last year and was called to perform in a series of auditions early this year alongside 500 or so performers.  Each audition lasted up to three hours.
Carandang took the balloting route where applicants signed up for a chance to be picked to audition. In February, he was called for two consecutive auditions for  a tedious screening process.
"They tested on our sense of direction and basic body synchronised  movement. The second one was tougher than the first one. After that,  nagkasakit pa nga ako dahil sa hirap ng pinagawa sa amin," he told ABS-CBN Europe.
"It was  group audition. Naka- video tape kayo tapos, titingnan lang nila kung sino ang makakasunod  at yung naliligaw.  From there,  ipu-pull out nila yung magaling," he added.
Last month, the rehearsals which last up to five hours, every weekend until the start of the Olympics, have already started for the Olympic volunteer performers.

Christine Nimfa Josef-Santos is performing during the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympic Games.  Photo by Rose Eclarinal

Christine Nimfa Josef-Santos is a civil servant of the City of London Corporation. She was chosen to be a drummer for the opening and closing ceremonies.  During the Olympic games, all eyes will be on London and she wanted "to be part of  history."
She will also take on another role as a street guide ambassador.
"It’s for those people visiting London-- to help them, guide them with directions and probably disperse crowd," said Santos. 
The opening and closing ceremonies performers are not allowed to disclose the full details of their participation and dance routine but Panday and Carandang said they can only guarantee that it’s going to be a show like no other, with sights, sounds and performances from world-acclaimed artists who will showcase UK’s best.
Award-winning film directors Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting," "The Beach" and "Slumdog Millionaire") and Stephen Daldry ("Billy Elliot") are on top of "UK's biggest-ever live show" training and supervising the routines and acts of some 5,000 performers.

Dennis Dantic will help in transporting the athletes from the Olympic village to sporting venues.  Photo by Rose Eclarinal

Another Filipino volunteer is Dennis Dantic, a nurse who is also completing his postgraduate studies in London.  Dantic is a volunteer for the transport team who will assist and guide athletes participating in the rowing and canoeing event.
"When you grow old, you can say  that I became part of this event. Even if I’m not going to be paid, it’s a sense of fulfilment that I’m doing this, I’m part of history," said Dantic. 

For Philippines and for London
The Pinoy volunteers take pride on being chosen as volunteers for the Olympic and Paralympic games. For them, it’s a once in a lifetime chance to represent the Philippines in their own humble way and to give back to the city of London.
"Having lived in London for a long period of time now, I wanted to be able to contribute something towards it and be part of history making," said Santos. 
"Once in a lifetime event ito na mangyayari sa buhay mo and it’s your chance to represent the country in the opening, so I took advantage of the opportunity," explained Carandang.
"Para sa akin, this is a legacy for my family, for other Filipinos in the UK.  You will be performing to a million crowd, in front of the queen. So it’s really something," said Panday.
"First of all, it’s my dream to be part of the Olympics even just as a volunteer. Secondly, for the Filipino people, it shows that anywhere we go, whatever  we do,  we can achieve something, we can do it," said Dantic.
The excitement is building up in London in anticipation of the Olympic games and the Pinoy volunteers are equally thrilled. 
On Saturday, the Olympic torch relay commenced at Land’s End with triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie as the first torchbearer in the 8,000-mile relay.
Four Filipinos will also make the country proud by becoming part of the torch relay.

Solar eclipse, moon with bright ring to be visible Monday morning in PHL

Filipinos may be among the lucky ones to see an annular eclipse of the Sun on Monday, where the moon appears with a bright ring of light visible at the edges.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the solar eclipse will be visible from within a narrow corridor along Earth's northern Hemisphere.

"For the May eclipse, the moon will be at the furthest distance from Earth that it ever achieves – meaning that it will block the smallest possible portion of the sun, and leave the largest possible bright ring around the outside," it said.

It said the eclipse will be seen in eastern Asia, crossing the North Pacific Ocean, and ending in the western United States.

A partial eclipse will be visible from a much larger region covering East Asia, North Pacific, North America and Greenland.

The next solar eclipse will be the total solar eclipse on November 13, 2012.

Schedule

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the eclipse will also be visible in China, most of Russia, Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Hawaii, Arctic regions and most of North America.
 
“In the Philippines, the event will be observed as a partial solar eclipse,” PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said on PAGASA’s astronomical diary for May.

PAGASA said a Maximum Eclipse is expected in Metro Manila at 5:58 a.m. on Monday, with the eclipse ending 7:06 a.m.

The schedule of maximum eclipses in other areas include:

Laoag: maximum eclipse 6:02 a.m., ends 7:12 a.m.
Tuguegarao: maximum eclipse 6:01 a.m., ends 7:11 a.m.
Baguio: maximum eclipse 6:00 a.m., ends 7:09 a.m.
Angeles City: maximum eclipse 5:59 a.m., ends 7:07 a.m.
Puerto Princesa City: maximum eclipse 5:55 a.m., ends 6:58 a.m.
Lucena City: maximum eclipse 5:57 a.m., ends 7:05 a.m.
Legaspi City: maximum eclipse 6:01 a.m., ends 7:11 a.m.
Cebu: maximum eclipse 6:01 a.m., ends 7:11 a.m.
Zamboanga: maximum eclipse 6:01 a.m., ends 7:11 a.m.
Jolo, Sulu: maximum eclipse 6:01 a.m., ends 7:11 a.m.
Davao: maximum eclipse 6:01 a.m., ends 7:11 a.m.

Annular eclipse

Servando said a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, totally or partially obscuring the image of the Sun as viewed from the Earth.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the Sun to look like an annulus (ring) and blocking most of the sun’s light.

Servando said an annular eclipse appears as a partial eclipse over a region thousands of kilometers wide.

Meanwhile, NASA said a joint JAXA/NASA Hinode mission will observe the eclipse and provide images and movies that will be available on the NASA website.

"Due to Hinode’s orbit around the Earth, Hinode will actually observe four separate partial eclipses," it said.

NASA noted scientists often use an eclipse to help calibrate the instruments on the telescope by focusing in on the edge of the moon as it crosses the sun and measuring how sharp it appears in the images.

But it said an added bonus is that Hinode's X-ray Telescope will be able to provide images of the peaks and valleys of the lunar surface.

The orbits for NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), and the joint ESA/NASA mission the Solar Heliospheric Observatory will not provide them with a view of the eclipse. — LBG/HS, GMA News

Songs that Jessica Sanchez fans would like to hear her sing

Filipino-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez will sing three songs at the "American Idol" finale on May 22 (May 23 a.m. in Manila).

Sanchez, 16, of Chula Vista, California, will go up against Phillip Phillips, 21, of Leesburg, Georgia.

They will sing three songs each:
(1) their favorite song during the competition
(2) song choice of "American Idol" producer Simon Fuller, and
(3) the song created for the winner.

Many of Sanchez's fans posted on Twitter and Facebook what they want to hear her sing.

Some mentioned songs by popular American singers like Beyonce but there were also those who wished to hear her sing Filipino songs.

The finale is almost here. Her fans would just have to wait for a few more days to hear what she would be singing... - Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News

Jessica Sanchez's fans are going for the win on May 22

They say it will be a voting party like no other. On Facebook and Twitter, Jessica Sanchez's fans who call themselves "Blujays" are calling on people to vote for the 16-year-old Filipino-Mexican-American singer on May 22 (May 23 a.m. in Manila).

Sanchez, 16, of Chula Vista, California, will go up against Phillip Phillips, 21, of Leesburg, Georgia in the two-night season finale of the singing reality competition "American Idol."

The winner will be announced the following day (May 24 a.m. in Manila).



Last week, during the Final Three performance on May 16 (May 17 a.m. in Manila) Filipino-Americans in Chula Vista, Sanchez's hometown, gathered at the EastLake Tavern to hold a viewing and voting party.

According to an exclusive report on GMA News TV's "News To Go," people were already at the tavern at 5:00 p.m., hours before the show to rally behind Sanchez.

Outside the tavern, there were people selling t-shirts and other Sanchez memorabilia.

In an interview, one of the stallkeepers said, “[I’m] very excited that the community is coming over to support Jessica. Every week this [place] is crowded, it’s packed. So we have people waiting out the door to come in, so very exciting.”

When asked about Sanchez's chances of winning, she enthusiastically replied: “Oh! She’s going to win, no doubt about it!”

While waiting for the "American Idol" show to start, a choir from the middle school that Sanchez attended, performed for the crowd at the tavern.

In another interview, Shayne, a Filipino from Batangas who is part of the East Lake choir said,“Mataas po talaga yung mga Pinay singer natin dito. So talagang kayang kaya ho talaga nila dito. Tignan niyo po yung show choir namin, puro babae, majority po ng show choir namin- puro Filipino -, hindi nga lang po sila marunong mag Tagalog.”

When the show started, the people at the EastLake Tavern wildly cheered for Sanchez as she performed.

One girl in the crowd said, “I was like, oh wow! She can sing!”

After the show, everyone started sending in their votes for Sanchez through their mobile phones.

Another guy said, “Pasok na pasok, basta lahat ng Pilipino, bumoto from all over the States. Kahit na mga Facebook [voters] from the Philippines you guys can vote. Panalo sigurado, Jessica will be number one.”

If Sanchez is announced as the winner of the "American Idol" competition on May 23 (May 24 a.m. in Manila), she will make history as:
(1) the first Asian-American to win the contest;
(2) youngest ever winner, and
(3) first saved contestant to win the competition.

Sanchez received the lowest number of votes after the performance night on April 12 (US time). However, the next day, the three "American Idol" judges -- Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, and Jennifer Lopez, chose to save her. - with Andrei Medina, Rouchelle Dinglasan, VVP, GMA News