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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos invites AGT winner Jessica Sanchez to perform at ASEAN 2026

Marcos invites AGT winner Jessica Sanchez to perform at ASEAN 2026

Sanchez to collab with Pinoy artists

Published Dec 31, 2025 10:16 am  |  Updated Dec 31, 2025 01:56 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets America's Got Talent Season 20 grand winner Jessica Sanchez during a courtesy call at the Malacañan Palace on Dec. 30, 2025. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets America's Got Talent Season 20 grand winner Jessica Sanchez during a courtesy call at the Malacañan Palace on Dec. 30, 2025. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
America's Got Talent Season 20 grand winner Jessica Sanchez was invited by President Marcos to perform at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2026.
Marcos made the invitation during the Filipino-American singer's visit to Malacañan on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
"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," Sanchez said in an interview shortly after meeting the President and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
During the courtesy call, Marcos told Sanchez that she "made us all very very proud.  
The President also shared that hosting the ASEAN Summit next year comes with high expectations as leaders anticipate high-level performances from Filipinos.
"The problem is with the ASEAN, they expect now a really high level of performers and of musicality. We got the best," Marcos told Sanchez.
The President, the First Lady, Sanchez, and her team spent around 30 minutes in a relaxed conversation, Malacañang said.
Meanwhile, Sanchez revealed that she is currently working on her album and her plans in collaborating with Filipino artists.
"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. I’m very excited for you to hear the new music," Sanchez said.
She also said that she has been learning more tagalog as she wants to perform some tagalog songs and write a tagalog song.
When asked for advice she can impart to Filipino dreamers, Sanchez said "when something is meant for you, it's a long journey."
"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 [American] Idol at 16 and not winning, and again coming back 20 years later and taking it home, winning AGT Season 20," she 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 added.
She gave birth to her first child in October 2025, shortly after the conclusion of the talent show.
"It’s well worth it so just keep on pushing, keep on fighting and I feel like as Filipinos we are just naturally talented with that voice so I say just keep on pursuing your dreams," she further said.
Sanchez first gained prominence as the runner-up of American Idol Season 11. She has since made several return visits to the Philippines for concerts and major events, including the 2012 American Idols Live! Tour and the 2023 Miss Universe pageant hosted by the country.
Sanchez is set to headline “The Grand Countdown to 2026,” a New Year’s Eve celebration hosted by Newport World Resorts at the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City. The event marks her first major performance in the Philippines since winning America’s Got Talent and her first homecoming concert following the international competition.

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