On Tuesday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received Jessica Sanchez, the Filipino-American singer and champion of Season 20 of 'America’s Got Talent,' at Malacañang Palace in Manila, and formally invited her to perform during the ASEAN Leaders' Summit, which the Philippines will host in May 2026.
During the courtesy visit, Marcos Jr. congratulated Sanchez and praised her outstanding achievements on the international stage, which have brought honor to the Philippines. “You make all of us very proud,” the President told her.
Marcos Jr. pointed out that the ASEAN Summit expects a very high standard of performance and that the host country must present a world-class show. “ASEAN now has extremely high expectations for the quality of music and performances, and we have the best performers,” he said.
The President also encouraged Sanchez to tour around the Philippines so that more Filipinos could enjoy her performances up close. “Everyone only sees you on TV, you should perform all over the country,” he said, and expressed interest in her artistic growth since her earlier participation in international competitions.
In response, Sanchez said that maturity and greater self-awareness have been key to her transformation. “I was only 16 back then. Now I know who I am and what I want. This time, I come with complete confidence,” she said.
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also revealed that Sanchez was already renowned among regional leaders. She cited remarks from the Singaporean Prime Minister during a visit to Cambodia, saying that ASEAN leaders have great confidence in the Philippines’ musical talent “because you have Jessica Sanchez.”
Sanchez said that although she had just given birth recently, she remains dedicated to music creation and is currently preparing a new album, which is expected to be released in the first quarter of next year. The album will be produced independently and she plans to collaborate with Filipino musicians. “I also really want to try writing a song in Tagalog,” she said.
In a media interview after the meeting, Sanchez said she is carefully preparing the repertoire for her ASEAN Summit performance. “I will be representing Filipinos, so I need to take my time in choosing the right songs,” she said.
It is reported that this year, Sanchez won the title of champion in Season 20 of 'America’s Got Talent,' marking an important milestone in her 20-year music journey.