Jessica Sanchez gets solid support from mom's hometown in Bataan

As she continued to wow judges and audiences in the ongoing "American Idol" contest, Filipino-Mexican singing sensation Jessica Sanchez was assured of continued support from her mom's hometown in Bataan province. On Thursday, 16-year-old Jessica's townmates in Samal, Bataan kept their eyes glued to the TV while Samal vice mayor Manny Cortez asked Filipinos in the States to continue supporting Jessica. “Nananawagan ko sa ating mga kababayan sa States na patuloy na tangkilikin si Jessica para ma-save dahil siya ang pinakamahusay sa mga 'American Idol',"  Cortez said. Jessica's Filipina mother Editha is a daughter of Eddie Bugay, a retired US Navy man who hails from Samal but is based in Orani town in Bataan. Eddie and his wife Virgie went to the US on Jessica's request. Vice Mayor Cortez had a big streamer made to show the world Jessica is the “pride of Samal, Bataan.” The streamer would be shown when the AI announcer would indicate Jessica was up next. Samal residents would applaud when Jessica started singing, and keep their eyes glued to the TV screen until she finished her number. On the other hand, they kept quiet while the judges rendered their assessments – then broke into applause again when the judges praised Jessica. "Natutuwa lang ako dahil nandiyan pa siya (Jessica) ... OK ang kanyang performance (I am very happy because her performance was okay)," said a laughing and crying Vilma Yumol, a government employee. For his part, Cortez said he and his family wept when Jessica was almost eliminated from the contest last week, until the AI judges saved her. “Kinilabutan ako nang habang nagsisimulang kumanta ng survival song si Jessica ay biglang kinuha ni Jennifer Lopez ang microphone at sabihing ‘saved’ si Jessica," he said. — LBG, GMA News