I am a rabid Noranian. I remember watching all of her movies, buying all her 45 RPM records and clipping all those Ate Guy write-ups in every imaginable print material. That was a long time ago. But up until now, I am still a Nora Aunor fan. I am still in awe of her brilliance. Over the years, I have become friends with Ate Guy. She is a very private/public person. She keeps things to herself most of the time. But no matter how hard she tries to keep things under wraps, they just fly away. Everybody knows Ate Guy, this we presume. Her life is public and she is public. Even in periods of hibernation, we love to keep abreast with news about her and anything about her. Didn’t our hearts melt when we learned that she may not be able to sing anymore? Every toss and turn of the superstar is being played up. We rejoiced when we learned she was heading home finally and which she did. And when she made a teleserye, everybody was in unison that Ate Guy still has the acting chops even after years of not facing the cameras.
I am a proud fan of Nora. And I understand when people come up to tell me that they follow my activities and watch my shows. I like that. I love that. And I love my audience.
Recently, I got a note from Remy Barnes of San Diego, California. She sent me a long letter concerning Jessica Sanchez, and how she loves the Fil-Am/Mexican second place winner of American Idol. Barnes is one of the millions of Jessica followers who kept her on the Top 3. She sent her letter through courier and recounted how Jessica swept her off her feet. “We were on USS Midway where one of the homecoming celebrations of Jessica happened. We were right in front of the stage where she stood and sang. Napakabait na bata pala ni Jessica, that is why my sisters and I had our hearts captured by Jessica.”
Barnes explained in her letter that the reason why Jessica had a sore throat before the Idol finals was because she indulged fans who waited for her at the homecoming with four songs plus “apat din sa Chula Vista homecoming celebration where she lives.” She is gushing about Jessica, “Ganyan siya kabait, pinaligaya niya kaming lahat na mga fans niya instead na i-save niya ang boses niya for the finals.”
Despite Jessica’s runner-up placement in AI, Barnes hopes that “all Filipinos will be there to support her 100 percent of her destiny wherever it takes her as an artist. Let us not stop there. If we can help take her to the next level as much as we can. If she can sell at least a million copies of her debut solo single soon, an album later, she might have a chance to be nominated at the Grammy Awards on February 2013 as New Artist of the Year.”
She said that she will buy Jessica’s first record and distribute them to her family and friends in the Philippines. “Over here, sinabihan ko na rin ang aking mga relatives and friends na bumili and they said yes.” She explains that American Idols Kelly Clarkson and Carry Underwood’s careers zoomed up after winning the Grammys. And last year’s winner Scotty McCreery of Season 10 won the American Country Awards and Academy of Country Music Awards as New Artist.
Take heart Barnes, Jessica is in good hands. It has been reported that Creative Artists Agency, the big time talent management company created by the big time Michael Ovitz will take charge of future deals on television, personal appearances and other employment deals of our American Idol.
Jessica has a long, long way to go. The diminutive girl who floored everybody when she sang at the Pacquiao/Bradley match and at the NBA finals where she sang the American National anthem is going places. Everything is moving in her favor and she has the support not only of us Filipinos but everyone who believes in talent and the x-factor. And Jessica has it all.
Thank you, Mrs. Barnes, for your time in sharing with us your thoughts on Jessica. Rest assured when she comes to Manila for the Idol tour she will get all the support that she deserves from all of us.
Bravo, Jessica!