Bataan residents pray for Jessica

BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines – Expectations are high in this historic peninsula that 16-year-old singing sensation Jessica Sanchez, one of three finalists in “AmericanIdol,” would win the popular television talent show.

Sanchez is a granddaughter of retired Filipino US Navy serviceman Eddie Bugay who hails from Barangay San Juan of Bataan province’s Samal town, about 10 kilometers from this city.

Sanchez, though, has never seen the agricultural community where her relatives lived.

The Bugay clan is said to be one of the three richest families in the locality and, in fact, was listed as owner of the first rice mill in the town.

Most of Sanchez’s relatives have migrated to the US.

Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III is appealing to residents of this city to ask their relatives living in the US to vote for their kababayan Sanchez, who has received rave reviews for her performance in the talent search.

Speaking before some 300 health and barangay officials and members of the business sector during a public forum last Monday, Garcia reiterated his request for his townmates to work doubly hard in urging their relatives to support Sanchez.

Garcia said Sanchez is truly a world-class performer and deserves all the support her fellow Filipinos can give her.

A well-known comedian, Dexter Dominguez alias Teri Onor, a Bataan provincial board member, has filed Resolution No. 30 citing heartfelt appreciation and due recognition to Sanchez for landing in American Idol’s top 3.