Jessica Sanchez takes a knee after singing anthem

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Jessica Sanchez did a beautiful rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" before the NFL game between the
Oakland Raiders and L.A. Chargers last Sunday

By Louis Chan
ASAM NEWS

SPEAKING IN A SOFT TONE, Filipina and Mexican American Jessica Sanchez took to Facebook to defend her decision to take a knee at the end of her performance of the National Anthem before the Oakland Raiders-Los Angeles Charges games in Oakland Sunday (Oct. 15).

The season 11 runner up on American Idol seemed unconfortable explaining her decision. She appeared to be speaking off the top of her head. The 22 year old spoke haltingly and struggled to find the words to explain her actions.

Sanchez went down on her knees while singing the words “home of the brave”at the end of the song.

Raiders Marshawn Lynch sat during the anthem, while Chargers Russell Okung raised his fist.

Sanchez told the Associated Press that Lynch said to her, “You did your thing girl.”

The singer described reaction to her protest as “crazy stuff on the internet.”

“I can’t sit here and help them understand why I did it…but it’s something I stand for and believe in,” she said on her Facebook post. “I don’t know. I’ve always been quiet about how I felt and my opinions about things like this, like big things like this.”

She explained that she did not mean to be disrespectful.

“I was not,” she said while holding her hand to her heart.

“I don’t want to be quiet anymore. This is how I feel. It’s what I stand for. I encourage you guys, if you feel a certain way, don’t be afraid to be part of the conversation. Stand for what you believe in.”

This is not the first time Sanchez has gotten involved in a political issue, but it’s by far her most controversial. She released a song during the Presidential campaign in support of Hillary Clinton.

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Jessica Sanchez's ;Stronger Together' No. 5 on Billboard chart

Jessica Sanchez's song recorded for the Hillary Clinton campaign is now a commercial hit.

"STRONGER TOGETHER," a song Jessica Sanchez created as the theme song for the Hillary Clinton campaign has climbed its way to No. 5 on the Billboard charts last week.

Jessica debuted "Stronger Together" at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, so much so that the song is hitting the campaign trail with Hillary Clinton.

The Filipina/American American Idol finalist, said she was asked to record the song-written for Hillary Clinton by songwriters Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, who also produced the piece.

Sager reached to Sanchez’s manager, Mark Lamica, asking for the 20-year old singer's availability, as she felt she would be good for the song. Sanchez didn't hesitate and joined Sager and Roberts at Edmonds' studio just this past Sunday. 

RELATED: Jessica Sanchez in the DNC's grand finale

"It was so last minute. I went in the studio, they mixed it that night and they sent it out the next day," she said. "It's crazy to me, because I didn't think it was going to happen that quick."

Before she knew it, Sanchez was in the bright political spotlight of the DNC convention, as the song was played just after Bill Clinton wrapped his speech.

"I’m really honored to be a part of it again," said the Chula Vista, California, native, who performed at the DNC in 2012 for President Barack Obama.

After its debut, Jessica returned to the studio to do a more commercial version of the song.

"With everything that is going on in the world right now, it's important for all of us to come together and stay strong," she said. "The message is great and it's great for the campaign. This is the time for us to play our part and go out and vote and be stronger."

DNC: 'Stronger Together' by Jessica Sanchez in the grand finale

Jessica Sanchez

JESSICA SANCHEZ's new song debuted at the conclusion of an history-making occasion, the Democratic National Convention, that saw the first woman candidate of a major political party in the U.S.  Jessica's song, "Stronger Together" could become the theme song for the Hillary Clinton campaign through to the elections in November.

After Hillary Clinton delivered her acceptance speech, during which she outlined her vision of America's future and lambasted her Republican opponent, Donald Trump; and as the red, white and blue balloons came floating down from the rafters, Jessica's celebratory song came on reiterating the convention's theme - stronger together.

“Honored to do this song for @HillaryClinton and the #DNC,” Sanchez, 20, tweeted Wednesday.

The only Asian American ever to make it into the finals of American Idol has released a single that could become the theme song of Hillary Clinton’s campaign for President.

"Stronger Together" is performed by Jessica Sanchez and written by Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts and Kenneth Babyface Edmonds specifically for Hillary Clinton. If it catches on, expect it to be played at upcoming Clinton rallies. It’s already reportedly has been played at the Democratic National Convention.

Stronger Together is also the latest in a line of slogans for the Clinton campaign. For Asian Americans, it can mean the diverse coalition of the Democratic Party and the Hillary Clinton campaign, both of which has seen a large number of Asian Americans in visible positions. For the campaign, it can mean the coming together of Bernie Sanders supporters and Clinton supporters to defeat Donald Trump. For others, it can mean a new America in which people of color are integrated into the larger society and accepted for who they are.

The 20-year-old American Idol finalist's "Stronger Together" was written for Hillary Clinton by songwriters Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, who also produced the piece.

According to a source at the convention, the song was played Tuesday (July 26) for test purposes at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center and it was supposed to make a grand debut following Bill Clinton's speech later that night. But someone decided to withhold it until the grand finale.

On the up-tempo pop song, Sanchez sings,

So united in the spiritThey’ll be better days to comeIf you reach out, you can feel itBecause its simple everyone.Don’t you know that we’re stronger togetherStronger yes we are

Sanchez, a resident of San Diego, is the only Asian/American to reach the American Idol finals, where she almost won in 2012.
(AsAm News contributed to this report.)

TGIF FEATURE: Singer Jessica Sanchez dips into fashion

Reprinted from AsAm News

SEASON 11 American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez is trying her hand at fashion.

The songtress has teamed up with the Australian apparel brand Pins to Kill (P2K) to release limited edition Jessica Sanchez leggings.

When you see Sanchez model her new line, you can definitely see her inspiration.

It’s a look that’s befitting of the young Filipina/American from San Diego.

The singer models her leggings.

“The fact that I get to put out something that’s all my own is so exciting,” she says. “Music has always been what I want to do with my life, and these songs are all me.”

P2K specializes in customized leggings. Customers are encouraged to upload their design, photo and artwork to create their own customized leggings.

The Jessica Sanchez Leggings will only be available for two weeks beginning two days ago.

More information can be found here.https://pinstokill.com/

In case you've forgotten how talented Sanchez is, listen to her she sing 'The Prayer'

last month during American Idol's final show.

You can buy Jessica's new single 'Call Me' here.

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TGIF FEATURE: A busy weekend in California -Kollaboration LA 2015 and Kalayaan-SF

TWO BIG EVENTS are taking place this Saturday, June 27, in southern and northern California. Both showcase the abundance of talent we have in the Asian American/Pacific Islander community.

In Los Angeles, experience an unforgettable evening of live music, entertainment, and community as Kollaboration presents some of the best local up-and-coming artists in the Asian/Pacific Islander (API) community.

Kollaboration Los Angeles 2015 ShowcaseSaturday, June 277:00pm

The Los Angeles Theatre Center514 S. Spring St.Los Angeles CA 90013

Six talented finalists from all across Southern California were chosen through an intense and competitive round of auditions to compete for the chance to move on to the Kollaboration Star finale later this fall and perform for the national title and $10,000 grand prize! In addition to the talent competition, Kollaboration Los Angeles will also feature amazing performances from prominent Asian American guest artists.

The finalists for 2015 Kollaboration Los Angeles are:

• Lisa Sonoda, Singer/Songwriter
• Perry & Danielle, Acoustic Duo
• Peter Chung, Singer/Songwriter
• Rosy Donovan, Singer/Songwriter
• Track IX, Beatbox
• Will Park, Singer/Songwriter

It's going to be a fun evening. Buy your tickets here. For further information about Kollaboration Los Angeles, visit the Kollaboration website or refer to the Facebook event.

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Meanwhile, up the road in northern California ....

In San Francisco, the Filipino American community will be winding up its two-week celebration of Philippine Independence Day with a free concert featuring Jessica Sanchez, first runner-up in American Idol, and Gab Valencia of Manila.

Kalayaan-SF started June 12 with a formal affair at City Hall but this event is for the people. There'll be food, booths and performers galore. All for free!

A Philippine Independence Day Celebration 

SAT, JUNE 27, 2015UNION SQUARE, San FranciscoFree Admission to the festival and concert!

OUTDOOR FESTIVAL:12:00 PM – 8:00 PMA showcase of Philippine dance, art, cuisine, crafts and exhibitors

TFC EVENING CONCERT:5:30 PMFull-length concert featuring American Idol top-2 finalist Jessica Sanchez and Manila headline artist Gab Valencia

Have a great weekend!

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The Filipino diaspora makes the celebration of Philippiine independence a worldwide event

A Filipino American choir performed at last year's city hall gala in San Francisco.

PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY on June 12 has taken on worldwide status with the millions of Filipino workers throughout the world.

In few places such as San Francisco, it is gaining a foothold as an annual event as part of the city which seeks any reason to have a party. It will be a two-week celebration in San Francisco. It'll start on June 12 with the transformation of City Hall into an ornate beau arts ballroom for a formal dinner and dance and culminate in a free outdoor concert featuring American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez.

The concert is the commemoration's main event in the heart of downtown San Francisco, in historic Union Square, against the backdrop of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars and well-known landmarks. Besides the concert, the fiesta will feature a cultural showcase, food bazaar and marketplace.

Jessica Sanchez

The celebration of the 117th anniversary of Philippine Independence should turn posh Union Square into a mini-Manila, or at least, a larger version of the Serramonte Shopping Center in next door Daly City. It will bring in not only the city's Filipino Americans but the larger community around the Bay Area.

KalayaanSF, named after the Filipino word for “independence”, is a series of events held in San Francisco during the month of June to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, which occurred in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898. 

Organized on an annual basis by the Filipino-American community in the Bay Area with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, the celebration showcases Philippine culture and heritage, drawing attention to the contributions Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have made to their communities.

This is not to be confused with Philippine-American Friendship Day when the U.S. granted independence to their Pacific colony on July 4.

Cities throughout the world where large concentrations of Filipinos reside - from Honolulu to Seattle to New York City to London, San Diego, L.A., Chicago, Stockton, Daly City,  Sydney, Brisbane, Copenhagen, Riyadh, Rome, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul - all part of the Philippines diaspora, will mark the day with parades, dinners, concerts and talent shows, the guitars will come out to strum the old ballads, loudpeakers will blare with hip-hop, speakers will wax eloquently (and probably to long) and the long bamboo poles will find a stage to dance the tinikiling, lith women will don the butterfly sleeves for the zarzuela, brave men will suck in their stomachs and bare their chests to dance the exotic mountain dances and Muslim princesses will step nimbly through the rapidly clacking bamboo poles, health care professionals, nannies, maids, 

RELATED: Speaker series eyes SF's future for Filipinos

teachers, chefs, bankers, and the thousands of crew members on countless ocean liners and merchant marine cargo ships, high tech workers or newly minted billionaires in Silicon Valley, they are recent immigrants speaking in their dialect or 6th and 7th generation Americans with blond hair with that wonderful inherited lightly tanned complexion, have done what Filipinos have always done - adapt, survive and perhaps prosper in whatever surroundings they are in, an innate ability that is a blessing and sometimes a curse.

The wonderful halo-halo-like melange of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Polynesian, Negrito, Spanish, American and Japanese and (most recently) Vietnamese that we call Filipino are all tied together by the Internet and social media, unearthing long-buried memories of volcanoes and jungles, white sand beaches and beeping jeepneys, the sweetest mangoes and fresh fish roasted over an open fire, the love, laughter and the poverty of relatives left behind. 

Image by Jason Baguia

Heroes of the Philippine Independence

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