Palace taps Jessica Sanchez for Asean Summit
The Philippines has tapped “America’s Got Talent” Season 20 grand winner Jessica Sanchez to entertain foreign leaders and their delegates as the country hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meetings next year.
President Marcos invited the Filipino American singer to perform at the 48th Asean Leaders’ Summit in May 2026, as he welcomed her at Malacañang on Tuesday.
Mr. Marcos said the invitation also comes with high expectations, with Asean leaders anticipating world-class performances from the host country.
“The problem is with the Asean, they expect now a really high level of performers and of musicality. We got the best,” he added.
‘Very excited’
In an interview after her courtesy call, the 30-year-old Sanchez told reporters that she was “very excited” to perform at the Asean Summit.
“I think I need some time to really plan what I’m gonna be singing because I’ll be representing the Filipinos so I wanna take my time figuring out my song choices,” she said.
First lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also shared that Sanchez is already well known among the Asean regional leaders.
“We were in Cambodia with the Prime Minister of Singapore. My husband was nervous about the Asean and the Prime Minister said, ‘You guys have no problem. You are so musical, you know you have Jessica Sanchez,’” she said.
“Even in Singapore, they know you,” she told Sanchez. “If you do a world tour, you should start here.”
