Jessica Sanchez recalls childhood ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ experience

Jessica Sanchez (Facebook)

“America’s Got Talent” season 20 big winner Jessica Sanchez is back in the country for a concert to be held May 16 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Recently, Jessica reconnected with Filipino fans doing a little side quest where she became a ”hurado” on “It’s Showtime’s” talent segment “Tawag Ng Tanghalan” alongside Yeng Constantino, Jed Madela, and Jonathan Manalo.

The singer, a veteran of many singing battles, shared advice and insights with the contestants.

Apparently, being part of “Tawag Ng Tanghalan” as judge holds special meaning for Jessica.

During a press conference at Novotel Manila Araneta City, Jessica revealed she once competed in a show titled “Tawa Ng Tanghalan” as a child.

“When I was living in San Diego, they had a competition called ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan.’ I actually performed there as a baby girl. I was maybe around 7 years old,” Jessica shared.

According to Jessica, joining singing contests was almost a rite of passage for many Filipino children, an experience that helped shape her love for music at an early age.

“I have been in the Filipino community or space for such a long time. It was a really huge part of my music journey and my upbringing. It’s really special to me,” she said.

Reflecting on her journey from aspiring singer to international performer, Jessica said she believes her younger self would be proud of how far she has come despite the struggles she encountered behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

“We’ve come so far, and I have gone through so much in my career behind the scenes with producers and record labels. No matter what, I can say I never gave up,” she shared.

The singer also opened up about facing hate and discrimination over the years, saying those experiences only fueled her determination to continue pursuing her dreams.

Now backed by the unwavering support of her fans, Jessica said she hopes to inspire others through her story of perseverance, passion, and resilience.

During the same press conference, Jessica also spoke warmly about her brief encounter with Filipino singer Sofronio Vasquez, whom she described as both talented and genuine.

She said it was an honor to perform with Sofronio and praised him for bringing pride to Filipinos through his achievements.

Aside from Morissette and Sofronio, Jessica revealed that there are many Filipino artists she hopes to collaborate with, making her return to the Philippines even more meaningful. — Carissa Alcantara

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