LOS ANGELES, California -- Two of today’s most popular celebrities with Filipino roots in America paid a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III Saturday night prior to his departure for Manila following a successful three-day official working visit here.
President Aquino met with Black Eyed Peas member Allan Pineda, a.k.a. Apl de Ap, and American Idol season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez at the Hilton Hotel to personally congratulate them in their respective thriving music careers.
Pineda, who was born in Angeles City, Pampanga, has been actively doing charity work in the Philippines through his own Apl.de.Ap foundation’s ‘We Can Be Anything’ education advocacy campaign in partnership with the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation.
His group Black Eyed Peas has been awarded six Grammys— considered as the highest and the most prestigious award-giving body on American music — with an estimated 60 million records sold worldwide.
Sanchez, on the other hand, was born and raised in Chula Vista, California to a Filipino mother from Samal, Bataan, who married a Mexican-American serving the US Navy. She became a household name after making history as the first Asian and Latina to ever reach the American Idol finals.
In a previous interview, President Aquino shared his hope that Sanchez would bag the American Idol title given her exceptional talent. Other Malacañang officials also rallied behind her and urged Filipinos in America and around the world to keep actively supporting her.
Sanchez’s runner-up finish in the popular singing competition left her doors of opportunities toward a promising career in music as producers are reportedly lining up already for a chance to work on her official debut album.
She has since kept a busy schedule after her Idol stint, gracing media interviews left and right and singing at various events, including the recently concluded National Memorial Day Concert held at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.
In her official Twitter account and Facebook page, Sanchez said she was honored to have met the President of the Philippines.
Sanchez performed the American national anthem during the boxing match of another Pinoy pride, Congressman Manny Pacquiao, opposite Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas yesterday.*PNA
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