Moment of truth for Jessica

By: Nestor U. Torre
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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SANCHEZ. Sheer talent is its own cause for being.

JESSICA Sanchez’s initially easy-breezy ascent to the top of the “American Idol” hit parade has turned out to be a decidedly dicey roller-coaster ride that ended last week with her being booted out of the singing tilt—despite having received raves from the judges.

That was the unkindest cut of all, that she went down right after the celebrity jurors had extolled her talent and performance to high heavens. But, what good are juridical raves when viewers don’t support you with their all-important “votes”?

It’s a good thing that the jurors are allowed one “save” per season—so, of course they used it to give “their” Jessica a new lease on life. But, it still isn’t clear how long she can survive in the competition, now that her inability to generate enough votes has been so shockingly revealed.

Fil-Am vote

What happened to the vaunted Fil-Am vote that pushed Jasmine Trias all the way up to third place? And, what about the similarly strong Asian and Latin-American vote-generating “machines” that, for lack of a specifically Latino bet, should have gone to Jessica?

One never knows about these things, so Jessica goes into the next round with hopes flying high—but reality pulling her back to earth again. —Especially after it was announced that two finalists will be cut this time around, to come up with the tilt’s Final Five.

Will Jessica’s “AI” hopes still be Alive at Five? Hey, Fil-Ams and other groups, if you’re going to finally, belatedly spring to life, the time to do is is now, not next week!

The recent downbeat developments on “American Idol” are a good reminder to us why we personally have stopped being as “invested” in the competition as we used to be only three seasons ago. It took us all that time to finally realize that the tilt was too dominated by the preferences of young female viewers and pop-music fans, which was why most of its winners have been cute, young males.

That’s patently unfair to all the other types of talents out there, so why care so much about how the tilt turns out from year to year, one way or another? —Why, indeed?

In any case, should Jessica fail to go the distance due to the fact that she doesn’t fit the bill for the show’s main demographic (female teenyboppers who get turned on by cute singing hunks-next-door), she should still be able to carve out a good and even glowing show biz career for herself.

The “AI” jurors have become her biggest fans, so they’ll be sure to put in a good word for her in the music biz and allied fields.

In fact, if we’re given permission to dream off the top of our heads, we can see her making it in the same way another non-survivor, Jennifer Hudson, has become a star despite her less-than-stellar showing on “Idol.”

With her pipes and remarkable musical maturity (and fashion sense), Jessica can go beyond viewer-votes’ disdain—and prove them (predictably) wrong. If she and her handlers play their cards right, she could find victory in defeat, and prove that, even in an unfair show biz universe, sheer talent is its own cause for being—and being celebrated.

‘Idol’ bet Jessica Sanchez Gets Outpour of Support from Local, International Celebs

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

Jessica Sanchez: Will she bag the coveted ‘Idol’ title? (Photo from americanidol.com)

MANILA, Philippines – Several celebrities were as appalled as the supporters of Jessica Sanchez after she almost got eliminated on "American Idol" Season 11 during the April 13 results night—if not for the judges' save.

Before 16-year-old Jessica even finished her make-or-break performance for the judges, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson stormed her on stage and unabashedly declared that they would use the “one save” for the season on Jessica, believing she deserves to stay on the US talent show (despite receiving the lowest number of votes that week).

Local celebrities who tuned in on the episode have urged their Twitter followers to find ways to vote for the Chula Vista, California native.

“Nako nga pinoy gising at bumoto. Kung nasa US ako super vote ako. Diba madami tayo sa US sana naman iboto nila. She is soooooo good vote vote jessica guys;-)” Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez tweeted.

Trivia man and “Showtime” co-host Kim Atienza, meanwhile, posted: “all my US followers, please vote for jessica sanchez. there will never be anyone like her.

ever.http://touch.dailymotion.com/#/video/xq3dr6_1-of-7-voted-off-4-american-idol-2012_tv”

British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Filipino anchor Rico Hizon deemed that Jessica is worth-saving.

“Jessica @JSanchezAI11 is truly blessed. She's a talented singer… Let's always vote for her!” said he.

Comedian John “Sweet” Lapus put forward a comic perspective on the scarce votes that Jessica got, saying, “Nagholy week vacay pala ang mga Pinoy at Mexicano kaya mababa ang votes ni Jessica Sanchez. Pwes humanda na sila.#MightAsWell.”

One with the judges

Celebrities are likewise both happy about and grateful for the judges’ decision to keep Jessica on the show. APO Hiking Society’s Jim Paredes, for one, found the moment “heartwarming.”

“I am such a fan of Jessica Sanchez.. Tama ang judges. She is one of the best singers in America,” he added.

Another veteran musician, Ryan Cayabyab, is likewise impressed with Jessica’s talent, which earned comparisons to that of the late Whitney Houston and Beyoncé.

“She just keeps getting better and better, this Jessica Sanchez. Stuttering floored me! Mexican? Filipino? American? She is above all that. She is JessicaSanchez, 16!!! Tayong lahat ang panalo,” the Maestro tweeted.

Miss Universe 1999 first runner-up Miriam Quiambao enthused: “So happy that judges used their option to save Jessica Sanchez. She's really a great singer.”

TV host Cesca Litton was evidently passionate in her tweets about Jessica, as seen on this one: “If they didn't use that save on @JSanchezAI11 I'm pretty sure I would've stormed the stage myself. All the way from Manila.”

“We are all behind you, Jessica!” was TV host-eventologist Tim Yap’s assurance for the half-Filipino chanteuse, while model-host Georgina Wilson apparently got quite emotional over the episode, tweeting, “Omg Im literally crying. I've never loved any american idol contestant so much… she's the best singer in the competition!”

Meanwhile, broadcast journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon offered a prediction and supposition on Jessica’s fate:

“it's the stuff live tv just loves.next week all eyes will be on jessica &AI. She looks so calm&collected. maybe America wants more emotion?” she tweeted.

International love

This latest “’Idol’ shocker” apparently also moved some foreign celebrities. “Extra” host Mario Lopez was relieved that Jessica had escaped elimination.

“Thankfully my Chula Vista girl Jessica Sanchez was saved last night on A.I. Would've been tragic...She's the best singer there! #Truth#619,” he tweeted.

Pia Toscano, considered a front runner on “American Idol” Season 10 who got a shocking boot during the Top 9 week, likewise sympathized with Jessica.

“Still haven't watched Last nights episode of Idol last night.However, I am literally baffled that Jessica could've possibly gone home #idol,” said she.

“Glee” star and award-winning actress Jane Lynch, who watched the results show live, was amazed with the judges’ save on Jessica. She, too, believes in the talent of the youngest contestant in the lot.

“Boy was that a great move on their (judges) part. What’s not to love about this girl? What a voice! And she’s what, 16? And how humble she was, too. She just wanted everybody to know, ‘I’ve worked hard all my life.’ Pretty amazing. Oh my God the judges were absolutely correct, I’m so proud of what they did!” she enthused to “Entertainment Tonight” in its April 13 episode.

Likewise raving over Jessica is American singer-actress Jennifer Holliday, who is famous for the classic, “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.”

“MyDEAR JESSICA,I AM SO PROUD Of YOU!..UR VOICE IS SO AMAZING,But UR"PASSIONATE &HUMBLE" HEART TOUCHES ALL OUR HEARTS THE MOST!” read one of her tweets about Jessica.

Jazmine Sullivan, the original singer of Jessica’s Top 7 song “Stuttering,” was also awed by the latter’s performance.

“just saw the j. sanchez performance from last night and she killed!!! so honored she chose my song! thanks mamaz and good luck!” she tweeted.

Analysis

Various speculations have cropped up following Jessica’s almost elimination on “Idol,” with some quarters deeming that it was orchestrated to drum up the show’s ratings.

Judge Randy shared his thoughts in an interview with MTV, thus:

"Well, I think [America] thought she was safe. I think they thought she was safe, I'm sure, and I think they thought Joshua [Ledet] was safe because those two alone, with Colton [Dixon] and some of the others, have been the most consistent. So, you know, yeah, I think they just forgot,” said he
.

Conspiracy theories surround ‘American Idol’ voting

By: Elton Lugay
INQUIRER.net

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NEW YORK CITY—Filipinos around the globe are up in arms: Jessica Sanchez was nearly ousted from “American Idol.”

Jessica Sanchez had to be 'saved' to stay in the contest. Fox Photo.

And whoever said we Filipinos are not a united people? This obsession with Jessica on Idol is fueling a united front never before seen since the Edsa Revolt of 1986.

The outcry ranges from vote manipulation to voter complacency. Filipinos are saying Jessica became a victim of reality show hype after her rendition of “Stuttering” by Jazmine Sullivan did not earn enough votes to keep her in the running. To widespread puzzlement and dismay, she was among the bottom three contestants. Of the three, she had the lowest votes. But to keep her from being eliminated, the three judges moved to “save” her.

Like Kanye with cleavage, judge Jennifer Lopez grabbed the mic and declared, “We are saving her!” Randy Jackson rallied for support saying, “Please save the best!”

To legions of Jessica  followers, it is unthinkable that this fast-rising FilAm musical talent who has consistently wowed the judges and pulled in phenomenal votes would rank lowest of the low. Marketing

executive Adora Penn said she smelled “something fishy.”

“Jessica is for sure the best among the contenders,” said filmmaker Kim Mende Itskov.

GMA News representative on the East Coast Grace Labaguis suggested there may be more to the voting than meets the eye. “Some may not like the idea of her being the ‘favorite’ so they just had to pick another finalist. Let’s face it, Jessica is the strongest and most talented contender for this year’s American Idol,” she said.

There is no shortage of conspiracy theories.

“I think the voting process was rigged,” aesthetician Virgie Potolin put it bluntly.

The episode was choreographed to “raise the ratings and keep the show interesting,” said Mylz Tolentino, a manager at Sprint.

Federal employee Nicky Despi said the show – like many reality TV shows — was attempting to “create drama.”

Psychology professor Kevin Nadal did not discount race as a “huge factor.”

“Many have cited race as a major influence throughout the history of ‘American Idol.’ In fact, African Americans cited race as the main reason Jennifer Hudson was voted off in Season 3,” he said. But if it

was, why did the three judges move to “save” Jessica?

Others blamed it on voter complacency.

“I think we’re being too reliant on others, we slackened off,” said student Gail Banawis from the Bronx. “She’s great, yes. But she needs our votes. We need to vote!”

It could be, said Nadal in agreement, that people simply were “overconfident and didn’t vote.”

“Perhaps this is a call for the FilAm community and other Jessica supporters to step it up and vote if we really want to see her win,” he said further.

At the end of the day, said Nadal, “it’s just a contest.” A contest that he conceded can be powerful for the Filipino American community if Jessica becomes another Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood.

Keeping our voice in tip-top shape

By: Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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The storybook success of eight-time Grammy winner Adele took a terrifying turn last year when the 23-year-old British singer-songwriter was diagnosed with a polyp in her vocal cord that had hemorrhaged.

After undergoing a potentially career-ending throat surgery in November, she spent weeks recovering under orders to not speak or sing.

Fortunately, fate was on her side as Adele eventually returned to center stage last February—her successful rendition of her smash hit, “Rolling in the Deep,” at the 2012 Grammy Awards was hailed as a triumphant return.

But not everyone will be as fortunate as Adele and the public must realize that one doesn’t have to be a professional singer with chart-topping hits to suffer the same injury, informed Dr. Melfred Hernandez, Chair of the Philippine Academy of Laryngology and Phoniatrics, a subspecialty group of the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (PSO-HNS), which spearheads the April 16 celebration of the World Voice Day here in the Philippines.

Wake-up call

“Adele’s career scare should serve as a wake-up call to everyone—including broadcasters, preachers, teachers and other individuals who do a lot of public speaking—that the voice has to be taken care of properly,” reminded Dr. Cesar Anthony Yabut, president of PSO-HNS.

The doctor shared that problems involving the vocal cords are way more common than what most people think and they affect not only singers.

Indeed, it is not unusual for us to learn of other people who get too emotional about issues involving the deteriorating condition of their voice. In so many instances, a number of them have even considered a career change after struggling so much in their search for a solution.

Good news

But there is good news. Like Adele, with proper treatment, people suffering from voice disorders can return to their own center stage, whether that’s inside a church sanctuary, classroom or behind a rostrum.

“Prevention, care and ways to resolve injuries are part of the focus of the society’s upcoming World Voice Day events,” Dr. Danilo Poblete, VP of PSO-HNS, said. He informed that the World Voice Day started a dozen years ago in Brazil after the World Health Organization had pointed out an especially high rate of laryngeal cancer in that South American country.

World Voice Day in the Philippines was first celebrated in 2006 and since then has provided PSO-HNS a perfect forum wherein its members can refamiliarize with the latest advances in laryngology and voice care, and educate its colleagues, patients and communities through lectures, free voice screenings, community outreach programs and other offerings.

While catching a common cold virus that causes laryngitis may be regarded as one of the leading cause of why our voice may sound hoarse or abnormal from time to time, the PSO-HNS cited other conditions and how to keep our voice in tip-top shape:

1Drink plenty of water. This can help your voice function better because your vocal cords must be well lubricated to vibrate with the least amount of friction. Avoid alcohol and caffeine (both drains the body of water) and instead eat lots of water-rich foods: apples, pears, watermelon, peaches, melons and grapes.

2Don’t smoke, or if you still do, quit. Smoking raises the risk of throat cancer tremendously, and inhaling smoke—even second-hand smoke—can irritate the vocal cords.

3Try not to scream or yell. These are abusive practices for your voice that put a lot of strain on the lining of your vocal cords.

4Use a microphone. This is probably the best solution to prevent screaming or yelling when giving a speech or presentation.

5Warm up your voice before heavy or prolonged use. Most people know that singers warm up their voices before a performance, yet many don’t realize that this same exercise could be useful to teachers, preachers, politicians and salespersons. Warm-ups could be simple, such as gentle humming exercises, lip or tongue trills and breath-stimulating exercises like “ya-ha-ha-ha-ha” with a release in between each note.

6Use good breath support. Breath flow powers your voice so take time to fill your lungs before starting to talk. Don’t wait until you are almost out of air before taking another breath to power your voice.

7Listen to your voice. When your voice is complaining to you (starting to get hoarse), listen to it. Modify and decrease your voice if you become hoarse as this will allow your vocal cords to recover. Pushing your voice when it’s already hoarse can only lead to more serious problems. If your voice is frequently hoarse or have been in such condition for an extended period of time, see an otolaryngologist (one that specializes in health issues affecting the ear, nose, throat and neck) who could do a proper evaluation.

8Use a mouth spray that relieves soreness and irritation of the mouth and throat. One mouth spray, known as Kamillosan M (Invida Philippines), is an effective over the counter remedy for sore, dry and itchy throat commonly prescribed by doctors. Kamillosan M combines the natural anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile with the antibacterial effect of seven essential oils (sage, dwarf pine needle, peppermint, bergamot, anise, cineol and methyl salicylate).

9Avoid clearing your throat too often. Clearing your throat is like slamming your vocal cords together and could eventually lead to a hoarse voice. Instead, sip water or swallow to quench the urge to clear. If clearing of your throat becomes too annoying, have an expert check you for conditions such as acid reflux disease, allergy or sinus conditions.

10Allow yourself several “vocal naps” if you will be speaking for longer periods. For instance, teachers should avoid speaking during the breaks between classes and find quiet ways to spend the rest period rather than conversing with other people.