This image provided by FOX-TV shows the two finalists with the judges. From left: Jennifer Lopez, Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson. Phillips of Leesburg, Ga., and 16-year-old Sanchez of San Diego will compete for the show's record deal grand prize on next week's finale. - (AP Photo/Michael Becker, FOX)
MANILA, Philippines - If everything goes according to plan, Manila may not only “dance again” with Jennifer Lopez, but sing with American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez as well.
This was revealed by N91 Live productions CEO Jun Lorenz Mamangon during a recent media gathering at Chef Laudico’s Bistro Filipino in Taguig in anticipation for next month’s Michelle Branch and Jojo concert. Branch and Jojo will be at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on June 7 and at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu the following day. The concert is presented by N91 Live and Torch Productions.
Jun Lorenz Mamangon (center, standing) with the people behind N91 Live and Torch Productions
Mamangon added this would be the first time the two young pop superstars would be in a back-to-back concert and the response by their fans through social networking sites has been very positive.
As for Lopez, who was recently named by Forbes as the world’s most powerful celebrity, her concert is “practically a go” in November 24 this year and that it’s only a matter of deciding whether it will be held at SM MOA’s The Arena or at the concert grounds.
But if he were to be asked, Mamangon said he’ll recommend staging the concert in an open field where they could sell more tickets but at a lower price as compared to if the concert is held at The Arena. Mamangon says he believes in providing quality entertainment to more people and that one way of doing this is by offering more affordable ticket prices.
And if that wasn’t exciting enough, he even added that he’ll work on getting Sanchez to open for Lopez’s show. But the ‘American Idol’ connection between the two—and the given fact that Sanchez has Filipino roots—isn’t the only reason why Mamangon is optimistic about the possibility of bringing the 16-year-old singer here.
“Back in early 2000, we opened our own production company and studio in San Diego,” Mamangon recalls. “That’s when Jessica Sanchez came to us to be taught. My wife Irene was the vocal coach.”
Mamangon adds that he is betting on her to win over Phillip Phillips and that if he gets to leave for the U.S. in time, he might be able to make it to this season’s "Idol" finale live show and hopefully, seal the deal that will result in a homecoming of sorts for Sanchez.
