Philippine Government and Vice President Praise Runner-Up Jessica Sanchez - Official Statements

The government of the Philippines has issued an official statement praising Jessica Sanchez on her runner-up victory on American Idol.

The Vice President of the Philippines also issued his praise for Jessica via Twitter, stating that "in the hearts of every Filipino, she is the winner. And that she has made us proud to be Filipinos."

Read the official statements:

From Gov.ph:

As she competed in American Idol, Jessica Sanchez obtained the loyal and enthusiastic support of Filipinos the world over. Throughout her long, arduous journey, people considered Ms. Sanchez a performer imbued with an extraordinary gift of music and heart. This is only the beginning for Ms. Sanchez whose incredible talent has been recognized and appreciated the world over.

From Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay:

Hindi man pinalad si @JSanchezAI11 bilang American Idol, sa puso ng bawat Pilipino, siya pa rin ang nagwagi. Like other talented kababayans, she makes us proud to be Filipinos.

Jessica’s amazing journey on #AmericanIdol showcased not just her talent, but the spirit of #bayanihan shown by every Filipino who supported her.

Mabuhay ka, Jessica.

This basically just sums up everything I feel about this whole ordeal for the past few months. Jessica Sanchez is an American citizen and whose ethnicity is half-Mexican. And she's supposed to represent the Filipino people in an American singing contest voted by a cross-section of Americans who watch reality TV? Can anyone see how ridiculous and absurd all of this is?

Jessica idolizes Beyonce. I don't think she even knows any of the great Filipino artists in the Philippines. And she's supposed to be looked up to by Filipinos in the Philippines? SMH. Disaster.

She competed to become the American Idol... and she became the Philippine Idol. While Phillip became the American Idol.