Filipino-American singer and America’s Got Talent Season 20 champion Jessica Sanchez wrapped up her long-awaited homecoming concert on a high note after filling the Araneta Coliseum with music, emotion, and gratitude on May 16.
The Big Dome welcomed Jessica with overwhelming support as she shared the stage with some of the country’s biggest music stars, including Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano, Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, Concert King Martin Nievera, Asia’s Phoenix Morissette Amon, Asia’s Pop Heartthrob Darren Espanto, and Multimedia Prince James Reid. Vice Ganda, who was expected to attend, was unable to make it due to some unforeseen circumstances.
READ: Jessica Sanchez recalls winning ‘America’s Got Talent’ while pregnant
Opening the show with “Golden Hour” and “Beautiful Things,” songs she previously performed on America’s Got Talent, with the latter earning her a Golden Buzzer.
Jessica then addressed the crowd with appreciation, also sharing that she was feeling a bit under the weather.
“Oh my goodness. I’m so excited to be here. Thanks you so much guys for coming...I cannot wait to give you guys everything tonight... My daughter got sick and she had fever and I think she got me sick [too]. But I’m going to give my best to give you everything that I have tonight because I’m so grateful you guys came out to see me,” she said.
Despite not feeling well, Jessica powered through a two-hour setlist.
She treated fans to original songs including “This Love” and tracks from her new album Szn with “Electric Honey” and “What’s Your 20.”
One of the evening’s early highlights came when Morissette joined Jessica for their collaboration track “Stronger Than Before.”
Morissette warmly welcomed the singer back to the Philippines.
“Welcome to your homeland, ang mga kababayan oh! Thank you so much for reaching out and sharing that very powerful song with you, it’s an honor.”
She continued with a message that drew cheers from the audience, saying: "I speak on behalf of everybody...everyone here in the Philippines...you were already a champion to us. Jessica [you’re] a champion in all our hearts, and [may] you continue to inspire us.”
Morissette later solo performed “Will You Stay” before Jessica returned for a special duet with Regine Velasquez, singing Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey’s “When You Believe.”
“Singing a song with you is such an honor. You’re a legend. This is like a moment for me right now,” Jessica said to Regine.
Regine, in turn, praised Jessica and reflected on watching her musical journey.
“You’re such an inspiration... I was in awe of you, you were amazing then and you're incredible now. We are so very proud of you," Regine told Jessica.
Regine then took the stage solo for an intimate rendition of Ben&Ben’s “Leaves.”
READ: Jessica Sanchez shares how motherhood changed her identity and musical direction
The nostalgia continued when Jessica revisited her American Idol days with Alicia Keys’s “Fallin’,” the song she performed during the competition in 2012, where she finished as first runner-up. After singing “Rest of the Night,” she reunited with Martin for a duet of “Ikaw,” a song Jessica shared that was first introduced to her by her grandmother and became her first Filipino song.
Martin used the moment to celebrate Jessica and her Filipino roots.
"She has done so much for us without even knowing how proud we are of her. She now knows what it’s like to be a Filipino singer all over this world. What she’s finding out now is that the audience sings better than we do," the Concert King humorously said.
Martin then teased the audience that he would be singing a new song, but then surprised everyone as he launched into beloved classics “Be My Lady,” “Say That You Love Me,” and “You Are My Song,” delighting the crowd with the sing-along moment.
Another surprise followed as James emerged from the audience to perform Justin Bieber’s “Daisies” before joining Jessica for Bruno Mars’s “Risk It All.”
Amid the powerhouse vocals, one of the concert’s most touching moments came when Jessica welcomed her husband Rickie and their daughter Eliana to the stage.
She performed “Two Lines,” a song written for her daughter, while holding Eliana’s hands.
“She’s the sweetest. She’s only six months old and it’s her first time in the Philippines so it’s a very special moment for me,” she shared.
Jessica later opened about the challenges she faced throughout her career and how faith became her anchor.
“Throught my journey, I’ve had a lot of trials and tribulations...I've had a lot of love especially from you guys so thank you so much...There’s plenty of times when I felt that just want to give up...I actually was going to give up on my career right before AGT. The only thing that got me through is my faith. My faith is my foundation,” Jessica said.
She followed the confession with Hillsong Worship’s “Oceans,” as fans lit up the arena with their phone flashlights.
Gary then joined Jessica for a moving duet of “Take Me Out of the Dark.” Gary also delivered a medley of “Sana Maulit Muli,” “Kailangan Kita,” “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin,” and “How Did You Know,” even stepping offstage to sing closer to the audience.
Toward the concert’s final stretch, Jessica dedicated Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” to her supporters, another emotional callback to her American Idol journey.
Before closing the night, she thanked the crowd once more and posed for a group photo with fans. The concert ended on an energetic note as she performed “Tonight” with Darren Espanto and capped the evening with Zedd’s “Clarity,” turning the Big Dome into a full-on celebration.
The night did not end there.
After heading backstage, Jessica surprised fans who had remained at the Big Dome hoping to see her. The singer came back on stage and personally greeted supporters and posed for photos. She even went off stage to be closer to her fans and thank them.
Speaking with PUSH ABS-CBN after the concert, Jessica summed up the emotional homecoming in a few emotional words.
“I’m so so happy that I’m here with you guys...Thank you so much for all your love,” she said.
Powered by Wilbros Live, Jessica’s homecoming concert marks another milestone after her recent win on America’s Got Talent Season 20 and the birth of her daughter.