MANILA, Philippines – Jessica Sanchez sang the Philippine and the US national anthems ahead of the Manny Pacquiao-Brandon Rios fight on Sunday at the Venetian Hotel, Cotai Arena in Macau.
Sanchez, who is half-Filipino and half-Mexican but was born and raised in the United States, sang “Lupang Hinirang” and "The Star Spangled Banner" a capella before a huge crowd of boxing fans from around the world who came to watch the fight.
Sanchez was wearing a long printed gown.
Pacquiao personally chose Sanchez to sing the national anthems.
In a rare kind of invitation, Pacquiao took to Twitter last Tuesday to ask Sanchez if she will “do me the honor of singing the national anthems before our fight?”
Sanchez later replied: “Yes! I’m honored!”
In an interview with ABS-CBN News last week, Sanchez said she feels honored to be singing the Philippine national anthem in Pacquiao’s fight.
“My grandma helped me with the pronunciation. I’ve been trying to listen to different versions and I’m going to keep it as traditional as possible,” she said.
This is not the first time for Sanchez to sing ahead of a Pacquiao match.
Sanchez, the runner-up in the 2012 edition of "American Idol," sang the American national anthem during Pacquiao’s June 2012 fight against Timothy Bradley Jr., which the Pacman lost.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
