Jessica Sanchez Filipino Pride: Ready to Bring Heritage to U.S. through Music and Fashion [VIDEO]

"American Idol" songstress Jessica Sanchez is full of Filipino pride, and she's not afraid to flaunt it. Following the final performance on the "American Idol" season 11 summer tour, 17-year-old Sanchez stuck around the Philippines to learn more about her heritage and take advantage of a number of big-name endorsement deals. After receiving a warm and exciting welcome from the Filipino community, Sanchez is now ready to put Filipinos on the map in the States through her music, fashion, and presence on popular American radio airwaves.

Sanchez (whose mother is Filipino) has been named the latest celebrity endorser for the popular Filipino food-chain Jollibee. Before accepting the honor at the Edsa Shangri-La hotel, Sanchez happily told the Inquirer, "Of course I was born in America, but I still consider myself 100-percent Filipino. I felt very much at home upon arriving in the Philippines. There is so much warmth and love." While Sanchez is also linked to Mexican-American heritage, it is really her stepfather (who officially adopted the "American Idol" runner-up) who represents the Mexican-American half.

Sanchez is also a new celebrity ambassador for the popular Filipino clothing company Bench. Her success in the States seems to have leaked over into the Philippines - now the young songstress would like to combine the two. Sanchez believes that her achievements in the U.S. are also important in regards to her "home away from home" - she wants Americans to realize that Filipinos really do have a powerful influence and impact on the music industry.

During a press conference in Manila for Bench (where Sanchez discusses her personal fashion and which can be viewed in its entirety below) Sanchez said:

"Us Filipinos love music. I'm glad that I can put us Filipinos on the map in the States ... I'm really pushing to put my music on the radio so that Filipinos aren't just, you know, they don't look at us like minorities, like we can't make it on the radio ... so, I'm really pushing for us to represent ourselves in the States."

Sanchez has stimulated a "whole new chapter" of her life by visiting the Philippines, and she hopes to inspire people in the United States to do that same by opening up their eyes to the Filipino culture and community. Not only with music - maybe her new partnership with Bench will also bring some fresh Filipino fashion over to the States. You go girl!