David Cook on Jessica Sanchez: ‘To hear her sing is ridiculous! She’s so good’

David Cook is back in the Philippines for a two-night concert from July 14 to June 15. The American Idol Season 7 champion, who became popular among the Filipinos because of his remake of Mariah Carey’s "Always Be My Baby," returns to Manila where he will hold a concert on Saturday night, June 14, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum and on Sunday night, June 15, at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu. Three years after his first show in the Philippines with American Idol Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta, Cook is glad to serenade his Filipino fans once more. In a press conference at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City this afternoon, July 13, the 30-year-old pop-rock artist, said he finds the country beautiful. Cook flew in this early this morning, on board PR 103— the same plane the People’s Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao was on. “I still talk about the show and my experience of coming out here. This country is incredible, beautiful," Cook said. “I mean, having the chance to fly in this morning, the sun was coming out it’s beautiful!" Cook, who has extensively toured the United States, also parts of Europe, says that the Filipinos are “more inviting and friendly." After coming out the winner of the popular reality singing show, Cook released in 2008 his self-titled debut album. His singles “Light On" and “Come Back To Me" hit the Top 20 of the Billboard hit chart, making the album reach platinum status. Cook is in the country to promote and sing songs from his second album, This Loud Morning. ON JESSICA SANCHEZ. During the press conference proper, Cook was asked about what he thought of the last season of American Idol and Filipino-Mexican first runner-up, Jessica Sanchez. “I get asked about Jessica a lot. I think she should come out here," he initially joked. He thought the last season of Idol was interesting. He said, “It’s one of the first seasons I’ve ever watched where I couldn’t really get a pulse on what the American public was thinking. "It seemed that every week, whoever we thought was going home, didn’t go home, and whoever we felt was a sure thing would go home." Jessica, who had the chance of meeting early this year, he described, was “someone who initially came off sincere." “And then to hear her sing is ridiculous! “She’s so good and what’s scary about it is she’s young! And that’s Archie [David Archuleta] territory. Honestly! He’s [David] so good at such a young age. “How good is this person going to get? I look at Jessica the same way." Lost for words, Cook said, “I think… I don’t know what to think. She’s just really, really good." He also asserted that Jessica will be one of Idol’s success stories. -- Abby Mendoza, PEP