The United States was represented at the OTI Festival 1988 with the song "", written by América Vázquez and Miguel Ángel Mejía, and performed by Mejía himself. The participating broadcaster representing the country, Univision, selected its entry through a national televised competition. The song, that was performed in position 8, placed fourteenth and last out of 22 competing entries, tied with eight other songs with 0 points.
National stage Univision held a national televised competition to select its entry for the 17th edition of the OTI Festival. This was the eleventh edition of the . In the final, each song represented a Univision affiliate, each of which had selected its entry through a local pre-selection.
Central California pre-selection On Saturday 18 June 1988, KFTV held a televised pre-selection at the Warnors Theatre in Fresno, beginning at 20:00 PDT (03:00+1 UTC). This eleventh edition of the Central California Local OTI Festival featured ten songs. It was presented by Pedro Santos and Prisma, and broadcast on Channel 21 on Sunday 26 June, beginning at 19:00 PDT (02:00+1 UTC).
Songwriters competing included Víctor González, Christina Cardona, Francisco Resendiz Lemos, A. Fernando Figueroa, Coco González, Juan Carlos Urbina, Ramón Vecina, Javier Ramírez Jr., and Raúl Gonzalez. The songs not performed by their songwriter were performed by Dora Luz Orozco, Miguel Hernández, Helen Vecina, Cynthia González, Juan Ángel Salinas, José Matos, Salvador Arteaga, and Viola Rendón.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Ramón Vecina and Gary Kennedy and performed by Ramón Vecina and Helen Vecina.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Central California 1988 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" Ramón Vecina and Helen Vecina
Los Angeles pre-selection On Wednesday 17 August 1988, KMEX-TV held a televised pre-selection at The Hollywood Palace in Los Angeles. This tenth edition of the Los Angeles Local OTI Festival featured ten songs, selected from the 350 received. The show featured guest performances by Armando Manzanero, , , Julio Sabala, and the Dolores Terry ballet. It was broadcast on Channel 34 on Sunday 28 August, beginning at 19:00 PDT (02:00+1 UTC).
The jury was composed of Lucho Gatica, , Franco, Rudy Regalado, and Alberto Quezada.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written and performed by Juan Miguel Enríquez Soto; with "", written and performed by Miguel Enrique (Michael Henry Gaytán), placing second; and "", written and performed by Ana Linda (Linda Arriola), placing third. The festival ended with a reprise of the winning entry.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Los Angeles 1988 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" "" Janelly Javier "El Gato Santos" "" Juan Loren Zerimar Juan Loren Zerimar "" Ana Linda Linda Arriola 3 "" Sara Triana Daniel Indart "" Pedro Sergio Perea Mario Humberto Álvarez "" Luis Durán "" José Rubén Landaverde "Randú" "" Miguel Enrique Michael Henry Gaytán 2 "" Juan Miguel Juan Miguel Enríquez Soto
El Paso pre-selection On Saturday 27 August 1988, KINT-TV held a televised pre-selection at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center in El Paso, beginning at 19:00 CDT (00:00+1 UTC). This fourth edition of the El Paso Local OTI Festival featured ten songs, selected from the 47 received. It was broadcast on Channel 26 on Saturday 3 September, beginning at 21:00 CDT (02:00+1 UTC). The show featured a guest performance by .
The jury was composed of , Beto Valtierra, Rafael Mendoza, Verónica Sosa-Nájera, and Malena Cano.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Juan Solares and performed by Samuel Delgado.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – El Paso 1988 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" Samuel Delgado Juan Solares "" César Alejandro César Alejandro "" Ki Eugene Ki Eugene "" Nelly Fierro Ben Adame Novella "" Daniel Olaizola Rudy Torres "" Otilia Chávez Salvador Chávez "" Patty Duncan Luis Hernández "" Dora Reyes Mario Betancourt "" Sol Noriega Sol Noriega "" Leonardo A. Cárdenas Leonardo A. Cárdenas
Tampa pre-selection On Thursday 1 September 1988, WBHS held a televised pre-selection in Miami. This was the fifth edition of the Tampa Local OTI Festival. It was broadcast on Channel 61.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Dinorah Rivas, and performed by Esther María Tellado.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Tampa 1988 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" Esther María Tellado Dinorah Rivas
Miami pre-selection WLTV held a televised pre-selection in Miami. It was broadcast on Channel 23.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by América Vázquez and Miguel Ángel Mejía, and performed by Mejía himself.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Miami 1988 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" Miguel Ángel Mejía
Washington D.C. pre-selection W14AA held a televised pre-selection in Washington D.C., and broadcast on Channel 14.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written and performed by María Isolina.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Washington D.C. 1988 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" María Isolina María Isolina
Houston pre-selection KXLN-TV held a televised pre-selection in Houston. This was the first edition of the Houston Local OTI Festival. It was broadcast on Channel 45.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Víctor Manuel Moreno and performed by José Humberto Marín.
+ Result of the Local OTI Festival – Houston 1988 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result "" José Humberto Marín Víctor Manuel Moreno
San Francisco pre-selection KDTV held an internal pre-selection. The station filmed a preview video for each of the shortlisted songs, with the singers lip-syncing to the studio version of the songs. The songs, the preview videos, and which had received the most votes, were revealed in a special program, broadcast on Channel 14.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Cyarmine Benítez and performed by Ana Deisi.
+ Result of the Local OTI pre-selection – San Francisco 1988 Song Artist Songwriter(s) Result 7 "" Alberto Cardielli Alberto Cardielli "" Ana Deisi Cyarmine Benítez
Final The final was held on Wednesday 28 September 1988 at the Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel in Miami Beach, featuring thirteen songs. It was presented by Lucy Pereda and Antonio Vodanovic, and broadcast live on all Univision affiliates. The show featured guest performances by Willy Chirino, Paloma San Basilio, Julio Sabala, Ángela Carrasco, and Manuel Mijares.
The jury was composed of: Luca Bentivoglio, Paul Rodríguez, Lupita Ferrer, Lissette, Jorge Martínez, Lucerito, Arnaldo André, Fernando Carrillo, Gigi Zanchetta, Gabriel Traversari, Manuel Mijares, Ángela Carrasco, Julio Sabala, Braulio, Cristina Saralegui, Rudy Pérez, and Don Francisco as chairperson.
The winner was "" representing WLTV–Miami, written by América Vázquez and Miguel Ángel Mejía, and performed by Mejía himself; with "" representing WSNS-TV–Chicago, written by Juan Carlos Felipe and performed by Roberto Sánchez, placing second; and "" representing W14AA–Washington D.C., written and performed by María Isolina, placing third. In addition, Miguel Ángel Mejía received the Best Performer Award, and Héctor Garrido received the Best Musical Arrangement Award for "".
+ Result of the final of the Song Artist Songwriter(s) Affiliate Result 2 "" Juan Miguel Juan Miguel Enríquez Soto KMEX-TV–Los Angeles "" Miguel Ángel Mejía WLTV–Miami 1 "" Roberto Sánchez Juan Carlos Felipe WSNS-TV–Chicago 2 "" Esther María Tellado Dinorah Rivas WBHS–Tampa "" María Isolina María Isolina W14AA–Washington D.C. 3 "" Ramón Vecina and Helen Vecina KFTV–Fresno "" Samuel Delgado Juan Solares KINT-TV–El Paso "" José Humberto Marín Víctor Manuel Moreno KXLN-TV–Houston "" Ana Deisi Cyarmine Benítez KDTV–San Francisco "" Jaime Jacobo Torres Jaime Jacobo Torres WXTV–New York "" Jorge Montana Jorge Montana KTVW-TV–Phoenix "" Laura Canales Efraín Sánchez KWEX-TV–San Antonio "" Gustavo López Gustavo López W66BV–Detroit
At the OTI Festival On 19 November 1988, the OTI Festival was held at the Teatro Nacional Cervantes in Buenos Aires, Argentina, hosted by Argentina Televisora Color (ATC), and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Miguel Ángel Mejía performed "" in position 8, with Rodolfo Martínez conducting the event's orchestra, and placing fourteenth and last out of 22 competing entries, with 0 points tied with the songs from Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, the Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
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