Lea Salonga: Singer/Actress by Veltisezar Bautista

As a young child, Lea Salonga’s Philippine dream was to be a psychiatrist (“Believe it or not,” she says). Then that dream turned into an American dream: “To one day perform on Broadway.” ( “Got it!” she says.)
At the age of two, Salonga often sang, using the living room coffee table as a stage and using a plug for a microphone. No wonder that in May 1991, she won the prestigious Tony award for best actress for her role as Kim in the musical Miss Saigon on Broadway.
Flashback. Salonga was born in Manila to Feliciano Salonga and Ligaya Imutan on February 22, 1971. Salonga stayed in Angeles City, Pampanga Province, for 6 years and then she moved back to Manila.
When she was 3, Salonga’s aunt used to go to their house to babysit her and play the guitar, while Salonga did the singing. At age 7, she made her professional debut in Repertory Philippines’ production of The King and I. At age 10, she began her recording career, eventually receiving a gold record for her first album, Small Voice, and at age 13, she won three Aliw Awards for Best Child Entertainer during the years 1981, 1982, and 1893.
From London to Broadway. Salonga played the role of Kim in Miss Saigon in performances in London, where she won the Laurence Olivier Award. From London, she went to Broadway in New York City, where she garnered the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. She also won the Theatre World Award.
Greatest Achievement. Referring to her greatest achievement, Salonga says, “That through whatever I’ve done, the image of the Filipino was made a little more positive, and that somehow, the Filipino was given the chance to smile and be proud. Hopefully, the world’s awareness of the Filipino artist remains.”
Special Appearances. Among her special appearances were in the presence of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II; President and Mrs. George Bush; First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton at the Women’s Forum during the Asian Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in Manila; and at the 65th Annual Academy Awards, where she sang A Whole New World, and where the song won an Oscar. She also recorded the singing voice of Jasmine for the Walt Disney animated hit, Aladdin.
Special Skills. Languages speaks English and Tagalog, with the talents of several accents—British (cockney and fine British), American, and Filipino.
Tidbits: Culled from an interview with some people on the Internet at the TalkCity’s Pavilion facilitated by Filipino Today newspaper were the following information:
People She Idolized While Growing Up: The Osmonds, The Carpenters, Olivia Newton-John, and Abba.
Training As a Singer: With Zenaida Amador (drama) and Baby Barredo (drama and voice) in the Philippines and a year in London with Mary Hammond (voice) and a year, off and on, in New York City. “I do sing in the shower a lot,” she says.
Role Model in Her Professional Career: “None really...I don’t pattern my career from anyone else. I just go with my gut and do stuff that I love to do.”
Goals and Aspirations for the Future: “To just continue to do quality work for as long as I can.”
Where to Settle Down in the Long Term, Whether Abroad or in the Philippines: “That would depend on who I ended up marrying.”
Theater Performances: Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Grease!, Into the Woods, My Fair Lady, The Fantasticks, Annie, Paper Moon,; The Goodbye Girl, The Rose Tattoo, Fiddler on the Roof, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, and The King and I, The performances were held in Manila, London, Singapore, and New York City.
Television Movie: Redwood Curtains telecast on national television (ABC) on April 27, 1995