Lea Salonga, KL
(born Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines) is a multi-awarded Filipino singer and actress who is best known for originating the role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon.She was also the first Asian to play Eponine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway.
Salonga is the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin in 1992 and Fa Mulan for Mulan and Mulan II in 1998 and in 2004, respectively.
I grew up watching and copying Lea sing “Mamang Sorbetero” (Man selling “dirty” ice cream) when I still lived in the Philippines. Her voice on the television kept me company while I was pretending to cook in my palayok (red clay) pots and having conversations with my imaginary friends. (No that wasn’t last week…wait…was it?) She has an awesome voice and was fantastic in Miss Saigon! Big Ups to my fellow Filipina girl …
