2008-01-06

A Lea article on PEP (AFLSers, READ THIS!)


I was at PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) site this afternoon, searched for Lea Salonga, and found this interesting article. Actually, the comments are far more interesting than the article itself.

The comments are funny. Actually, yung iba nakakainis, yung iba nakakatuwa. Kasi kung makapag-judge sila ng tao kala mo kilalang-kilala nila si Lea from head to toe. Hindi lang nakapagpa-autograph, kala mo minurder na ni Lea ang pagkatao niya! Letch! Pero pinagtatawanan ko na lang. Nakaka-awa kasi. Sana nung tinapon niya yung mga cds, tinawag niya lahat ng fans ni Lea, panigurado, magkukumahog pa (tayong) lahat sa pagsalo ng mga 'yon!

Anyway, it made me realized na kung hindi mo talaga kilala si Lea, maiinis ka talaga sa kanya. Mga Pilipino nga naman, hindi na makuntento. Naalala ko tuloy nung last day ng BABY the Musical; nung time na halos lahat ng tao hindi nakapagpa-sign kay Lea ng autograph dahil bigla sila umalis. That time I wondered why she left that early. Pero after I read her post sa AFLS before, it made me realized (and understand why she did that) that she had a purpose of leaving early- to catch the last mass sa Edsa Shrine. 

But honestly, after reading this article, it made me love Lea Salonga more. 


(PS: I had to delete some of the comments kasi Out-of-Topic na.)


Dennis Trillo mesmerized by Lea Salonga's Broadway performance
By: Nitz Miralles
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
07:16 PM

Bukod sa nakapamasyal sa New Jersey at New York, may maganda pang kuwento si Dennis Trillo sa first trip niya sa United States noong katapusan ng March.

Naikuwento ni Dennis sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) na noong nasa New York sila, hindi siya pumayag na hindi makapanood ng Broadway show. Tamang-tama namang palabas pa ang Les Miserables, kung saan kasama sa cast ang Filipino international star na si Lea Salonga as Fantine.

Manghang-mangha ang young actor sa ganda ng Les Miserables at sa husay ni Lea. Bilang kababayan, very proud ito sa narinig na positive comments kay Lea at hindi siya pumayag na hindi makuha ang autograph nito.

Kaya after the show, pumila si Dennis para magpa-autograph kay Lea. Ang hindi ini-expect ni Dennis, makikilala siya ng mga Pinoy na kasabay niyang nanood that time. Habang nakapila sila, may nagpapa-autograph sa kanya at nagpapakuha ng litrato.

Laking gulat at tuwa ni Dennis nang paglabas ni Lea para harapin ang nakapila niyang fans ay nakilala siya nito. "Oh, my God! It's Dennis!" ang pagbati ni Lea sa kanya, at game na game nang pumirma ng autograph.

Ngayon, isa na sa most treasured possessions ni Dennis ang autograph ni Lea. Kahit maiksi ang nakasulat na "Hi Dennis!" at " Love, Lea Salonga" ipinagmamalaki ito ng young actor sa kanyang mga kaibigan.

COMMENTS:
Clorox: pepwebby, dahan dahan naman ang daming topics. kakatapos ko lang basa sa isa. anyway, happy 4th of july. i'm so happy may article about lea salonga.

freak out: o diba bonga si dennis, kilala sya ni Lea...sana lang wag ka na magdeny ng anak nyo ni carlene...kawawa bata

tigbak: wow ang sweet naman ni Leah!

kabayo_puwet: sabi ni Dennis di daw sa kanya yong baby.

jonjonsfcutie: Lea is a great singer. Pero ugali nya ay pangit. I've watched her concert too. Nung nagpa autograph ako, dineadma lang ako as in. I was so disappointed. Proud pa naman ako sa kanya. Sa inis ko tinapon ko mga cds nya. Kung siguro artista ako iba treatment for sure.

NicaNY: jonjonsfcutie: Iba naman ung experience namin sa kanya. We recently watched Les Miserables and super duper bait ni Lea samin, and to all Filipinos and non-Filipinos who waited for her backstage. It was even raining that night and she still waited for all of us hanggang lahat makapagpicture and makapagpa-autograph. And ilang beses pa kami nagpapic sa kanya, and she wasnt annoyed naman.

Madayag2007: #6 -- Sayang, 'asan ba ako noong ibinasura lang ang Lea CDs? Hinakot ko sana.

thebrotherskaramazov: Artist are TEMPERAMENTAL!!!

Bibingka: for real jonjonfscutie??? Ganon si Ms. Lea. Kala ko pa naman OK siya. I was watching her old clips sa youtube. Bakit yong accent niya noon British, later on naging American. Recently naman sa interview niya sa PDA, Pinoy accent yong english niya. Ala Merryl Streep pala siya, magaling mag emote ng iba ibang accent.

darredn: Hay ..kailan kaya ako makapanood ng shows ni Lea...

dyoy19: wish i could watch her before i leave for the phil.

wilyam: ako napansin ko lang na iba si lea sa pinas at sa ibang bansa. pag sa pinas siya, para bang you have this feeling na mababa ang tingin niya sa mga ordinary pinoys na nanood sa kanya pero beso2 siya sa mga miyembro ng alta sociedad. tapos pag states naman siya, super bait siya sa mga pinoys doon siguor dahil alam niyang hindi siya pwedeng magmaganda sa mga pinoys sa ibang bansa dahil either they are richer than lea orthey have a better job than lea. na-experience ko na pareho kung paano magpa-autograph ke lea sa ccp at sa broadway, and i'd say na she thinks she is above all pag siya ay nasa pinas.
lea is definitely a good broadway performer but she must remember na hanggang broadway lang naman siya and hindi naman ganun kahighregards ang mga musicals sa mga puti. musicals are just for entertainment and not for mental gymnastics.
mental gymnastics daw o, tsarot

downunder (Moderator): #13 wilyam.... eksakto kung ano ang sinabi mo iyon din ang palagay ko

twinkllelittlestar: ang ganda-ganda nman ni Lea .

lostris: korek, wilyam!

derti_ayskrim: but i guess kung better actress ka sa stage.. i could call you a great actress indeed.. kasi no cuts,no take two's etc. kung pano mo nacapture ung attention ng mga audience mo in a musical stage play is really a talent.. kasi kitang kita mo kung gano sila kagaling without redoing the scene..

as for #12 hindi pa ako nakakapunta ng states.. but i believe being in a musical broadway is something to be proud of naman.. kasi most of the actors/actresses there has talent both in singing and acting.. :)

PwongPagwong: Big fan ako ni Lea ever since pa but sometimes i'm beginning to think na totoo ang mga negative write ups sa kanya and also i'm fair when it comes to fan-artists treatment and relationship. To her defense, baka naman minsan eh pagod kaya minsan she does her diva fit sa mga tao. We also can't forget na she has a song "Simple lang ako" na sinulat ni Ryan Cayabyab, maybe to dispel the "diva attitude" she has after her triumph in the west end? check it out sa youchooob. She prolly don't mean to have an attitude baka naman personality nya lang talagang mag inarte. O baka yung pag iinarte nya comes off as being mayabang. Sometimes may pagka sensitive tayong mga pinoy eh di ba? so baka akala natin tinatarayan nya tayo.

I think may pagka accurate din yung sinasabi na she acts differently when she's in foreign country vs. RP. Baka naman kase pinamumukha nya sa mga entertainment people sa PI na she really has talent and people didn't see this before.

lady_n_red: Ms. Lea Salonga ang tunay na international artist, di tulad ng iba na may offer kuno sa Hollywood tapos pumirma ng contract sa Pinas.

tobey_123: matapobre yan at mayabang she thinks high level siya nina sharon..ask niyo mga sharonian..sha ask her how do you levl yourself..say niya higher than you..waaa galit mga sharonian

juiceko: how humble these 2 artists, i really admire their gestureskia_ora: , particularly si denis. he was so sincere!!!!!!!!

kia_ora: idol ko si lea! she's a very good singer and perfomer. i guess may right mapagod din mga artist and be cranky. i don't think na may artist na always happy and smiling.

PwongPagwong: Hindi tobey. Gusto kase ni Lea na maatim ang pagka masa ni Sharon pero sa personality niya hindi papatok sa masang pinoy. Hindi naman lahat ng pinoy into live musical theater di ba? eh si ate Shawie na cover nya lahat pera lang ang broadway.

PwongPagwong: ...at pang masa ang appeal sa pinoy.

diablita: agree ako sa u #18. as an international artist, i guess us filipinos are expecting too much from her to be like this and that. sympre tao din naman sya and am not seeing anything wrong with. if she is mayabang or anything for that matter eh di sana she is one of those pinays who keeps on singing the national anthem n a different tune para lang mapansin na magaling kumanta. she is the only one who sings the anthem in the right tune. she is not comparable to other artist, she never brags or associate her name na walang kwenta. nde nya binalutan ng ginto ang sarili nya.

pep_talk: Idol ko si Leah tao din siya katulad natin may topak minsan, i don't think aabot siya sa kinalalagyan niya ngayon kung masama ang ugali niya, baka naman yung iba na naka experienced ng di maganda sa kanya nag expect na perfect siya kaya disappointed kayo.

amersham: dapat lang noh. Lea is really one of our great singers in the country. Lani Misalucha too. # 1 in my list. then Lani then Frenchy dy....tapos wala na...so far nagtitingin na ako sa mga bagong sibol ngayon like yong mga produkto ng PPS. marami sila.

wilyam: there's no doubt that lea is good in what she does butlets face it lea has an attitude problem. di naman big deal ang maging broadway star unless you are julia roberts playing the lead role. most of the broadway stars just either walk or ride the train or bus going to broadway.

lea is definitely agood singer but please note that role she is playing gets killed almost immediately in the play. funny that she also starred in same play as eponine and also get killed in the process. i saw her as eponine and she was real show stopper when she sang on my own.

lea is good, definitely good but you cannot identify with her because she acts as if she knows better than most and she really makes you feel it. she thinks she is one of the westeners and i think this is one reason why she does not click with the american who embraces originality and for being who you are. have you seen her happee toothpaste ads? a filipino who tries to sound foreginer who tries to sound filipino. and that is wh

asahi: Hindi totoong mayabang si Lea. Napagkakamalan lang because of her English accent. But really, she's down to earth and she's proud where she came from. Kapag nasa abroad siya wala na siyang bukang-bibig kundi itaas sa mga dayuhan ang Pilipinas. She's beautiful in and out! I'm proud of her!

caliguy: way to go Dennis! yup, i like lea too and have watched her shows...planning to nyc to watch her in les miz. check lea's multiply website...

beautyvie143: lea is not changing pla, but y hndi nya sinisipot ang mga invitation s knya ni mastershowmn to guest d show?nklimutan n b nya frm wer she came from?e cguro ganun lng tlg pg-inilagay m s head ang kasikatan!

tobey_123: #23 lea is good pero when she said na mataas level niya kay Sharon, plgay ko di niya un dpt sinabi coz nasa show siya ni sharon, tsaka compare to sharon gano ba siya kasikat? im not sharonian, im vilmanians hehehe

justme22 (moderator): I really like leah kahit pa duon sa Ms. Saigon.

voluptuous: ano ba yan #5, hindi lang nabigyan ng autograph, inalipusta na to high heavens si lea. give her some slack, artists have good and bad days like everybody else. i don't think anyone will disagree that she is a gifted singer and she champions filipino talent wherever she is in the world.

caliguy: to number #28, i thought its funny when you said this: "di naman big deal ang maging broadway star unless you are julia roberts playing the lead role. most of the broadway stars just either walk or ride the train or bus going to broadway."

go and reread your post and hopefully, u'll get what i mean. :)


fashionista_315: to #9 kurak at sa audition niya for miss saigon e british-britishan ang accent niya... then nu'ng minsan napanuod ko siya sa isang cnn asia na show e american accent naman siya... and then nu'ng nagtalk siya sa PDA e filipino accent naman... hehehehe... ang galing. anyway, lea salonga is my distant relative (~___^)v i'm proud of her.

shamiya: anyways, i still love leah salonga.;)

dyoy19: let's focus on the positives people. i love lea. i love julia roberts but even if julia got the lead in broadway, she doesn't compare with lea on the theater stage.

muni_muni: first time nakita ko c lea salonga dito sa Qatar....napaganda nia at napakabait? napatayo ako tuloy nung kinanta nia ung closing song ng 15th Asian Games..

nov_8: Great Performer talaga si Lea Salonga. Saludo ako dyan !I like her attitude toward her craft. She always gives her best...

line1221: lea ur the girl!

goodrose79: Dapat nga magpasalamat tayo kay Lea at sa iba pang mga Pilipino na nagbigay ng katanyagan para sa ating bansa. Nakilala tayo dahil sa kanila. Tunay ngang matatalino ang mga Pilipino sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa.

NicaNY: wilyam: after she signed autographs, si Lea Salonga lang ung may black car na nakaabang in front of the Broadhurst Theatre, may naka-dikit pa na white paper nakalagay "Lea Salonga" and she has her own driver. Eh ung mga co-stars nya sa show like Adam Jacobs, naglakad lang. And before nagre-open ang Les Miserables, may promotions eto sa mga newspapers here in NY and nakalagay dun "LEa Salonga's back..." etc. Xa lang binaggit. For me it means malaki talaga name nya sa broadway. Also when a documentary about the history of Broadway was made, isa xa sa mga nafeature. Nakahilera nya pa sina Julie Andrews. And she also got a Tony Award which is equivalent to Oscars Award. And if napanood nyo ung isa nyang interview dati, she's proud being a Filipino and lagi nya talagang sinasabi na Filipina xa.

I think she's just a misunderstood FIlipina international artist.

spade: Lea is both a Tony and Lawrence Olivier awardee, kung magpa-diva man sya, she has earned it. Sa mga nagsasabing di big deal ang theater, madaming hollywood superstars ang nagbo-broadway/west-end to justify themselves as actors.

di pangmasa ang appeal ni lea so bat nyo ipipilit? can't we all at least be proud that a filipino made it big in the US? yung totoong pinoy talaga, di yung me pinoy lineage lang pero ni hindi pa nakaapak sa pinas..

liwayway: being nice to your fans is part of the job when you are a celeb, regardless of where you are or who you are. but lea deserves plenty of kudos for her achievements on broadway, the west end plus the disney front. let's just not get carried away since the bottom line for popularity is wide-ranging name recognition w/ no description required to remind people who you are. dapat kilala ka, not only ng kababayan mo or a subset like the NY theatre circle.

PwongPagwong: LOL! inintriga si Miss Saigon. Anywhooo, eto pa isang intriga. Napakinggan nyo na ba ang Broadway concert cd ni Lea na minention nya na may nagsabi sa kanya na "You'll never be an actress! never!". Any repertory Philippines stage actors out there who can tell us something about this?

sexyback1: lea's good but she's not all that. i've watched her perform and yes, she acts like she's really "all that"!!! my friend who also played fantine on broadway is better and believe me, this girl is soooo down to earth, you'll forget she's a star when you're around her. she is that down to earth and her name is joan almedilla. you can google it out. her voice is awesome and the girl can rock! i can understand that lea's way up there now as far as her career goes but i wish she didn't have that kind of "diva" attitude because there really are better singers out there.

arnel_cap@yahoo.com: why are you guys feeling sorry for yourselves? so what if she is a big snob? big deal. she is just a performer and nothing else. the problem with pinoys is that they think that they "own" Lea and that she has to cater their every needs. pls. just an ordinary person making money by performing on stage. that's all there is to it. don't take it seriously and "huwag dibdibin".

PwongPagwong: excuse me sexyback1. Lea is all that, mmmkay!

Let's not forget, Lea Salonga opened doors to other Filipinos and Asian actors in Broadway and theaters worldwide, in roles that only traditional white people are cast.

Kungdi kay Lea, do u think your friend would be able to work in Broadway and some national touring company? I'm not saying that your friend is less a performer than Lea but ipasok mo sa kukute mo na Lea paved the way sa mga actors na 'to. At kung hindi dahil kay Lea, hindi makikilala ang galing ng mga pinoy at iba pang Asians sa pag arte.

sexyback1: whatever you opinion is pwongpagwong, i respect. i never said she was a bad singer anyway. no need to fight. enjoy your day!

PwongPagwong: Hindi opinion yon dhay. Yon ang katotohanan at hindi ako nang aaway. Excuse my exclamation point.

liwayway: regarding what lea said na mas mataas ang level niya kay sharon. if she was talking about singing, lea is absolutely right!

prada01: oo natatandaan ko sinabi rin niya dapat daw iyon mga singer sa atin eh mag-aral kumanta dahil ang sakit daw sa tenga pag naririnig niya. akala mo naman napakagaling na niya.. totoo iyon mga sinabi ninyo mayabang iyan si lea. natatandaan ko dati pumalit siya duon sa isang actress dito sa US. eh ang kapareha niya eh itim mukhang ayaw yata niya kaya ilan epi lang eh nawala na siya.. kasi ayaw daw niya duon sa kapatner niya.. iyon soap opera ang title. AS THE WORLD TURN.

thespian: Hindi ko alam kung saan niyo nakukuha ang mga tsismis na iyan. Lea enjoyed her run in As the World Turns. I was there sa recording nung episode nya with Sharon, and she never said or implied in any way that she was above Sharon's level. Sa daming beses ko nagpa-autograph at nakipagchikahan kay Lea, never ko naramdaman na mayabang siya. Nakakamangha at masarap tularan ang kanyang pagiging down-to-earth at self-confident. And she said she walks from her apartment to Broadhurst during good weather as warm-up before a performance. Regarding her accent, what's the issue with that? She is a good actress and she caters her speech depende sa audience niya. How can a good write-up such as above spurn so much negativity from people who I assume do not know her personally and are only riding on hearsay? I do NOT know her personally but I have had the opportunity to have asked for her autograph many times and chitchat a bit, to the point na when I ask for an autograph kinakamusta na niya ako by name. Big deal sa

thespian: ... At sa mga hindi nakaka-alam, big flop ang play ni Julia Roberts sa Broadway. Pangit ang reviews sa acting niya. She's beautiful and magical on the screen but her talent didn't translate on the stage. Please do not compare her theatrical debut to Lea's very successful career in the theater. Lea started out bata pa lang sa Philippine theater, magaling na. Then when she debuted sa West End, nanalo agad siya ng Best Actress... well, we all know the story.

hdlover23: you people are ridiculous..that's her personality nobody can change that..so what if she doesn't sign your autograph she has many reasons..you guys don't even know the person..and you people just judge and judge..and it makes me laugh how some people are discriminating lea's achievements..and that Broadway is just "small time"..fame does not equal success..

drmgrl97: I agree with #12, I never had a chance of seeing her performance in the Phil., but I was able to see one of her shows in Broadway in New York. She was nice and very approachable, in fact I had a group picture taken with her together with some other filipino nurses. I have been hearing negative comments about her on how she acts when she's back home, I never liked her anyways.

hdlover23: actually i think lea is the kind of person who doesn't really like people asking autographs..taking pics of her..i think she's a person who just wants a simple life..in the u.s.-people don't treat her like in the philippines-which i think she likes because i've read a couple of interviews that she just wants PRIVACY..that doesn't make her a horrible person..she just doesn't like that kind of stuff

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