NEWSFLASH 

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MISS SAIGON MANILA CONTRACT SIGNED

Manila, March 31, 2000 - Miss Saigon, the award-winning musical which propelled Lea Salonga, Leo Valdez, Monique Wilson, Victor Laurel and a host of other Filipino artists to international stardom, is finally coming home.

Plans were finalized yesterday for the Manila staging and Asian premiere of the Cameron Macintosh production with the signing of an agreement between the Bayang Makulay Foundation (BMF) and Wise Bank of Wise and Company, the oldest company in the Philippines.

Formal launching of the musical is scheduled in a few weeks with Claude Michel Schoenberg, Miss Saigon's composer, coming for the press launch.

Miss Saigon will have a three-month run at the cultural Center of the Philippines starting October.

Under the agreement, Wise Bank willl serve as financial consultant and official depository for the Manila production. Miss Saigon will be presented in the Philippines by Bayang Makulay Foundation with Saigon Company Philippines as the Manila production outfit.

Presidential son, BMF President Joseph Victor Ejercito, is optimistic that foundation's first project will be a success and would result in the development of the country's tourism industry. Miss Saigon's staging would also make the country the "Broadway capital of Asia," Ejercito said.

"I am glad it is finally under way. Bayang Makulay is determined to successfully undertake this worthwhile project. I know it is a tough task but we are doing this for national pride and at the same time we are also helping boost the tourism industry and make Manila the Broadway Capital of Asia," Ejercito said during the signing.

He said that the Miss Saigon Manila staging is the first in Asia, noting that other countries like Singapore and Hong Kong tried to bring Miss Saigon to their shores but were edged out by the Philippines, thanks to Cameron Mackintosh's long-running love affair with Filipinos.

Bayang Makulay Foundation, a non-stock and non-profit organization, has lined up several projects to help government in its tourism development efforts and social upliftment programs.

Those who signed the agreement for BMF were Ejercito and its chairwoman National Artist Lucresia Kasilag and board member Secretary Lito Banayo, who is also presidential adviser on political affairs and Philippine Tourism Authority general manager.

Representing Wise Bank at the signing were its President and CEO Lazaro Madara, Chairman Renato Fransisco, and Director Vicente Capa.

National Artist Lucresia Kasilag said the staging of Miss Saigon in the Philippines "should prove to the world that the Philippines has all the artistic talents. All Filipinos should support this project."

Secretary Banayo said President Estrada is fully supportive of the project and has advised Bayang Makulay to make sure that even ordinary Filipinos like students are able to see the world-class musical.

"In the early stages of Bayang Makulay Foundation's planning of the project, the President, whose support made it possible for us to bring Miss Saigon to the country, already stressed his desire for ordinary Filipinos to be given the chance to see this world-class musical. Following his wish, we are dedicating practically half the seats of the Cultural Center of the Philippines to popular ticket pricing," Secretary Banayo said.

Also present at the signing were Armando Alegre, head of Saigon Company Philippines; John Robertson, Mackintosh's representative and production consultant for the RP staging; and Amrcel Fernan and lawyer Pablo de Borja, Bayang Makulay board director and corporate secretary, respectively.

John Robertson said Cameron Mackintosh is looking forward to the Philippine season of Miss Saigon. Robertson said the set, costumes, lighting, sounds, facilities, and props such as the helicopter used in the play are already being flown to Manila for the Asian premiere.

"It's final and all systmes go. I have done the technical inspection and discussed requirements with the Cultural Center management. Everything is ready for the staging of Miss Saigon in Manila and we're already bringing the equipment to the Philippines," Robertson said.

Alegre, who helped Cameron Mackintosh discover some of the best Filipino talents for Miss Saigon, explained why Mackintosh chose the Philippines over other Asian countries who had jostled for the right to stage the musical.

"He feels he owes so much to the Filipinos. That is why he is helping us make it happen," Alegre said.

Since its opening on Sept. 20, 1989, at the Theatre Drury Lane in London, over 100 Filipino artists have and continue to perform in this great musical, making Mackintosh remark once that "without the Philippines, there would be no Miss Saigon."

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