NEWSFLASH 

---

LEA RETURNS AS ‘MISS SAIGON’ IN MANILA

Manila, April 25, 2000 - Lea Salonga will return to the role that catapulted her to international stardom more than ten years ago, when she plays Kim in the Philippine production of “Miss Saigon.”

Lito Banayo, Philippine Tourism Authority general manager, says Lea will definitely play Kim. "Lea Salonga has agreed to participate in the production," he says. Banayo is director of the Bayang Makulay Foundation, which is producing the show.

The public will know officially tomorrow, when the Manila production of "Miss Saigon" holds a press conference to announce the actors who will perform in the musical. The odds are about even that Lea will reprise for Manila the role she had originated in London and later, on Broadway.

As of press time, all that "Miss Saigon" insiders would confirm was that there were negotiations going on with Lea.

"Definitely, we want her to appear, she's our top choice," Dong Alegre, who heads the production in Manila, said.

All "Miss Saigon" alumni have also been invited to audition, according to Tinggay Vendoza, assistant to Alegre. Those who have been invited include Leo Valdez, Robert Sena, and Cocoy Laurel. In fact, even "Miss Saigon" veterans abroad want to come home for the production. The production also wants Filipinos to take over the Caucasian roles.

Those who want to come home and join are Junix Inocian, who did the "Engineer" role on West End and who's now in Malaysia doing a film, and Lorenz Martinez, son of Leo Martinez and Enchang Kaimo, who performed in the Netherlands production of "Miss Saigon."

---