Broadway icon Lea Salonga has etched her name in history after becoming the very first Filipina awarded a star on the world-renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The acclaimed performer received the landmark’s 2,855th star during an unveiling ceremony held outside the historic Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
hosted by Sibley Scoles, the event brought out notable figures including fellow Disney stars Ming-Na Wen and Brandy, alongside Filipino-American actor Darren Criss.
Addressing the crowd during her acceptance speech, Salonga playfully described the moment as a poetic milestone.
”I have walked down these streets many times; I’ve stepped on a lot of famous people, and now people get to step on me. Which feels strangely appropriate for show business. I love a full-circle moment,” Lea said.
The Tony Award winner reminisced about her early years as a child artist in the Philippines who pursued music and stage performance simply out of pure passion, without anticipating where it would lead.
”I was a little girl in the Philippines who loved to sing and perform. I started working when I was very young, and I certainly did not have a grand plan for how any of this was supposed to unfold; I just love doing it,” she said.
Reflecting on her career path, Salonga noted the lack of representation on global stages during her youth, while acknowledging the progress made over the years.
”When I began my career, I didn’t see very many people who looked like me doing the things I dreamed of doing on the world’s biggest stages and screens. There wasn’t an obvious road. Over the years, I have watched that world begin to change. Not enough. Not completely. But it has changed,” she said.
She expressed immense pride in seeing an increasing number of Asian and Filipino performers gaining ground in the entertainment industry.
”There are so many extraordinary Filipino and Asian artists working today, telling our stories, playing roles we once could have never imagined being offered, and creating new opportunities for future generations. That means an enormous amount to me,” she added.
Salonga concluded her address with a message of encouragement, hoping her landmark achievement serves as a beacon for aspiring artists back home.
”I hope that someday a young Filipino kid comes to Hollywood, sees my name, and thinks, ‘Oh. Maybe I can get here too,” Lea said.