The Tony winner once again breaks barriers as she performs in the official residence of the President of the United States
Award-winning singer and Tatler Asia’s Most Influential honouree Lea Salonga has once again represented the Philippines on a grand occasion. Two other Broadway stars, Norm Lewis and Jessica Vosk, performed with Salonga in a state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the White House last April 26.
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While the Tony winner isn’t the first woman with Filipino roots to step foot in the White House (the honour belongs to Clemencia Lopez, a founding member of the Philippine Feminist Association), she is, however, the first to be allowed to grace everyone in the House with her skills in performing.
Read also: Clemencia Lopez: the first Filipina woman to step into the White House
Before the event, Salonga expressed her excitement in a tweet she posted last April 22. Together with Lewis and Vosk, she sang a handful of pieces from Les Miserables and Funny Girl and a special encore of the pop song American Pie.
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Rajo Laurel designed Salonga’s elegant black gown for the momentous occasion. The designer took to Instagram to express his joy with the Broadway singer.