Lea Salonga reacts on issue of pushing to prioritize Filipino Artists more than foreign acts

Krissa Donida

<img src='' alt='021412-lea_main.jpg' border='0' height='290' width='305' align='left'>“Don’t support a Filipino show just because its Filipino; support a Filipino show because you know it’s going to be the best show that you are going to watch.” Ito ang binitawang salita ng international Pinoy performer and award-winning stage actress at singer na si Lea Salonga sa presscon ng kanilang show ni James Ingram sa Smart-Araneta Coliseum sa February 17. Naglabas ng saloobin si Lea sa ipinaglalaban ng ibang mga OPM artists na unahin at kung maari ay pigilan ang madalas na pagpapalabas ng mga foreign artist dito sa ating bansa para naman mas mabigyang atensyon at pansin ng mga manonood at concert viewers ang Pinoy concert scene kumpara sa mga dayuhang performers “Ang sa akin lang kasi if you think the Filipino artist is excellent then the market will know it. If you are a discerning concertgoer, you know where you are going to spend your money. Ang sa akin lang kasi hindi ko binabase ang pagbili ng ticket kung foreigner ba o Pinoy o taga-saan ba siya, taga-Cebu or whatever. Wala akong pakialam, kasi ang sa akin lang kung ang isang artist ay magaling, dun ako pupunta regardless kung local o foreign. Kasi may mga foreign din na ayoko kasi corny, ayoko kasi hindi marunong kumanta. I would most likely support a show na alam kong masisiyahan ako, where I will be happy, where I know I will have a good time, where I know the singing would be excellent, where I know the production value is high.” Dagdag pa ng international performer, “Sa akin lang, it’s fair and square, It’s a competition and if you know the local artist’s shows are just so good then that’s where the money is going to go. And don’t support a Filipino show just because it’s Filipino; support a Filipino show because you know it’s going to be the best show that you are going to watch this Valentines so that’s my stand. You saved your money to see a show, you go to where you feel you will enjoy it, if it happens to be this one go see this one. If it happens your tastes are different and you want to see a classical one, go see that. If you want to see choral groups go see that. There are so many concerts coming out this Valentines and I think everybody would be pleased and everybody would have something to watch.” Kaya naman natanong namin na sa dami ng mga Valentine concerts ngayon, bakit ang concert nila ni James Ingram ang dapat abangan ng mga tao at biro ngang nabanggit ni Lea, “Well I’m in it!” Isa nga din siyang fan ni James Ingram at aminado siyang ang mga kanta ni James ay parte ng kanyang buhay, “I would some to see him because I would get to relive large chunks of my young adulthood listening to his music that I fell in love with and listen to when I broke up with somebody. That is the kind of stuff that tickles my funny bone. Well, for me it would be a trip down memory lane, its listening to Grammy-award winning artists.” Natanong din ng Push si Lea kung threat ba itong concert niya na ito sa iba pang mga concerts this season, “Well it’s going to be romantic to who is going to be singing but it depends kasi sa taste ng tao e but I’m hoping that people come to see this and I’m going to be singing with James Ingram. I’m excited about this and I am hoping that people actually come and find enough interest in that to come to Araneta and watch the show.” At sa issue ng pagsuporta sa kung ano nga ba ang dapat unahin at suportahan, sa huli ito na lang din ang nasabi ni Lea, “You guys are still supporting Filipino artist pa rin because I am in it, I’m in the show. It’s not like its only Mr. Ingram that you will be supporting; you will also be supporting me so that’s kind of cool.”

Lea Salonga reacts on issue of pushing to prioritize Filipino Artists more than foreign acts | PUSH.COM.PH