Lea Salonga hopes Walk of Fame star inspires Filipinos to break into Hollywood

Lea Salonga has officially joined the stars of Hollywood after she was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 4. 

Salonga was awarded the 2,855th star in the Live Performance category at a ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, held outside the historic Hollywood Pantages Theatre.

The celebration brought together Salonga’s family, friends, fellow performers, and longtime collaborators. Guest speakers Darren Criss, Brandy, and Ming-Na Wen delivered heartfelt remarks during the ceremony. 

H.E.R., Salonga’s Fil-Am co-star in Forgotten Island, was also in attendance, along with the film’s directors, Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado.

Salonga also shared a look at the occasion on Instagram, giving fans behind-the-scenes glimpses of her preparations and moments from the ceremony. Thousands of people gathered to show their support as she received the star and delivered her speech.

Addressing the attendees, Salonga reflected on how far she has come and remembered where her journey started. “Long before Hollywood, long before Broadway, there was Manila,” Lea Salonga began.

She recalled being seven years old when she made her stage debut in a production of "The King and I" in the Philippines.

“If you had told seven-year-old Lea Salonga, making her stage debut in a production of The King and I in the Philippines, that nearly 50 years later, she would be standing on Hollywood Boulevard in front of this iconic theater, surrounded by so many wonderful friends, family, and colleagues, receiving a star on the Walk of Fame, she would have said, ‘Ha, what’s that?’”

“This career has taken me to places I never imagined I would go, introduced me to some extraordinary people, and allowed me to keep doing what I love,” she continued.

Although the star carries only her name, Salonga made it clear that she sees the achievement as the result of the support and contributions of many people throughout her career.

“There’s something funny about a star like this, because there’s only room for one name. Mine. But, no career is ever the work of just one person. So if they made this star big enough, there would be a lot of other names on it.”

She then acknowledged the people who helped shape her journey, beginning with her family. 

“My family, first and foremost. There would be the teachers who taught me, the directors who trusted me, the composers and lyricists who gave me extraordinary words and music to sing, the actors I’ve had the privilege of standing beside, the musicians who have made me sound so much better than I have any right to, the crews who somehow make everything work, the people who have represented me, and fought for me, and helped me navigate this very strange business, and of course, the audiences.”

Salonga also recognized the generations of fans who have known her through some of her most memorable roles.

“Some of you have met me as Kim, some as Éponine, or Fantine, some of you heard my voice coming out of Princess Jasmine or Mulan, and some of you have stayed with me through all of it. Thank you.”

Salonga hopes her star can encourage young Filipino artists who dream of making it to Hollywood someday.

“I hope that someday, a young Filipino kid comes to Hollywood, sees my name, and thinks, ‘Oh, maybe I can get here too.’”

She ended her speech by thanking everyone who had been part of her journey. “So to everyone who has been part of this very improbable career and journey, thank you. Maraming maraming salamat.”