Lea Salonga Leads Benefit Concert for Philippine Typhoon Victims, 8/28

New York, August 25, 2013--In between the first set of live shows for "The Voice of the Philippines," Broadway star turned coach Lea Salonga leads a benefit concert for the victims of Typhoon Maring in the Philippines. The onslaught of the typhoon has taken the lives of 24 Filipinos; displaced almost one million residents; and destroyed an estimated PhP700 million in agricultural products and infrastructure throughout Luzon, the largest island in the country.

"Jammin' for HELP," a benefit concert for the Philippine National Red Cross' relief efforts, is set Wednesday, August 28, at 7 p.m. at Whitespace, 2314 Don Chino Roces Ave. Extension (formerly Pasong Tamo Extension), Makati City.

Salonga's brother, Gerard, and local artists Pilita Corrales, Zia Quizon, Cris Villonco, Sitti, Jett Pangan, Fitri and Ryan Gallagher join the Tony Award-winning actress.

For tickets (PhP1,000 and 2,000), call (63916) 253-0959 or (63919) 993-8018.

Salonga is best known for originating the role of Kim in "Miss Saigon" in 1989; she is also the first Asian actress to play the role of Eponine in "Les Miserables" on Broadway--in 1993. She returned to Les Miz as Fantine in the 2006 Broadway revival.

In the summer of 2009, Salonga appeared in the workshop production of the new musical "Allegiance." Developed by "Star Trek" actor George Takei and Broadway producers Lorenzo Thione and Jay Kuo, "Allegiance" tells the story of a Japanese-American family in internment camps during World War II. Last fall, "Allegiance" held its world premiere at The Old Globe Theater in San Francisco, which broke the theater's box office records. The show targets a Broadway bow next year.

Honored with an appointment as a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) goodwill ambassador in 2010, Lea vows to act as advocate for the Youth and United Nations Global Alliance initiatives led by FAO.

Also honored with a Disney Legend Award two years ago, many movie fans of all ages recognize Salonga as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney's "Aladdin" and Fa Mulan in Disney's "Mulan."

Photo Credit: THE VOICE OF THE PHILIPPINES