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Broadway icon Lea Salonga is bringing her voice and experience to a different stage as she joins the roster of speakers for the 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila on November 11.

The Filipino theater star is among the featured personalities at the gathering, which will bring together prominent figures from business, government, civil society, and other sectors to discuss opportunities for economic development and inclusive growth across Southeast Asia.

Joining Lea at the summit are Hollywood actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie, beauty queen and entrepreneur Kylie Verzosa, fashion designer Rajo Laurel, and Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, among other speakers.

Recognized for her contributions to theater and the performing arts, Lea has built an international career that has helped put Filipino talent in the global spotlight.

She rose to international prominence for playing Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, a performance that earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1991. She has since starred in numerous stage productions, including Les Misérables, Allegiance, and Once on This Island.

Lea is also familiar to Disney fans as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan and Mulan II.

This year, she made history as the first Filipino to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her recognition was the 2,855th star on the landmark, under the Live Performance category.

Beyond her stage and screen accomplishments, Lea continues to advocate for Filipino artists and the importance of representation in the international entertainment industry.

The 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit aims to explore ways of turning economic uncertainty into opportunities and advancing sustainable growth throughout the region.

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