Broadway star Lea Salonga sings US national anthem in Yankees-Angels game
Lea Salonga sings the national anthem of the United States before the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels game in the Major Baseball League. (Screenshot from broadcast game)
Award winning Broadway star Lea Salonga gave a Filipina touch to the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels as she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the national anthem of the United States on Tuesday, June 17 (Manila time).
The Yankees uploaded a video of Salonga singing the American national anthem on its social media account, immediately garnering reaction from Filipino broadway and baseball fans alike.
“Thank you to Tony-Award Winning Actress Lea Salonga for tonight’s beautiful rendition of our National Anthem,” said the Yankees in the post.
Salonga reposted the same video from the Yankees and said: “Thanks for having me! Go NY!!!,” wrote the Filipina actress and singer who is starring on the “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends” on Broadway.
It was now the second cameo for a Filipina in an MLB game after Lisa Frankenstein star and Filipina actress Liza Soberano also graced the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets earlier this month.
Soberano, wearing a Dodgers polo, threw the ceremonial first pitch as part of the MLB’s Filipino Heritage night celebration which also featured Filipino four-member girl group 4th Impact.
The Yankees, however, absorbed their fourth straight loss after the Angels pulled out a 1-0 victory behind Nolan Schanuel hitting a run-scoring double in the 11th inning.