ISANG PANIBAGONG PAPEL ngayon ang ginagampanan ng international star na si Lea Salonga. She was recently appointed as United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s goodwilll ambassador in the global fight against hunger.
Inarguably, Lea is a national treasure. She joins Italian actor Raoul Bova, singing diva Céline Dion and Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon as celebrity crusaders against world hunger. Kahanay na ni Lea bilang mga UN goodwill ambassadors sina Oprah Winfrey, Drew Barrymore, Bono, Bruce Springsteen at Christina Aguilera.
Ayon sa isang report ni Mario Dumaual sa TV Patrol, sinabi raw ni Lea na isang malaking karangalan ito para sa kanya, pero alam din niyang may kaakibat itong mabigat na hamon lalo’t para sa Pilipinas where a lot of people are suffering from famine.
Lea was definitely born for superstardom. From being the 11 year-old orphan Annie, Lea played diverse characters as Mei Li in Flower Drum Song, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Sonia Walsk in They’re Playing Our Song, the Vietnamese bar girl Kim in Miss Saigon, Eponine and Fantine in Les Miserables, Cinderella, and the Glamour Cat Grizabella in Cats, among others. At ngayon naman ay isa na siyang goodwill ambassador against global hunger ng UN. Patunay lang ito na patuloy na inaakyat ni Lea ang bandila ng Pilipinas sa world arena.
Tama si Lea when she said there are many challenges with being the newest appointed UN goodwill ambassador. But knowing Lea, I know she can fulfill her duties with flying colors.
There are responsibilities that come with being famous. Malakas ang impluwensiya ng mga celebrities on their adoring public. Lagi kong sinasabi that stars and public figures can use their fame for a good cause. Famous people can choose to be role models who can make this world a much better, more decent, more humane place to live in.
Kahanga-hanga ang mga celebrities who share their time, money and fame for humanitarian crusades. Sa mga nakalipas na taon ay nakita natin ang mga kabutihang nagagawa ng star power sa buong mundo: stars have raised millions of dollars for AIDS victims, sick and hungry children around the world and the destruction of landmines; at dito sa Pilipinas, artists donate and participate in relief operations during calamities at ang iba naman ay may sariling foundation na tumutulong sa kanilang mga kababayan.
Congratulations, Lea!
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
