AS SOON as the results from the Miss Saigon audition were out, my cousin, Myra Manarang Dy got in touch with me to inform me about the good news.
She said that the best friend of her daughter (my niece) who is a native of Angeles City passed the audition to play the lead role of Kim on the next Miss Saigon in UK. But she said that the family kept mum about it for a while because they did not want to break the news before the organizers.
I told her then that we’ll schedule the family to meet the city mayor when they are ready.
When the news broke out, the name of Joreen Bautista went viral on the internet. The 17-year-old teenage girl from Barangay Capaya will follow the footsteps of Lea Salonga (another resident of Angeles City for six years). A couple of days later, I’ve arranged for the Bautista family to meet the mayor and the City Hall employees during a Monday flag ceremony.
Joreen is studying at Brightwoods School in Barangay Pandan. Her father Joey said that she has no boyfriend at the moment. He jokingly said that he has made a plan on how to prepare for the kissing scene of his daughter on the play. Before the alternate Kim got busy preparing for a new life in UK, we had the chance to have a lunch with the new Miss Saigon. The Bautista family came in with their close friends, Dy and Cabalo family.
Mother Maureen is Joreen’s voice coach. When she sang a few bars of “The Prayer” our room went quiet as we admire the angelic tone of Joreen’s mom. For those who would like to witness her talent, come to the Independence Day celebration at the National Museum of Social History for she’s been asked to lead the invocation on the simultaneous flag ceremony.
My first impression with Daddy Joey was different. He came in well-composed but later showed his wackiness after a few sip of beverage. When we asked him to top his wife’s vocal performance, he humbly played along. But I was fooled when the father and daughter treated us with a duet.
Joreen started the first part of the famous Miss Saigon song, “Sun and Moon.” Mayor Ed, Dan Concepcion and I got mesmerized by the gifted voice of the new Kim. But suddenly, Daddy Joey stood up and did the male part of the song, and his tone was not bad at all.
Today, the family are in the UK supporting and preparing their Joreen on how to live independently in a foreign country. It’s totally a life-changing journey. Another pride of Angeles, Pampanga and the country, let’s wish her the best!