Lea Salonga receives dual honors: Her own Walk of Fame star and an award as an Icon

Lea Salonga is the first Filipino artist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

History was made on Hollywood Boulevard, and it’s the kind of Asian American joy we desperately need right now.

On September 4, 2026, theater icon Lea Salonga became the very first Filipina to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For a community that has spent decades fighting for visibility and representation on the stage and screen, seeing Salonga get her flowers in front of the historic Pantages Theatre was nothing short of monumental.

Salonga’s star, the 2,855th in the Walk's history, cemented her legacy in the Live Performance category. A massive crowd of fans and fellow AAPI trailblazers—including Ming-Na Wen, H.E.R., and Brandy — showed up to celebrate the milestone for their co-star in Mulan, Forgotten Island and Aladdin, respective.

Disney and Broadway Royalty

Fellow FilAm star Darren Criss stole the show during the speeches, proudly wearing a traditional barong Tagalog. Criss didn't hold back his admiration, praising Salonga as "Disney, Broadway, and Filipino royalty" and as an inspiration for him as well for other Asian American performing artists.

He highlighted her fierce work ethic and dedication to her craft before bringing down the house with a joke, noting that this historic sidewalk tribute is likely the only time anyone will ever get to "walk all over her."

Sharing the Sidewalk

Taking the microphone, a reflective Salonga looked back on her legendary 45-year career. She reminded everyone that while only one name is etched into the stone, her historic win belongs to the entire community. 

“There’s something funny about a star like this because there’s only room for one name: mine. But no career is ever the work of just one person. So if they made this star big enough, there would be a lot of other names on it,” she said.

Salonga shared that she never started out with a grand plan — just a pure love for performing. Ultimately, she hopes this star serves as a visible beacon of what is possible for the next generation of young Filipino and Asian American artists trying to make it in Hollywood.

“I hope that someday, a young Filipino kid comes to Hollywood, sees my name, and thinks, ‘Oh, maybe I can get here too.’”

On Sept. 6, Salonga received yet another honor. 

The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) honored Broadway and Disney legend Lea Salonga with its inaugural Icon Award during the festival's Closing Night Awards Gala at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. celebrating her career, global artisitc impact and as an ambassador of Filipino excellence..

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Manila International Film Festival spotlights Filpino and FilAm cinema & talent, Sept. 3-6

Mark your calendars, film lovers. The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) returns to Los Angeles Sept. 3-6, 2026 — kicking off with an exclusive advance screening of DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island three full weeks before its worldwide release on September 25.

In a major coup, MIFF audiences get an exclusive advance screening of DreamWorks Animation’s highly anticipated animated feature, Forgotten Island on Sept. 4. This special event happens three full weeks before the movie hits general theaters on Sept. 25.

Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the animated feature is deeply rooted in Philippine folklore. It follows two childhood friends trapped on a magical island that steals memories. 

Even better? The voice cast features a powerhouse line-up of FilAm talent including H.E.R. (aka Gabby Sarmiento Wilson), Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, Jo Koy and the legendary Lea Salonga.

The 6 p.m. screening at the TCL Chinese Theater will be followed by a short Q&A with the films' directors and stars.

'Forgotten Island' the story of two Filipino American friends will screen at the 2026 MIFF.

Films to watch out for

Besides Forgotten Island, this year’s festival is packed with fresh cinema. Attendees will witness a total of 14 film debuts, including highly anticipated titles to watch for:

• Quezon: The Hollywood premiere of Jerrold Tarog’s sweeping historical drama.

• Manila's Finest: A gripping thriller by Raymond Red making its Los Angeles premiere.

• The Road to Sydney: Benito Bautista's latest work making its LA debut.

The festival concludes with a star-studded Closing Night Awards Gala at The Beverly Hilton. The highlight of the evening will be honoring global icon Lea Salonga. She will receive the inaugural MIFF Icon Award for her legendary contributions to the arts and her fierce representation of Filipino talent worldwide.

Manila in Los Angeles?

Why Los Angeles? Simple. LA is the entertainment capital of the world. It is also home to one of the largest Filipino American communities in the United States. This festival bridges the gap. It places Filipino stories right on the global stage.

Hosting MIFF in L.A. puts Filipino stories directly in the epicenter of the global film industry. For decades, Filipino and Filipino American artists have contributed immensely to cinema, yet culturally authentic narratives remain underrepresented in mainstream Hollywood.

Festival producers believe showcasing FilAm and Philippine talent on this scale does more than fill seat numbers—it builds genuine equity behind the camera, validates nuance in representation, and proves that localized, culturally specific stories possess universal appeal.

How to Score Tickets: Screenings and filmmaker Q&As will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Full festival passes and single-session tickets are available now on the official Manila International Film Festival Website.

The 2026 Manila International Film Festival lineup features an interesting mix of world premieres, award-winning documentaries, and star-studded features.

Every screening listed below takes place at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. You can book individual tickets for these specific blocks on the MIFF Eventbrite Page.

Featured Films & Screening Time:

Thursday, September 3

• Manila's Finest (5:30 p.m.): This intense action thriller directed by Raymond Red makes its Los Angeles Premiere. Followed by a 15-minute filmmaker Q&A
• FilAm Creative Community Shorts (9:00 p.m.): A dedicated block showcasing short films from talented Filipino American creators.

Friday, September 4

• Lea Salonga Retrospective (1:00 p.m.): A celebration of the Broadway legend featuring screenings of Sana Maulit Muli and The Vale – Origins.

• Forgotten Island ( 6 p.m.) Dreamworks' animated feature about two Filipino American friends stuck in a magical world drawn from Philippine myths and folklore. Featuring lead voices by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano.

• Veterano (9:00 p.m.): A highly anticipated Hollywood Premiere directed by Patrick Epino. It screens as part of a double feature block.

• Eddie Romero Remastered: A Century of Filipino Cinema (9:00 p.m.): The World Premiere of a documentary celebrating a legend of Philippine cinema. Screens right alongside Veterano.

Saturday, September 5

• No Room For Love (10:30 a.m.): A romantic Hollywood Premiere directed by Randal and Maria Luna Kamradt.

• The Road to Sydney (11:00 a.m.): The Los Angeles Premiere of a captivating drama directed by Benito Bautista.

• 58th (2:00 p.m.): The North American Premiere of Carl Joseph Papa's incredibly powerful, award-winning animated documentary focused on the Maguindanao massacre.

• Pinay / Bebot / Along Comes Larry (2:30 p.m.): A powerhouse triple-feature block. It includes the World Premiere of Pinay, the L.A. Premiere of Bebot: Generation One (featuring The Black Eyed Peas), and the Hollywood Premiere of Along Comes Larry: The Larry Ramos Story.

• Quezon (4:30 p.m.): The Hollywood Premiere of director Jerrold Tarog's major historical drama starring Jericho Rosales.

• Bench/ Body of Work (5:00 p.m.): A highly stylized World Premiere film.

Lea Salonga

• East of Western (7:45 p.m.) & Kappa-Tiran (8:30 p.m.): Two back-to-back major World Premieres closing out Saturday night's indie screenings.

Sunday, September 6

• 2026 MIFF Awards Gala will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton includes a special tribute to Broadway and Disney star Lea Salonga. Tickets are still available.

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Lea Salonga cements her place in history with a sidewalk star

Lea Salonga honored with another "first.''

Lea Salonga is officially cementing her spot on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is making history as the very first Filipina artist to receive this iconic sidewalk honor.

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Lea Salonga to the Hollywood Walk of Fame," stated Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer.

Upon learning of her latest honor, Salonga was expressed disbelief. "I still don’t believe it happened. I thought, ‘Is somebody pranking me?'" she  told ABS-CBN.com.

"It’s just one of those things that you think you’re not gonna get. Wala lang, and also given that my work is mostly in New York and in Manila, it’s not something that I expect. ... I’m not actually a Hollywood person,” she said. 

The historic moment is locked in for early September 2026. The timing lines up perfectly with the Manila International Film Festival, which takes place in Los Angeles from Sept, 3 to Sept. 6. 

The official ceremony will take place right on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard on Sept. 4 at 11:30 am PDT at 6255 Hollywood Boulevard. Salonga, will receive her star in the category of Live Performance. 

Joining emcee Sibley Scoles will be Ming-Na Wen. Wen and Salonga both lent their voices in the hit animated film as the lead character “Mulan.”

Following her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, Salonga will also be honored with the Icon Award at the third annual Manila International Film Festival’s (MIFF) Closing Night Awards Gala on Sunday, Sept. 6 at the Beverly Hilton.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this landmark.

Salonga will be the only Asian in this year's sidewalk dedication. As the first artist of Filipino descent to get her star, she joins 20 other Asian American artists who had earned the honor starting with pioneer actress Anna May Wong who got her star in 1960.  

Nicole Scherzinger, another Filipino American Tony winner and a former member of the girl group, The Pussycat Dolls, is slated to have a Walk of Fame star in 2027. A date for her ceremony has not been announced yet.

Many fans of all ages recognize Salonga as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and Fa Mulan for Mulan and Mulan II. For her portrayal of the beloved princesses, the Walt Disney Company bestowed her with the honor of “Disney Legend.”

Besides her Disney connection, Salonga first gained fame on Broadway.  At just 20 years old, she became the first actress of Asian descent to win a Tony Award in 1991 or her portrayal of Kim in Miss Saigon opening the door for recognition of Asian performers on the Broadway stages.

Since then she has won Tony nominations for her roles in  Les Miserable, Once on this Island and had prominent roles in Here Lies Love, Allegiance, and Flower Drum Song. Most recently, she starred on Broadway in Old Friends (alongside Bernadette Peters) after headlining the Los Angeles and London productions.

The 55-year old artist has kept busy with concert tours and numerous roles on US and Philippine television series. Most recently, she stars as the lead villain in Dreamworks Animation’s upcoming fantasy film Forgotten Island premiering September 26th.

“Lea Salonga is a true trailblazer whose extraordinary talent and decades-long career have inspired audiences around the world," said Martinez, of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

"We are thrilled to honor her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and especially proud that she will be the first Filipina to receive this iconic recognition. Her achievement is a milestone, not only for Lea, but for the Filipino community and for generations of artists who will follow in her footsteps” 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost. Earlier versions if this post did not have the information about Nicole Scherzinger.