Focus on the Philippines: Lea Salonga to guest-star in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Plus: Sarah Geronimo quits The Voice Kids; Kris Aquino takes a break from showbiz; and Filipino films to screen at Cannes film festival.

Lea Salonga as Aunt Myrna in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Scott Everett White / The CW

Filipino actress and singer Lea Salonga will appear as a guest-star in the first-season finale of the hit American television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on April 18.

The new comedy-musical tells the story of Rebecca (played by co-creator Rachel Bloom), a lawyer who gives up a prestigious job in New York after a chance meeting with her teenage sweetheart, Josh, and moves to California in an attempt to rekindle their relationship.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is the first primetime series on American TV to depict the lives of ­Filipino-American characters. Josh, played by Filipino- American Vincent Rodriguez III, lives in West Covina, a Californian suburb that is home to many Filipino immigrants.

Salonga will play his aunt Myrna, Bloom revealed.

"We knew Lea was both a musical-theatre icon and a Filipino icon, so we were looking to cast her in some role throughout the season," she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. "When the writer's room started coming up with the story for the season finale, we realised that a certain role would be perfect for her."

Bloom, who won a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award for best comedy actress for her role in the show, also revealed that Salonga will perform a musical number.

“Lea sings an astounding solo number that we wrote specifically for her,” she said.

Salonga is currently in New York headlining the Broadway musical Allegiance, alongside former Star Trek actor George Takei. The show, about the experience of Japanese-Americans in internment camps in the United States during the Second World War, is based on Takei's own experiences as a child.

The finale episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is written by Rene Gube, a Filipino-American, who also has a minor role in the series as a Catholic priest.

In an previous episode, also written by Gube, Josh invites Rebecca to spend Thanksgiving with his Filipino family. Rebecca asks herself: “Would I like to be surrounded by the unconditional love of a hundred Filipinos? Of course, I would.”

“I have learnt so much about Filipino customs and culture while doing this show,” says Bloom.

Bloom and the show’s co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna, will be honoured on April 25 by the premiere Asian-American theatre group East West Players, for encouraging “the visibility of the Asian-Pacific American community through their craft”.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has been renewed for a second season by its network, the CW.

Sarah Geronimo quits The Voice Kids

Pop star Sarah Geronimo has revealed she will not be returning as a coach in the third season of The Voice Kids Philippines.

“I want to concentrate on my growth as an artist,” she said this week.

Geronimo, who is also a successful film actress, was a coach on the first two seasons of the reality-TV singing competition, as well as two seasons of The Voice of the Philippines, the companion show for adult ­singers.

The 27-year-old said that she often felt hesitant about dispensing criticism to ­contestants.

“When I give out my opinion, I don’t want to seem like I know everything, as if I’m so perfect,” she said.

Geronimo hinted, however, that she may return to the show at some point: “It’s a very enjoyable experience to coach, especially because we’re doing it with the kids – that’s really the best part. Maybe next season, why not, if they still want me as coach.”

Geronimo did not say who will replace her on the panel, which also features Lea Salonga and Bamboo Mañalac.

Kris Aquino takes a break from showbiz

Film actress and television presenter Kris Aquino has announced she is taking an indefinite hiatus from showbiz to focus on her family and health.

The 45-year-old, sister of Philippine president Benigno Aquino III, has been appearing in films and on television since the 1990s. Her daily morning show, Kris TV, broadcast its final episode yesterday.

Aquino said she has been advised by her doctor to take a break from her busy schedule.

"My not-so-healthy heart wants to thank all of you for your love for me, my family and my work," she said on Kris TV. "I'll be back – I just need to recover. The doctor is asking for two months straight where my blood pressure does not spike up."

Filipino films to screen at Cannes film festival

Six films by Filipino directors have been selected to screen at the Short Film Corner of the Cannes Film Festival, which runs from May 11 to 22.

The films are Emil Ray Alviz's Maria, Khalil Joseph Bañares's Hail the Queen, Allison Barretto's Re-, Thop Nazareno's Lope, Christian Lat's Séjour and Rod-Michael Tumbaga's Neon.

Another Filipino filmmaker, Carlo Francisco Manatad, will take part in La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde, a festival programme that supports 10 up-and-coming directors by increasing their international ­exposure.

Manatad previously directed Junilyn Has, which screened at the Locarno and Singapore film festivals. At Cannes, he will present his latest project, titled Wrong Season.