Lea Salonga sings theme song of MMFF entry "Dayo"

Lea Salonga has lent her voice for animated films in the past but voicing for the Filipino film Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia is a totally different but gratifying experience for her. She is known for being the singing voice in two Disney animated films: Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and Mulan in the movie of the same name.

The international artist attended the press conference of Dayo held yesterday, December 4, at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas Center. Lea joined the members of the press in watching the trailer and music video of Dayo, a Metro Manila Film Fest entry this year. Afterwards, she performed the inspirational theme song "Lipad."

Dayo is about a boy named Bubuywho goes to save his grandparents who have been abducted by enchanted beings and are being held prisoner in mystical land called Elementalia. He is aided and hindered by other fantastical and mythical creatures from Philippine mythology in his quest. The film is rich in Philippine folklore and it aims to reintroduce a new dimension to the usual reviled fictitious creatures like the tikbalang, kapre, manananggal, and aswang.

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Lea to describe her experience as she worked on the theme song, which was composed by Jessie Lasaten and Temi Abad, Jr. It was recorded with the 35-piece FILharmoniKA, conducted by Lea's brother Gerard Salonga.

Lea pointed out: "I didn't actually have to be an animated character in Dayo. I just had to be me and sing the theme song, which I didn't do for either Mulan or in Aladdin. I didn't have to be specific or mindful that animators would be animating the voice that I would be giving. All of my energy would then be have to go into my voice. It's not so much a performance as it is an acting job that just happens to be sung.

"For Dayo, I just had to sing and believe every single word that I was singing. The song is actually very inspirational. On one level, it's inspiring Bubuy to fly and help save his grandparents and to soar.

"However, there is a much deeper meaning that makes it special to me. The fact that this is all-Filipino endeavor, it's saying that the Filipino can. It's saying: fly, soar, aim for the sky, just keep on going not minding what obstacles may be in your way. It's citing the positive feeling of flight and feeling the wind in your face. It's marveling at what you're seeing from a higher perspective. It's something that will hopefully inspire Filipino artists that they can do it."

She also points out her favorite line in the song. "The song ‘Lipad,' when looked at and listened to on its most basic level, is a song of inspiration," she describes. "The main character is encouraged to overcome his fears for a greater good. However, on a deeper level, it's a song of inspiration to everyone that hears the song: to our animators and artists to fly high and reach their dreams, to our people to dream big and achieve their goals, and to anyone that has any fear that they perhaps might be unable to make their lives better, to dream it and make it happen.

"‘Basta't kaya mong isipin, kaya mong gawin' is one line from the song, and I believe that anyone can make their dreams comes true, starting with a wish."

"Lipad" composer Mr. Lasaten agrees wholeheartedly that Lea is the ideal choice to interpret his composition. "Lea's rendition is just how we've imagined it would be for the first flying scene of Bubuy and Anna. It's perfect and inspiring!"

Mr. Lasaten is also the executive producer of Dayo and CEO of Cutting Edge Productions.

"We are set to fly to Thailand next week to enhance the sound of Dayo," says director Robert Quilao. "Instead Dolby 5.1 it's gonna be 7.1. We have had inquiries from Mexico, Russia, Argentina, and Brazil. There are also invitations to showcase it in Switzerland and Australia."

Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia is an official entry to the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival and it will be screened in cinemas nationwide starting December 25. It is produced by Cutting Edge Productions.