Lea umaming natakot nang bumalik sa US: I asked my manager if I would be safe…

MALALIM ang hugot ng international singer na si Lea Salonga patungkol sa pagiging presidente ng Amerika ni Donald Trump.

Hot topic ngayon sa buong mundo ang presidential elections sa US kung saan tinalo nga ni Joe Biden si Trump.

Ayon sa singer-actress, makakahinga na rin siya ngayon nang maluwag kapag magtutungo sa Amerika hindi tulad noon na palaging may “something” siyang nararamdaman.

Inamin ni Lea na nakaramdam siya ng anxiety simula nang maging pangulo si Trump noong 2016. Sa kanyang Facebook page, ibinahagi niya ang tunay na saloobin patungkol sa isyung ito.

“Four years ago… where was I four years ago… ‘Fun Home’ was having a tech run… and everyone was banned from turning on their phones for its duration until after curtain call.

“We all got the news at the same time, and that unfamiliar sense of dread and fear went through me,” simulang pahayag ni Lea.

“I’m a woman of color that spends plenty of time in the United States. My daughter is growing up to be a woman of color, an actual Asian-American.

“And the both of us could, in our own unique ways, feel that something wasn’t quite right with the force,” lahad pa ng award-winning Pinay singer-actress na ang tinutukoy ay ang anak nila ni Robert Chien na si Nicole.

Naalala pa niya ang araw nang tanungin niya ang kanyang manager kung safe ba siya sakaling bumalik siya sa US noong 2017 para sa ilang natanguang projects.

“Before heading to the US to embark on my 2017 US tour, I asked my manager if I would be safe. I’ve never had to ask that question, ever.

“It was the first time I actually felt apprehension walking in the streets of one of the biggest melting pots in the world, New York City.

“I felt I had to constantly look over my shoulder to make sure I was far enough away from people so as not to get attacked,” kuwento pa ni Lea.

Patuloy pa niyang pagbabahagi sa madlang pipol, “Every time I went on stage during my US and Canadian tours, Nicole would always… always ask the question, ‘Are you going to be OK? No one’s going to hurt you while you’re on stage?’

“I had to reassure her that I would be safe. She was doubly worried when on tour in 2019 I went out on stage with crutches, hobbling until I reached my spot, sat down, got settled, and sang.

“I never felt that before, that sort of anxiety. The act of singing was helpful in getting rid of that, thankfully, and thankfully I wasn’t ever traveling alone,” aniya pa.

“No one should ever have to feel this kind of fear in a democracy. Please repeat that sentence as often as necessary,” dagdag pang mensahe ni Lea.

At ngayong nagtagumpay na nga si Joe Biden laban kay Trump, “Today, it feels like I can go back to the USA (well, not while we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, but you know what I mean) and not have to feel like I’m being watched by nefarious forces wanting to do me harm.

“Today, I feel something familiar and far more welcome: HOPE,” sabi pa ni Lea.