Cebuanas make waves in Hong Kong Disneyland

CEBU, Philippines - Since Hong Kong Disneyland opened five years ago, a lot of Filipino singers and dancers have been trying their luck and joining auditions to become part of the theme park’s international cast. With the quality of performers it has been getting through the years, HK Disneyland has been tagged as the Broadway in Asia. But it is no secret how tough auditions are, and how only a few people make it. So it gives us pride to know that there are Cebuanas among the star performers in HK Disneyland.

A few weeks ago, after watching them alternately playing Nala, Simba’s love interest in the Festival of the Lion King—a Broadway-caliber short-form stage musical of HK Disneyland—I caught up with ace belter Jing Fegi-Zoleta and 9th Shanghai Festival grand Winner Maria Donna for an interview. 

Aside from performing as Nala, a role that is supposedly meant for Black-American singers, the two ladies also entertain visitors from all over the world as the Tarzan singers in the Golden Mickeys show and as performers in the street showcase Disney on Parade on special occasions.

TF: Tell us more about your Hong Kong Disneyland stint. How is it so far?

JING: I was very privileged to have been part of Hong Kong Disneyland for five magical years. When it opened last September 12, 2005, I was part of its opening cast and I am so grateful to be with HK Disneyland up to now. It’s an overwhelming experience, at the same time very fulfilling to be performing with such talented performers from all over the world.

MARIA DONNA: It will be my third year this June. Theater is not something new to me. The trainings that I got as a scholar of the Amparito Lhuillier Educational Foundation and University of San Jose-Recoletos’ Dramatics and Cultural Ensemble helped me a lot here in HK Disneyland in terms of discipline, perseverance and hard work. Pero grabe ang disiplina dinhi oi. Di ka pwede basta-basta ma late dinhi. Kuyawan napud gani ko kay mag-audition napud mi this June for our next contract.

TF: So you audition every year?

BOTH: Yes.

JING: Though sometimes, [it’s] case to case basis. For Festival of the Lion King, you are only given a 6-month contract. For Golden Mickey’s and the Parade performers, it’s one year.

MARIA DONNA: You have to do your best at all times. I have been doing it for quite sometime now but you have to perform as if it’s your first time. Kung di ka mag-tarong, aw ayaw nalang pag dahom nga i-renew ka. There will always be a better performer than you.

JING: Even if you did great, if there’s someone better who auditions for this role, you better cross your fingers. The cast every performance has to be the best.

TF: How do you preserve your voices? Especially now that the weather is cold here in Hong Kong.

JING: In Lion King, we only perform 4 shows per day, sometimes 2 or 3 since there are other Nala’s. The show is only 30 minutes, so it’s not really tiring. But now, our main show now is the Golden Mickey’s which Donna and I are alternating. Naanad naman sad mi sa kabugnaw diri oi. I think rest lang gyud.

MARIA DONNA: When it’s really freezing, I put a scarf or something to cover my neck and I make sure that I get 6-8 hours of sleep. But kusog man kaayo ko muinom og bugnaw oi. Hehehe.

 TF: How do you cope with homesickness?

MARIA DONNA: Thanks to Facebook. Hahahaha. If I have the chance, I go home to Cebu or like this time, nga walay klase, I am so excited that my husband and children are having their vacation here in HK for a month.

JING: During the start, it was tough. I have never been away from my family ever since. When I go home from work unya ako pa usa, muhilak gyud ko yan oi. But now, not anymore. My husband, JR moved here in HK after we got married. It’s different this time. When I go home, I have my husband and my son, Juan Diego waiting for me. My sister Anna (Fegi) was also based here for a time, as well as my brother Raymund, who is also in Lion King now.

TF: Do see yourself still working for Disney in the years to come?

JING: I don’t know yet. But I see myself and my family living in Hong Kong in the next years to come. I will get my residency by 2012 so only time can tell. When I was pregnant, HK Disney gave me office work so it’s something to consider also.

MARIA DONNA: I am still enjoying what I do and the pay is really good so maybe yes but as an artist, I really want to grow also. I miss singing with my band. I miss singing other songs. Usahay makalimot nako sa lyrics sa ubang kanta. Or perhaps, I’ll go back to recording. But so far, HK Disneyland has been very good to us.

For comments, email the writer at [email protected] or text at 0906-5549539.