Lea Salonga poses with her wax figure. ABS-CBN News 

MANILA -- After months of preparation, taking measurements, detailing and designing ,the Philippines' one and only Broadway Diva Lea Salonga's wax figure has been unveiled. 

Madame Tussauds Singapore flew in the wax figure in Manila for the big reveal held at the Forum in Solaire, Pasay City Friday morning.

Salonga's wax figure donned a blue gown that she describes as a "workhouse gown" made by her favorite designer and longtime friend Rajo Laurel.

“Ay grabe kuhang kuha and this is not a joke, I look at it and I’m like, I’m still in disbelief,” Salonga said.  

While looking at her "twin," we asked her what she thinks is her best physical asset?

“The dimples on my face, they really got them. Also my hands when I showed my brother he was freaking out with the shape of my hands,” she said.

During the unveiling, Salonga said that this event is a full circle moment for her and her mom, Ligaya, who was present. Back when she was 12, she and her mom visited Madame Tussauds and both of them were impressed with the statues.

“There was a wax likeness of Liza Minnelli who I later on I got to meet in my own life. So she’s there posing in her tux and pixie hair cut. My mother and I were both looking at it and she said, “Anak, you’ll never know. One day, that could be you,” she recalled.  

“So this moment today, is a manifestation of what happened 40 or so years ago. And I’m so excited that my mom is here and she’ll get to see this because she was the one who said, ‘you’ll never know this might be you.'”

ABS-CBN News had a quick chat with Mrs. Salonga, and she affirmed her daughter’s story four decades ago. “We went to Madame Tussauds kasi we’re in Singapore na, so we visited Madame Tussuads. We were seeing all these kind of statues and wow, everybody here. Sabi niya it would be nice to have one of those. Sabi ko, ‘You will’.

And when it was finally revealed after months of work and back-and-forth with the creators, designers and the team of Salonga, Mommy Ligaya’s reaction was, “Unbelievable. I just can’t believe it. Hard to believe, they did it so well.”

Rajo Laurel, who designed the blue gown the wax figure was wearing, was also present during the unveiling. 

Also in the event were Jed Madela, Ciara Sotto, Esang de Torres, Salonga’s friends from theater, fans and some of the Broadway actress’ closest friends.

Salonga is the fourth Filipino wax figure that has been unveiled by Madame Tussauds following Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. 

MaDame Tussauds also announced that a wax figure of Filipino actress Anne Curtis is currently in the works and will be unveiled this December.

Salonga’s wax figure can be viewed at Madame Tussauds Singapore beginning September 20.