MANILA, Philippines—Emily Britanico-Morales describes herself as “200 percent Filipino.”

The New York-based singer-actress related in an e-mail to Inquirer Entertainment: “I grew up in a little town, in Baao, Camarines Sur, studied at the Philippine High School for the Arts and UP Diliman. I speak Filipino and Bicolano fluently.”

Bicol is a long way from Broadway, where she is now in the cast of Lincoln Center’s revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.”

Morales’ sister Ellen Britanico informed Inquirer Entertainment about the petite Pinay’s achievement.

“I’ve been with the company since January and I’ll be with them in the next few months,” said Morales who’s in the ensemble and is the understudy for the Liat role.

Bonus

“Surreal,” she said of her Broadway debut. “Never thought it would happen. It’s a dream-come-true.”

Best part is interacting with the cast every night, she said. “It’s such a treat; they’re ridiculously talented actors and great people as well.”

As bonus, she gets to watch and listen to one of her idols, Kelli O’Hara who plays Nellie Forbush.

“I’ve been obsessed with Kelli ever since I heard her glorious voice on the ‘The Light in the Piazza’ CD,” she noted. “She is truly an inspiration.”

Her other idols are Lea Salonga and Joanna Ampil, fellow Pinays who made it big in international theater.

She works with another Pinay on the show, Loretta Ables Sayre, who portrays Bloody Mary. “She was born and raised in Hawaii,” Morales said.

Every night, she gets to star-gaze in the theater, too. “I always see a lot of famous people in front row.”

It’s a “long list of A-list stars,” she reported: Nicole Kidman, Steven Spielberg, Sting, Richard Gere, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Claire Danes, Shirley MacLaine, Glenn Close, Barbara Walters.

She actually met Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, Pierce Brosnan, Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

“It was exciting,” Emily recalled. “I was speechless [in their presence].”

Doing the show is both professionally and personally enriching for this Pinay. “During rehearsals, we met with several World War II veterans. They shared with us their stories … some funny, others sad, tragic. It gave us a glimpse of the real South Pacific.” Emily’s favorite songs on the show are “Younger than Springtime” and “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair.” The “Happy Talk” scene she described as “heartbreaking.”

Not easy

She admitted that it’s not easy for Filipinos on Broadway. “Roles are limited. Once in a while, shows like ‘Les Miserables’ call for non-traditional casting. But usually, there’s only one Asian in the ensemble, if there’s any at all.”

Morales moved to the US four years ago. She said she misses her family and Pinoy food, specifically “Max’s fried chicken, palabok, bulalo, crispy pata and sweets from Red Ribbon and Goldilocks.”

However, she said, “I don’t miss the politics and traffic.”

E-mail: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com