RELATED LINKS:
The Official Miss Saigon Site The MS Philippine Production Official Site: Manila Production
In the Philippines, Jenine Desiderio was the least known of all the Miss Saigons but she proceeded to make her mark on the international stage in London. She had no theater experience, although she was already a veteran of singing contests and had traveled with band to sing outside the country. Jenine, gifted with a wide vocal range and an infectious "can-do" attitude, rose from the ranks to finally play the coveted role of Kim on April 21, 1990. Every Monday and Friday, she played Kim alternating with Monique Wilson and Jamie Rivera. For the rest of the performances she played the role of Gigi and sometimes that of Yvette. And yet in some days, she would be Kim for a matinee and Gigi for the evening performance. For 3 years, she was "given" the "heroic" task of rehearsing all the new Crises and Tams who joined the company. Finally in May 1993, Jenine's contract expired and she opted not to renew and to come home to the Philippines to pursue her career.Miss Saigon premiered to the world on September 20, 1989 and finally gave its final performance on October 30, 1999.