Ms. Saigon Australia Alumni Cocoy Laurel and Joanna Ampil Meet

Photo Courtesy of Girlie Rodis

It was a meeting of chance. Girlie Rodis, the local manager of West End star Joanna Ampil, related that she and Jo went for First Friday Mass at Cardinal Santos on 01 May 2009, and, to their pleasant surprise, met Cocoy Laurel and his mother Tita Celia Laurel. Girlie described the unexpected get-together.

It was a loving reunion for former Miss Saigoners-Cocoy and Jo opened Miss Saigon in Australia more than a decade ago.

The performance of Cocoy Laurel as the Engineer in the Sydney production has been praised by critics, a fact that Ms. Saigon producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh shares with Cocoy’s parents (Vice President Salvador “Doy” Laurel was still alive at the time).

The Sydney premiere was monumental with Cocoy receiving a rousing standing ovation at curtain call. The following day nearly all the papers carried rave reviews of his performance. Cameron was very pleased and wrote to Cocoy’s parents: “I am sure you are as proud of your son as I am. I’m so glad that you were here to enjoy his triumph. His talent is matched by his delightful nature and I am so happy to be his friend.”

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