Why Lea sparkles?

If you see Lea Salonga’s eyes sparkle these days, it could be because, a) she’s in love, b) she’s starring in the Broadway production of Flower Drum Song, c) she’s coming up with a repeat of her concert, Lea Salonga: The Broadway Concert and d) an album recording of the show is forthcoming.

The answer, of course, is all of the above – and more.

Clad in white blouse with ruffled sleeves and shirred waistline, (designed by Bayo, presenter of Lea Salonga: The Broadway Concert at the PICC Plenary Hall June 19), black charroal shoes, Lea looked every inch the international star that she is — poignantly simple.

A month ago, she did a rousing performance at the 25th Tony Awards where she shared the stage with artists John Kaitt, Harry Connick Jr., Gregory Hines (I just loved him in White Nights, he was so graceful and sexy I fell off my chair twice inside the cinema!), Bernadette Peters in a special tribute to the music of Richard Rodgers.

At the Tony’s, Lea stood in not so unfamiliar ground, having been on the center stage herself when she won Best Actress for Miss Saigon. Miss Saigon was the performance that brought her the Sir Laurence Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and the Theater World Awards Miss Saigon. She sums it up now as "The best thing that I ever did."

Based in New York, she will star in Flower Drum Song, as Mei Li, a role she essayed in LA last year. Lea looks forward to portraying Mei Li in the way she did Kim in Miss Saigon. According to Lea, Flower Drum Song was last seen on stage in the ’50s and revived last year in LA. It was also adapted into a movie with Nancy Kwan as principal actor. Once, she dreamed of portraying Evita. But that dream is gone now. Flower Drum Song is on Lea’s head and she is "interested on how it will turn out." Lea will do the musical for nine months. Asked if she has other shows she can do besides Flower Drum Song, Lea replies, "I don’t know. The only shows that I can do are those done in New York."

Talking about her first days upon her return to New York, Lea says, "The first time I went back to New York, I saw ground zero (where Twin Towers once stood). It was a very strange. What used to stand were two imposing buildings. What you see now is debris."

The former child star who made the song Tomorrow from the musical Annie a national anthem among children wanting to be just like her, is undoubtedly very much in love. Lea’s boyfriend of seven months Richard Chien, is coming to Manila for her concert. Richard, whom Lea fondly calls "Rob" or "honey," is the "embodiment of everything I am looking for. And that is hard to find." Richard stands 5’9" and is into technology. He is half-Chinese, half-Japanese to (which Mrs. Salonga jokingly describes as "a mixed kid"). Lea got to know Richard through a cousin of his who was Lea’s co-actor in Flower Drum Song. "She (Richard’s cousin) made sure that Richard and I sat beside each other and were talking. Finally, we exchanged telephone numbers."

Both Lea and Richard love that Korean food called soontufo. The courtship lasted a day. Their first telephone conversation lasted two hours! "He is very sweet. He understands. He is based in L.A. but he is coming to Manila for the show." Lea recounts the time Richard watched Miss Saigon. It was his first. "He was just overwhelmed. And he was crying!

For her repeat of the Lea Salonga: The Broadway Concert, Lea will have her brother Gerard Salonga as conductor and musical director. Gerard will conduct the San Miguel Pops Orchestra. Gerard graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College in Boston. "All the songs in the show are from the Broadway album. Some of these are cuts from Flower Drum Song, Guys and Dolls, Crazy for You among others. Lea obviously loves working with Gerard. "It is convenient. There are no arguments. I trust his taste and he knows my taste. He does not impose his style. There is respect and he knows what artists want."

The album under BMG records will also include Too Much for One Heart written for Miss Saigon but was never performed during the musical’s 10-year run. Bobby Garcia who was the resident director of the Manila production of Miss Saigon will direct the show.

Everything is coming up roses for Lea because she worked hard to be where she is under the loving, careful guidance of her mother, Ligaya. She’s been in the business since she was a child. She has learned so many lessons like, "This business is fickle. I have seen that early. I see people getting hired and fired. I learned to enjoy every hour because tomorrow may not be there."

Lea attributes her success to hard work. "More of what I am now is attributed to hard work. You may be lucky but if you don’t put in work, that luck won’t pull it."

We’ve seen you do it and we’re just so proud of you!