World-class singer-actress and our very own Ms. Lea Salonga (Mrs. Lea Salonga-Chien in real life) is on the first part of her journey towards a more meaningful role that she will ever play in her life – that is of being a mother.
Lea is pregnant! Her doting mother has confirmed to us the happy news soon after Lea’s doctors have given them the go-signal to announce it last Tuesday after a check-up at the obstetrician-gynecologist’s clinic in Makati where the would-be parents, Lea and Rob and would-be grandmother, Mrs. Ligaya Salonga, have heard the heartbeat of the tiny baby inside the world-class singer’s womb for the first time.
When we spoke with Mrs. Salonga last week about this, they had a sneaking suspicion already about Lea’s condition but they tried to contain their excitement and like real good girls, they waited for the doctor’s go-signal before they announced to their loved ones, family and close friends the ecstatic news of Lea’s pregnancy.
Mrs. Salonga said Lea is now on her seventh week and if our calculation is right, her due date will fall in May, 2006. Mrs. Salonga told us husband and wife are very excited and ecstatic over the development. Lea and Rob have been waiting patiently for this "gift" at the onset of this year. Knowing that everything happens in God’s perfect timing, they just waited and cherished every moment of their togetherness since they tied the knot in January of 2004.
The couple hasn’t decided yet where Lea will be giving birth (whether here in the Philippines or in the US), but wherever that maybe, for sure, the supportive and loving Mommy Ligaya will be beside her daughter to care for her and forever lend her support in yet another dimension in the young couple’s life.
As of this writing, Lea and Rob, along with Mrs. Salonga are now in New York for a performance in Carnegie Hall in downtown Manhattan. They will be flying back on Nov. 15 where Lea will get settled again to enjoy her pregnancy.
Mrs. Salonga told us she called up some producers who have booked Lea for shows between now and next year telling them of the singer’s condition and if they will agree, they wouldn’t mind postponing the shows but she told us that the producers gave her similar responses, "We’d love to see Lea perform even when she’s pregnant." One of them, according to Mrs. Salonga, even said "That’s good, she can sing to her baby while we all watch her in the concert."
Lea will be in Cebu for a performance on Dec. 9 at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel. This one will be a very interesting performance for sure. A special treat to her fans who would love to share the joy of the occasion with their singing idol.
Congratulations again!
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"Eat Bulaga’s" pride Wally and Jose and comedienne-singer Kakai Brosas (all GMA- 7 talents) were the guests of honor in the celebration of the town fiesta of Pilar, Bataan last Wednesday and we were there to witness just how wonderful these performers were in making their audience go wild with laughter and fun.
They were a hit and the muchawaited number during the program that started at 8 p.m. at the newly-constructed stage at the back of the municipal hall. Kakai came in first and sang five songs and helped draw winners in the raffle. Her last song, "Sasakyan Kita" was well-received by the audience who sang along with her.
The reception that the people of Pilar gave to Wally and Jose was another story. They couldn’t contain themselves shouting, hollering, shrieking for them. We had a great time watching the show, the antics were clean and the jokes were harmless. We especially liked the part where Jose sings Freddie Aguilar’s "Anak" while Wally acts out every line. The tried and tested formula dating back to the time of Dolphy but never fails to keep the audience in stitches. The duo just did it wonderfully.
The successful four-day fiesta celebration was spearheaded by our high school friend, and sister-in-law Alice Dizon Pizarro, who also heads the Tourism Council of the town. She was ably supported by the Parish Priest of Pilar, the Rev. Fr. Ernie de Leon, who was also a high school classmate.
Alice is the wife of Pilar Town Mayor Charlie Pizarro who has given Alice absolute control over the preparations. The Pilar town first lady amazed us non-stop seeing how hard she worked for the celebration, hands-on with everything up to the last minute.
Fr. Ernie’s brainchild, we were told, was one of the most cheered activities during the festivity, the street dancing. Fr. Ernie, who introduced us earlier that afternoon to Bishop Soc Villegas, told us the people were very happy.
And looks like all those painstaking preparations paid off in the end. The people of Pilar were very happy. Congratulations to all of you for a job well done.
