Date of Birth: 02/22/1971

Place of Birth: Manila , Philippines

Height: 5'2

Astrological Sign: Aries

Chinese Zodiac: Rat

Stage Name: Lea Salonga

Full Name: Ma. Lea Carmen Imutan-Salonga

Nickname: Lea, Lei, Lee, Tata, Dots

Family Info:
Parents: Feliciano & Ligaya

Brothers & Sisters: Gerard - 17, Shiela - 6

Pets: Dog - Yipee

School & Grade: Ateneo De Manila U - F.Man

Faves:
Color: Blue

Car: Any that's safe

Singer/Band: Michael Jackson, Julia Fordham

Movie: Internal Affairs, The Land Before Time, The Fly 1&2

TV Show: Doogie Howser, M.D.

City: Manila (of course!) =)

Vacation: Lazing around anywhere

Food: Chinese, Filipino, Salad

Drink: Orange Juice

Snack: Popcorn

Author: Robin Cook, Gary Larson

Book: Mutation, Harmful Intent, The Far Side (all of them!)

Play: Les Misérables, Miss Saigon

Subject in school: English

Sport: Ping Pong, Volleyball

Hobbies: Reading , needlepoint, scrabble, jigsaw puzzles
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SPECIAL Extras:
Best Quality: Professional, punctual, honest
Worst Habit: Picking at my skin that surrounds my fingernails
Best Advice You Received: Do what your heart tell your heart tells you to;
Don't let anyone tell you what to do. fr: Don Bluth
Most Influential Person: My mom(!) & Dad
Best Quote: Smile. No one will know what you're up to.
Ideal Guy: Cute, clean, courteous, intelligent, tall
Pet Peeves: Bad breath, roguish behavior, loudmouths
Advice To Fans: Pray, Follow your dreams, finish school, love your country
because it's yours, love your mom & dad.
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THE STEP BY STEP LADDER OF LEA TO SUCCESS

Lea Salonga made her professional debut at the age of 7 in Repertory
Philippines ' production of The King And I and has since appeared in Cat On A
Hot Tin Roof, Fiddler On The Roof, The Rose Tattoo, Annie, The Sound Of
Music, The Goodbye Girl, Paper Moon and The Fantasticks. At the age of 10,
she began her recording career and received a gold record for her first
album, Small Voice.

She has also hosted her own musical television show, Love, Lea, which she
hosted with her brother, Gerard. She has also opened for Stevie Wonder
during his concerts in Manila .

In 1984, Lea was one of the Filipino representatives to the Asian Radio and
TV Artistes Exchange held in Singapore . It was a dream come true to her when
in 1985, she was chosen to open for Menudo, a Puerto Rican pop group that is
popular in the Philippines during their concerts in Manila . She has also
recorded two songs and a music video with Charlie Masso, a former Menudo
member, for the Young People's Project, a campaign to encourage sexual
responsibility in adolescents.

In 1989, Lea went to London to play the role of Kim in the hit musical Miss
Saigon for which she received a Sir Laurence Olivier Award, and in 1991 went
on to portray that role on Broadway where she garnered the Tony, Drama Desk,
Outer Critics' Circle Awards and Theater World Awards. While in Miss Saigon,
Lea recorded the singing voice of Jasmine for the Walt Disney animated hit,
Aladdin, and soon after recorded the role of Tuptim in a new recording of
The King and I with Julie Andrews, Ben Kingsley and The Hollywood Bowl
Orchestra.

In 1993, Lea played the role of street waif Eponine in the Broadway
production of Les Misérables. She has also appeared in the London and
Honolulu productions of Les Misérables. She has also performed the song "A
Whole New World" at the 65th Annual Academy Awards, where the song won an
Oscar. In the same year, she released her self-titled international debut
album with Atlantic Records, which has gone platinum and gold in parts of
Southeast Asia .

In 1994, Lea played the role of Eliza Doolittle in Repertory Philippines ' My
Fair Lady and the role of the Witch in Singapore Repertory Theatre's Into
The Woods. She was also the opening act for Frank Sinatra's Manila concerts,
then performed at the Hollywood Bowl in a concert entitled Arabian Nights as
part of World Cup Week 1994.

Lea also played the role of Sandy Dumbrowski in Team Image Entertainment's
production of Grease in Manila , and appeared in a special concert called The
Music Of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg with other Filipino
artists performing selections from the musicals Les Misérables and Miss
Saigon. She made her US television film debut when she played the role of
Geri Riordan in Hallmark Hall Of Fame's Redwood Curtain on ABC with Jeff
Daniels and John Lithgow. Lea also recorded a single with Peabo Bryson
called "How Wonderful We Are" which is part of a new album called People,
which also includes selections by other artists such as Vanessa Williams, Al
Jarreau and Chaka Khan. She made yet another appearance at the Hollywood
Bowl in a concert called Music Tells A Tale, appearing with Tyne Daly and
Reese Holland.

Lea also participated in the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert at
London 's Royal Albert Hall, as well as the star heavy tribute concert for
Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Hey Mr Producer filmed last May and subsequently
released on album, video and book.

In 1998, she also appeared as the singing voice of the lead for a Walt
Disney animated film called Mulan. Moreover, BMG Records (Pilipinas)
released her album aptly called, "In Love" which reached quintuple platinum
in the Philippines .

Earlier this year, Lea came full circle as she reprised her award-winning
role of Kim on Broadway's Miss Saigon. Last September, she also graced the
10th Anniversary Celebration of Miss Saigon in London .

Ms. Lea Salonga's latest album, "By Heart", under BMG Records (Pilipinas)
has just been released and it contains revival compositions of Ryan
Cayabyab, Jose Mari Chan, Louie Ocampo, Willy Cruz, Boy Katindig, Butch
Monserrat, Allan Ayque, Roman Cruz, Jr. and Odette Quesada with musical
arrangements by Ryan Cayabyab and Gerard Salonga.

"By Heart" includes selections such as "I Remember The Boy," "Let The Pain
Remain," "I Will Always Stay This Way In Love With You," "I Don't Love You
Anymore" "Till I Met You," "How Can I?," "Can We Just Stop & Talk Awhile,"
"Once Upon A Life," "Afraid For Love To Fade," "Say That You Love Me," and
"A Long, Long Time Ago".

Recently, she portrayed the role of Sonia Walsk in the Singapore Repertory
Theatre production of the Neil Simon musical, they're Playing Our Song.

Ms. Lea Salonga has performed and appeared in numerous concerts and
television shows in the United States , the Philippines and around the world.

(Sources: 'Miss Saigon' OLC Souvenir programme, 'In Theatre' magazine
write-up, official biography of Ms. Lea Salonga, newspaper and magazine
articles, ONLINE PUBLICATIONS AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF BEGGINGS FROM KIND
PEOPLE)