INTERNATIONALLY known Filipina stage actress and singer Lea Salonga heads the lists of prominent personalities celebrating their birthday this February. Lea will celebrate her 42nd birthday on Saturday, February 22.
Lea is most known for her role of Kim in the highly successful musical, Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards. She is the first Filipino artist to sign with international record label – Atlantic Records – in 1993. She is also the first Philippine-based artist to have received a major album release and distribution deal in the United States (the second being Charice Pempengco with her 2010 album, Charice), and one of the best-selling Filipino artists of all time, having sold over five million copies of her albums worldwide.
Lea was the first Asian actress to play the roles of Eponine and Fantine in the famed musical Les Miserables on Broadway. She portrayed both roles on the musical’s 10th and 25th anniversary show in London respectively. She also provided the singing voice of two official Disney princesses: Jasmine in Aladdin (1992) and Fa Mulan in Mulan (1998) and Mulan II (2004). Lea was named a Disney Legend in 2011 for her work with The Walt Disney Company.
The daughter of Feliciano Genuino Salonga and Ligaya Alcantara Imutan, Lea spent the first six years of her childhood in Angeles City before moving to Manila. Her brother, Gerard, is now an orchestral conductor and musical director.
Other personalities celebrating their birthday this February are:
February 1 – Fashion stylist, hairdresser and designer Fanny Serrano;
February 2 – Kaiser Hospital in South San Francisco nurse Alma Bernabe Roxas;
February 3 – ABS-CBN 2 Managing Director for Star Cinema Malou Santos;
February 4 – ABS-CBN 2 Senior Vice President and Star Magic Talent Manager Johnny Manahan;
February 5 – Concert King Martin Nievera, GMA 7 actor Luis Alandy, and Daly City community leader Mario Panoringan;
February 6 – LuzViMin of the Bay Area president Ora Seyler, actor Eddie Gutierrez, and entertainment producer/veteran actress Daisy Romualdez;
February 7 – Former Mr. RP-USA Willard Torres of Hayward;
February 8 – Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and Dr. John Gabordo of Gilroy;
February 9 – GMA 7 actress Heart Evangelista, and Star Cinema actor/dancer John Prats;
February 10 – Ballroom dancer Jose “Joe” de Guzan, San Francisco tailor Gil Rivera, and former medical assistant Ricky Umali;
February 11 – GMA 7 multi-awarded actress Lovi Poe, and actress/TV host Jackielou Blanco;
February 12 – Retired engineer from Concord Manny Sarmiento;
February 13 – Daly City real estate broker Carmelita “Lita” Celimen;
February 14 – Queen of All Media Kris Aquino, Mr. Total Entertainer Rico J. Puno, actress Roxanne Guinoo, and Yellow Taxi executive Eve de Mesa;
February 15 – PBA cager James Yap;
February 17 – Box Office Queen and TV host Anne Curtis;
February 18 – Hollywood stage actress and now a TV5 talent Glenda Kennedy, and TV host Bernadette Sembrano;
February 20 – ABS-CBN 2 actress Christine Reyes;
February 21 – Fil-Am business executive Sean Rennock;
February 22 – TV5 Vice President for Entertainment Wilma Galvante;
February 23 – Real estate agent Ramon “Monching” Bunag;
February 25 – Asia’s fashion czar Jose “Pitoy” Moreno;
February 26 – Actress Assunta de Rossi, veteran actress Chanda Romero, and equestrienne Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski;
February 27 – International recording star Josh Groban, well-liked dentist and singing tenor Dr. Narciso “Tito” Yusi, Roco Medical Clinic administrator and civic leader Bernadette Munoz Roco, and Navy pilot Michael Back;
February 29 – San Francisco community leader Jun Jun Villegas.
To all celebrants, happy birthday and to all my readers, advanced Happy Valentine’s Day.
