MANILA, Philippines — Lea Salonga’s husband Robert Chien surprised his wife on Feb. 21 with a 40th birthday bash.

Rob felt this milestone in Lea’s life needed to be celebrated in an extraordinary manner because his wife’s “life is just about to begin,” so to speak.

The plan was simple: Lea was to have a pre-birthday dinner with brother Gerard and wife DJ Salonga on Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Continental Restaurant of Palms Country Club in Alabang. Gerard previously told Lea that he couldn’t be present on his sister’s birthday (Feb. 22) so he asked her to meet up for dinner the night before. When she comes, everyone can have dinner and then proceed to a short and simple program they have prepared for her.

All of Lea’s friends were sent regular emails advising them, including us, to come not later than 7:30 p.m., the estimated time of Lea’s arrival.

In cahoots with Rob, aside from Lea’s family (Mommy Ligaya, brother Gerard and his wife DJ) was hatchet woman Liza Camus, project director in most of Lea’s concerts and theater outings.

Our friend, Girlie Rodis, was in charge of getting Richard Poon to sing for Lea that night. Richard is Lea’s (and her daughter Nicole’s) personal favorite. Girlie told us that Lea’s close friends Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez’s presence that night was also her responsibility, and the beautiful couple didn’t disappoint.

“It was easy because Aga and Charlene live within the same neighborhood as that of Lea’s,” she said.
Liza’s e-mail said the guests can come in starting at 6:30 p.m. and that no one needed to worry because cocktails would be served while everyone’s waiting for the birthday girl’s arrival.

As early as 6 p.m.,

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