There was a time when some people didn’t appreciate, much less understand her honest, straightforward style of dealing with people. But many now realize that she was right in maintaining her unwavering honesty and frankness in a business that unabashedly celebrates hypocrisy.
For how could Lea been Lea — the child wonder of theater, the teen star who radiated world class talent, the original Kim in the colossal theater production of Miss Saigon, the first Asian to win the Lawrence Olivier/Tony Awards Best Actress trophies, and now a blushing bride to Robert Chien — without the heart and mind of a mother who had so much faith in her daughter who was initially dismissed as "simply too theatrical"?
But she proved everybody wrong. She nurtured Lea like she knew that she was meant for greatness. And she was right. Her daughter made every living and dead Filipino proud of his nationality.
On the night of the wedding rehearsal, we spoke to her. Looking younger in her new hairstyle, she said she was not nervous yet, although she wouldn’t discount the possibility of fainting on the day of the wedding. She said it in jest but I believed her.
When Francisco Camacho, the wedding coordinator, asked her and Lea to rehearse an embrace before giving Lea’s hand to Robert, she was almost in tears. Mommy Ligaya was crying in joy knowing full well that she has raised a wonderful, loving daughter.
Five minutes to 3 p.m. Los Angeles time, Jan. 10, Lea Salonga was led to her position at the back of the church. Members of the entourage started to move to their assigned posts. Everything was in place. Lea’s greatest performance was about to begin.
Thank you to the efficient Francisco Camacho, who performed his job at the wedding rehearsal like a seasoned master of the theater. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (one of the two major architectural landmarks of LA, the other being the Disney Building located a block away from the church) was magnificent in its serenity. Guests and kibitzers watched the wedding march, which proceeded flawlessly.
Then everyone stood up when Lea, the most beautiful bride I have ever seen, started walking down the aisle with Mommy Ligaya and Gerard. She was a goddess of understated elegance in a gown created by Monique Lhuillier, and made up by the brilliant Juan Sarte. Her radiance filled the cavernous church.
Rob was fidgety and emotional, once in a while taking off his glasses, wiping his tears with a hanky that made him look like a cute bedimpled boy of seven. Rob looked so gorgeous that you wanted to carry him outside the church and sing him to sleep.
He was literally crying when he took Lea’s hand and brought her to the altar. By the time he was making his vow to love and protect Lea for the rest of his life, Rob could barely talk as he was already sobbing.
Lea, for her part, said "I do" via a special song composed by Louie Ocampo with lyrics by Freddie Santos. In perfect pitch, she sounded better than an angel. And when she started to make her vow, to love and be faithful to him, Lea Salonga’s voice cracked and she started to cry. It was a rare display of emotion. But even before she finished her vow, she quickly pulled herself together. So disciplined. So very Lea.
Father Brian Castaneda, the young officiating priest, must have been the best priest who has given Mass that I have ever witnessed — cool, hip yet solemn. For the first time, I realized that the holy Mass is theater at its purest.
Songs during the Mass were performed by friends like Bobby Martino, Sabrina Yu, Liz Casasola and Luz Lor. During communion, Rob, who is a Christian, was requested by Father Castaneda to put his hand in his heart, and was given a special blessing. Rob and Lea also made a special offering to the Virgin Mother. During the homily, Father Brian spoke about the flashbulbs that enveloped the couple as they approached the altar. But he said that God puts these photos and memories together. And saying I do is a special commitment to love each other using the mind, heart and soul.
At the end of the ceremony, Father Brian introduced formally, for the first time to the public, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chien. A hearty applause broke while Rob and Lea started to make their exit, proceeding to the lovely meditation garden of the cathedral where they posed for an exclusive post-wedding pictorial with fab photographer Raymund Isaac. Looking at the couple from a distance, I knew deep in my heart that they’re going to go through a happy journey to forever and beyond.
The reception at the historic Biltmore Hotel was a blast. Guests brought along their dancing shoes for a night of merrymaking. In the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by friends and family, just a few feet away from her lovely daughter, Mommy Ligaya was dancing. And she was very happy.
("I Do" — The Robert Chien-Lea Salonga Wedding Special, which I am anchoring, will air on ABS-CBN Channel 2 on Jan. 23, Friday, 9 p.m. with Bobby Garcia as director, Chit Guerrero as supervising producer, Mickey Munoz as program manager, Esterbelle Francisco and Jinky Fabelico as executive producers, and Mori Rodriguez as writer).