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Lea Salonga talks about transition of son, separation from husband

Anna Cerezo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769002540096viber_image_2026-01-21_20-38-15-615.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Lea Salonga. Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/>Lea Salonga. Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — Lea Salonga shared how she and her former partner Robert Chien have been supportive of their son Nic Chien during his continued transition.The actress revealed she has long been separated from her husband.“We are both super busy, but thankful the dad and dad’s partner are the ones—pag may sipon ka, here I will send you food. I will make sure you are well. It&#x27;s not a secret we have been seprated for a while. He is happy and I am happy he is happy,” she said in an interview held during the media call of Les Miserables World Tour Spectacular in Parañaque City on Wednesday.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/1/3/lea-salonga-shares-what-keeps-her-passion-for-performing-alive-decades-into-her-career-1519">Lea Salonga shares what keeps her passion for performing alive decades into her career</a></div>The musical theater star stressed how it is her “duty” as a parent to “love their child unconditionally.”“To those who do not have kids, if you think you will not be able to love your child if they come out to you—if they say ‘mom, i&#x27;m lesbian, bisexual or trans,’ if under those conditions your love will stop. Do not have children save yourself the drama and heartbreak. If hindi mo kaya, wag na lang,” Salonga said.“Children are not customizable. Every kid is a blind box. You don’t know what you will get—but chances are it is the one you don’t want but that is what you will get,” she added.Salonga shared that Nic&#x27;s transition has so far had a positive outcome.“When there is change, the voice drops, body hair, it was a much more positive outcome... I just want a happy kid,” she said.She also opened up about the toll that dysphoria took on her son’s well-being and the difficulty of watching him struggle.“The dysphoria was a lot to deal with. It was affecting his mental health and every aspect of his life. To be his mom and to feel helpless it is a terrible feeling,” she explained. “There is a feeling of guilt when you are unable to help your child. It is truly difficult.”She said support, therapy, and hormone treatment helped her son gain confidence and feel more comfortable in his body.“But with testosterone therapy and everything else, working with his therapist just figuring out how to be happy in his body, being confident to show the results—everyone in the family is so happy that he knew what he wanted,” she added.Salonga emphasized her role as a parent was to find ways to help her child move forward.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/1/13/-les-miserables-unveils-first-look-at-lea-salonga-red-concepcion-as-thenardiers-1853">&#x27;Les Miserables&#x27; unveils first look at Lea Salonga, Red Concepcion as Thenardiers</a></div>“My job as his mom was try and figure it how to get things done,” she said.She acknowledged criticism from people who may not agree with the choices made for her son’s health but stood firm on her priorities.“I am aware there are folks that will not understand or have a very negative opinion of the decisions we made for his health and own navigation of the world as a trans man—my only thing is i have to do what i need to do to help my child,” Salonga said.Salonga will be portraying Madame Thénardier in Les Miserables: World Tour Spectacular.The show will run at The Theater at Solaire until March 1.

Lea Salonga shared how she and her former partner Robert Chien have been supportive of their son Nic Chien during his continued transition.

Lea Salonga shared how she and her former partner Robert Chien have been supportive of their son Nic Chien during his continued transition.

Lea Salonga opens up on transition of son, separation from husband

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Lea Salonga opens up on transition of son, separation from husband

Anna Cerezo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 21, 2026 09:38 PM PHT

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Updated January 22, 2026 02:04 PM PHT

Read More:

Lea Salonga

Robert Chien

Nic Chien

Les Miserables

musical theater

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