Lea Salonga did not hold back as she opened up about motherhood and her unwavering support for her son, Nic Chien, as he undergoes his transition.
Photo: Lea Salonga/Instagram
During a media conference for “Les Misérables: World Tour Spectacular” in Parañaque City, she stressed the importance of loving your child without conditions and reservations.
“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’m lesbian, bisexual, or trans,’ if under those conditions your love will stop, do not have children [and] save yourself the drama and heartbreak. If hindi mo kaya, wag na lang (If you can’t handle it, don’t have kids,” Lea 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.
The multi-award-winning theater star also opened up about Nic’s ongoing transition and how she faces it head-on, especially as her son navigates dysphoria and the emotional toll that comes with it.
“The dysphoria was a lot to deal with. It was affecting his mental health; it was affecting every aspect of his life. To be his mom and feel helpless, like ‘What can I do to help you?’ It is a terrible feeling,” she opened up.
“There is this feeling of guilt when you are unable to help your child. It is extremely difficult.. but we’re so happy that he knew what he wanted, and my job as his mom is to try and figure out how can I get these things done,” she explained. “I am aware there are folks that will not understand or have a very negative opinion of the decisions we have made for his health and for his 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 in the best way that I can.”
In November 2025, Nic shared that he had undergone chest reconstruction and that he was extremely grateful for his parents’ unwavering support.
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“I’m very grateful to be able to receive gender affirming care, and I hope sharing and talking about my experiences helps show the importance of this kind of stuff,” he captioned his post.
Lea Salonga is set to make her much-awaited return to the stage as Madame Thérnardier in “Les Miserables: World Tour Spectacular.”
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