Lea Salonga pens sweet birthday message for son Nic Chien: 'Proud of this young man'
Lea Salonga wrote a sweet birthday greeting for her son Nic Chien as he turned another year older.
The Broadway star expressed her love for her child on social media. "20!!! Already!!! To say that I’m proud of this young man would be the understatement of the year; this human is kind, funny, sensitive, empathetic, and so much fun!" she wrote in an Instagram post showing photos of Chien, including a snap of them together.
"My babes, there are so many adventures waiting for you this year, and even more to come later on. With rigor, focus, healthy humor, and a solid work ethic, your dreams will come true and you’ll have a blast in the process," Salonga added. "Until then, enjoy today! Momma loves you so much! I am the luckiest one in the world to be your momma!"
In a Rated K interview in February, Chien revealed that he was around 11 years old when he came out to his mom as bisexual.
Salonga, in a previous interview with PEOPLE Magazine, shared that she “figured out” Chien was transmasculine when he was just 14. Chien then started taking testosterone at 18 years old.
She also shared her realizations about raising and supporting her trans son, saying she has "learned how to raise a child who is their own being."
In November 2025, Chien shared that he finally underwent top surgery, which he described as "brutal but worth it."
Chien was first introduced to the public through singing performances with his mother in concerts and television shows.
He later debuted on the professional stage as Alice in 2017's Matilda the Musical in Manila and went on to star as Jack in the Philippine production of Into the Woods in 2025 and Moritz in Spring Awakening in 2026.
