Lea Salonga's Near Collaboration with Jose Mari Chan

Jose Mari Chan recently shared that Lea Salonga was almost featured in his famous holiday song, "Christmas in Our Hearts." During an episode of ?Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,? Chan recounted how he invited Salonga, then a rising star from "Miss Saigon," to collaborate on the track. Although she expressed enthusiasm for the duet, it ultimately fell through because her recording label prohibited her from working with a competing company.

After this setback, Chan turned to Monique Wilson, another talent from "Miss Saigon," but she lost her voice just before their planned recording. This led Chan to ask his daughter, Liza, to learn the song quickly, resulting in a successful partnership. Chan reflected on the unexpected journey of creating "Christmas in Our Hearts," originally written in 1988, and acknowledged that its success surprised him, as record producers initially doubted its appeal. Today, Chan is celebrated for this classic and other hits, and he is set to embark on a concert tour in Canada this November.