MANILA, Philippines?Does Lea Salonga still believe in fairy tales?

?Happy ever after doesn?t exist,? she says. ?After meeting and marrying Prince Charming, there?s still a lot of work to be done to keep the relationship going smoothly.?

The Tony award-winning actress was speaking her mind in connection with her forthcoming appearance in the stage version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical adaptation of ?Cinderella??produced by Broadway Asia Entertainment and which runs from July 29 to Aug. 24 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

What?s her definition of a ?Prince Charming??

?Someone who sweeps you off your feet, lives in a castle and will take care of you,? she muses. ?My own prince did just about everything except for the castle part. We did that together.?

What challenges her most in portraying Cinderella?

?She is such a well-known fairy tale character. Everyone in the audience is going to have preconceived notions of who and what she is. My job will be to find something I can relate to in that character, as well as inject as much humor as I can without it being ridiculous,? Lea says.

She adds, ?I have to find out why she?s able to keep a relatively sunny disposition, in spite of her living situation. The other challenge will be to stand tall beside my leading man (Peter Saide) who?s 6?4?. Wow!?

No doubt Lea will be standing proud with or without the glass slipper. Whatever the role, she wears it so well.

RP?s David Beckham?

Dingdong Dantes is more than flattered that he?s being tagged as ?The David Beckham of the Philippines? because of his stunning Bench billboards.

?It?s an honor to be compared to an icon and respected athlete,? he says. ?But I?d rather be remembered for my effectivity as an actor. Being substantially unique is not an easy task but with the passion that I have for what I?m doing, I hope it will be enough to make a difference.?

Dong as a damn good actor and ? a sex object? I hear no objections.

Different tunes

Sunshine Cruz couldn?t hold back her tears when she was asked to give hubby Cesar Montano a message in ?Boy & Kris? (episode airs Wednesday, April 16, 10:30 a.m., ABS-CBN). In her past interviews, Shine said Buboy is courting her again. Now she?s singing a different tune.

?I?m happy for him. I heard he has moved on already,? she said. I clarified this with Buboy. He replied, ?May nagsabi lang kay Shine na narinig daw niyang sinabi ko na naka move on na ko pero without details. Tiyempo naman may tampuhan kami that time so Shine got affected.?

Cesar added, ?I love Shine and our kids. What I want to move on from are intrigues and focus on positive things like my new show ?Singing Bee,? my new endorsement and my trip to Europe and the US with Shine in July.

?I need to take my wife out of here even for awhile para makahinga kami pareho ng ibang hangin.?

All the beleaguered couple need is a change of scenery and not a change of heart.

Boy?s ?Love Life?

While I was confined in the hospital for over a week, I listened to Boy Abunda?s Star Records CD, ?Love Life (Life Songs & Life Stories)? over and over again. It soothed my weary spirit.

The album includes ?You Changed my Life in a Moment? (Ogie Alcasid), ?Song for Mama? (Charice Pempengco), ?When You Wish Upon a Star? (Aiza Seguerra) and ?It?s My Turn? (Erik Santos).

Interspersed between songs are Boy?s piercing conversations with celebs about success, struggles, love, childhood, friendship, happiness and good-byes. There?s also a heartwarming talk with Boy?s beloved Nanay.

As I reflected on my life while having endless blood transfusions, Boy?s CD reminded me to be grateful for my second lease on life and turned my thoughts into prayers. ?Love Life? is now certified gold. Goes very well with Boy?s golden heart.

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Personal: Congrats to my dear kumareng Liza Endaya and kumpareng Benjie Felipe (of ?The Buzz?) on the christening of my inaanak Jaera Pamela. May she grow up to be as wonderful as her parents.

My heartfelt thanks to Angel Locsin and Becky Aguila for being heaven sent!

Merci beaucoup to the best PR man around?Allan German, for being a friend over and beyond the call of duty.

E-mail wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com.