LAST FRIDAY night on Star World, I had the privilege of being a guest on a show called ?Asia Uncut,? hosted by Jon Niermann. I have to say it was one of the most fun experiences I?ve had on a talk show.

The taping date for the program happened to fall on the same day that ?Cinderella? was having its final performance in Singapore (where the show is also taped), so it would be a very busy afternoon and evening. No matter, it was all worth it. If you saw the show, you would have seen just how much fun it was.

The drive from the hotel to the TV studio was?for Singapore?quite long, over half an hour. My hardy and trusty companion Sheilla Habab and I were picked up by one of the show?s staffers, and accompanied by ?Cinderella? associate company manager Merita Huang.

Waiting in the lobby at the studio building was one of the other guests of the show, an Austrian bodybuilder named Roland Kickinger, who will be in the new ?Terminator? movie. I think he?s the buff-iest man I?ve ever, ever met?we?re talking HUGE.

One of the show?s producers ushered me into the make-up room, which would also serve as my dressing room. The makeup artist was herself a vision of loveliness, and had a great energy about her. She had waist-length hair and a permanent smile. The hairdresser seemed a bit more frazzled, perhaps by the stresses of the day. There were quite a few other tapings on this same day, so I understood where he was coming from.

While I was getting ready, Chin Han (the Chinese bad guy from ?The Dark Knight?) came into the dressing room. He said that he and his nieces had seen ?Cinderella? the night before, and I told him how much I enjoyed ?The Dark Knight.? Nice guy!

After makeup, I slipped into my Rajo Laurel brocade bustier and bolero outfit and headed to the set. There I was fitted with a microphone, and I stood by for the interview. Jon himself came on over, and gave me a brief rundown of how the piece would go? hit the gong as I enter, and just enjoy what happens next.

And that?s what I did. I hit the gong, greeted Jon, and sat next to his desk. The show was recorded randomly, as I had to rush back to my hotel, then whip on over to the Esplanade for one final waltz in the glass slippers. I do wish I could have stayed to watch the entire taping. My little segment was just a blast to do, and I would have wanted to see how the rest of the show would turn out, as it happened. (For the record, that Tea Tarik really was delicious.)

I honestly had no idea just when the show would air until I started seeing the promotional blurbs on Star World, which included my expression of delight at a pumpkin sitting on Jon?s desk. (I also kind of wish ?Cinderella? was still running, because I really miss my friends from the show.)

I do hope you all enjoyed seeing me on ?Asia Uncut,? and that I get another invitation.

Tweet, tweet!

I have officially joined the Twitter bandwagon, and have been tweeting daily. Do follow me please at http://twitter.com/bigsis222. On the list of people I follow are Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher (I?m one of the 1 million followers he needed in order to beat CNN Breaking News). I also keep track of Ryan Seacrest, CNN, Time Magazine, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, and a slew of my friends.

The rest of my online presence are my official website (leasalonga.com) as well as accounts on Facebook, Multiply, Blogspot and MySpace. No, I?m not on Friendster or Plurk.

Oh, by the way, there are fake Lea Salonga accounts out there (and to those who created them, you know who you are). Please take them down as they can (and do) confuse and mislead my fans and friends.

Concert a-brewing

There is something percolating in my head right now? and no, I?m not about to share what it is? yet. All I?ll say is that I?ll need your help, dear readers, so get ready. Thanks!