MANILA, Philippines?Allow me please to thank everyone who has spoken or written to me about my performance of ?Bayan Ko? at President Cory Aquino?s requiem Mass on Aug. 5.

It started when I sent a text message to Girlie Rodis asking for Kris Aquino?s cell phone number, so that I could express our family?s condolences. Shortly after, Tita Girlie asked if I was in town. I said yes. She said the organizing committee for the funeral Masses was wondering if I could sing for the necrological service on Tuesday evening. I said yes. She then asked me to coordinate with Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ. Soon enough, I was asking Tita Girlie and Fr. Manoling, ?Exactly what would the family want me to sing? Did Tita Cory have a favorite song??

Tita Girlie and Fr. Manoling got back to me with almost identical text messages: ?Kris wants you to sing ?Bayan Ko? at the funeral Mass on Wednesday morning?after the final blessing. Can you do it??

I said yes, I would be honored. (Thank you, Kris, for asking.)

I then sent a text to Rajo Laurel, to ask if he had anything appropriate that I could wear. He said he would rush a white top for me to wear with black trousers. (Thank you, Rajo!)

Tita Girlie said a minus-one would be produced for me. I asked that it be sent to me on Monday, to allow me to live with it for a couple of days. Marvin Querido would do the arrangement. The good folks at ?ASAP? (who were in charge of making the minus-one) sent a rough mix Monday night. Marvin e-mailed a music chart that detailed the lead-in (into the instrumental), and finally sound engineer Angee Rozul sent the final mix on Tuesday. Thank you all so very much.

My mother made reservations at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in order to be closer to the Manila Cathedral (I live all the way in the south, and I wasn?t willing to take chances with the traffic). Once settled in my room, I turned on the shower, stood under the stream of hot water, and started singing, running ?Bayan Ko? at least three times just to get it into my system.

Before turning in late Tuesday night, I got one final e-mail: song division for ?Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo,? to be performed by all the singers who would be present at the requiem Mass. I fell asleep running the lyrics of ?Bayan Ko? in my head.

I had a wake-up call set for 4:30 a.m. to allow my voice to wake up properly. I got started on makeup and hair before anyone else was awake. My husband Rob was already on his way to the hotel to meet us; we would then head to the Manila Hotel, the artists? meeting place. Since we arrived a good 45 minutes before the 7 a.m. call time, we had breakfast at the coffee shop. Over the course of the meal, we espied other mourners and friends, and a few of the other singer-participants. At exactly 7 a.m., we headed to the Gallery Function Room to rehearse ?Handog?? with everyone (including the Apo Hiking Society, Ogie Alcasid, Jose Mari Chan, Dulce, Sarah Geronimo, Jed Madela, Martin Nievera, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Piolo Pascual, Erik Santos, and Regine Velasquez.

No words could adequately describe the spirit of oneness and camaraderie in that room, a bunch of artists expressing our collective grief over Tita Cory?s passing and, at the same time, hope for the future of the country and our people.

At around 8 a.m., it was time to hit the road. ABS-CBN provided transport for the artists from the Manila Hotel to the Cathedral. Before boarding, we stopped outside the Aquino family?s bus to say hello and express our condolences.

The ride to the Cathedral wasn?t very long; thankfully there wasn?t too much traffic. Once there, though, we couldn?t alight anywhere near the front entrance because of the media assembled, so we got down where we could, and started walking.

The artists were ushered to the stage-right side of the church, in front of the choir and a meter away from the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (the choir and the PPO would play the music for the entire Mass, and accompany the performers who would sing during communion). On the way to my seat, I said hello to a few friends. Once seated, I took a look at the sequence of events. ?Bayan Ko? would come after Kris? remarks and the final blessing by Bishop Soc Villegas. Until that moment came, I tried to relax, singing Mass songs to warm up my voice, and also during communion, whenever another artist stepped up to the microphone.

Holding it together

When Kris? turn to speak came, I had a feeling it would be a very emotional outpouring of love from a daughter to her mother?one that threatened to make me lose my composure. As her tears flowed freely, I looked up at the ceiling ? the floor ? at Piolo Pascual?s perfect profile ? anything that would keep my mind trained on the task at hand. The Aquino family had asked me to sing today; I was not about to disappoint them.

Finally, after Bishop Villegas blessed Tita Cory one last time, the floor director called for me to take my standby position. I took one look at the little bit of masking tape that marked where I should stand, then got my microphone from the sound man. I said a silent prayer, using the words of a friend: ?Dear Lord, help me to sing today ? let me sing from the heart ? and if the tears should flow, then let them.? I got my go signal, I stood on the piece of masking tape, scanned the people in front of me, took a deep breath, and sang.

I held it together, I couldn?t break. That was for you, Tita Cory.

Once finished and back in my chair, relief and relaxation swept over me. I thanked God for His love and divine inspiration. My mom and husband, who sat behind me, seemed pleased, as did Tita Girlie and the other artists.

There was more singing to be done, even after the funeral procession to the Manila Memorial Park had begun. Our finale was ?Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo,? the song made famous following the 1986 People Power Revolution. It felt so good to sing it today, especially the line, ?Kay sarap pala maging Pilipino.? Napakatamis awitin.

Salamat sa iyo, Tita Cory. Thank you for giving us a reason to hold our heads high as Filipinos. Thank you for your courage, strength, integrity, honesty, warmth, and sincerity. All of us sang our hearts out for you. It was the least we could do, after all you?ve given us.

?Your Songs?

Announcing: ?Lea Salonga ? Your Songs.? Tan-ta-na-naaaaaaaaan!

?Your Songs? will be staged at the PICC Plenary Hall on Dec. 11 and 12. My guests will be Ai Ai de las Alas, Richard Poon and the award-winning dance group Philippine All-Stars. FILharmoniKA will be our orchestra. The show will be presented by AmbientMedia and directed by Bobby Garcia; musical direction by Gerard Salonga. Tickets will be available at Ticketworld (891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph).

I knew that I would definitely have a major concert this year, following last year?s ?My Life On Stage.? I try to do something different with each big show, I do. For one outing, it?s nothing but Broadway songs; for another, it?s songs from the movies; for yet one more concert it?s our own Pinoy brand of music. Last year, it was a celebration of my 30 years as a performer.

A few months ago I started wracking my brain about what I could possibly do for my next big show. Should I do a Broadway concert, part deux? That?s an idea, maybe for another time. Are there any Pinoy songs that haven?t been touched, movie theme songs that are calling out to be sung?

Think, Lea, think ?

Then it hit me: why not get my fans and friends to help in the creation of the show?

Over the years I?d have conversations with colleagues and friends about the concerts I?ve done or would be doing. Some would already make suggestions in conversation: ?You should sing such-and-such ? next time dapat ganito o ganyan.? Although I would take said pieces of advice seriously, most of the song selections would come from the production team. A few ?contributions? from outside sources would make it, but that?s all.

This time will be very different, as 100 percent of the songs I?ll be singing will be suggested by YOU, YOU and especially YOU!

Already, requests have been coming in (via the concert?s official website, http://leayoursongs.com), ranging from rock power ballads and pop to jazz and R&B. I encourage all of you to ?think outside the box? and request something unexpected, unlikely, and most of all, FUN! You have until Sept. 30 to put something in.

Those of you who have sent your song wish, many thanks!

More details are available on the website. You can send photos of you and me for my scrapbook, a video request, or a video audition to win the chance to sing with me onstage! Keep it coming!