MANILA – Lea Salonga paid tribute to stage actress and singer Celeste Legaspi on Sunday by singing one of her original songs on “ASAP.”

According to Salonga, she was getting emotional when she was about to sing “Tuliro” because unknown to many, Legaspi was a huge factor in her successful career.

“Si Celeste mismo ang tumawag sa nanay ko para mag-audition ako for ‘Miss Saigon.’ She was the one who called para lang sabihin sa nanay ko, ‘You have to let your daughter audition for this. She’s the only one I can think of that could be right for that,’” she shared.

Salonga said her mom was initially skeptical but Legaspi was really persuasive that she ended up auditioning for the stage musical that launched her international career.

Watch Salonga’s rendition of Legaspi’s “Tuliro” below.