Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga was born on February 22, 1971 in Ermita, Manila, to Feliciano Genuino Salonga and María Ligaya Alcantara. She spent the first six years of her childhood in Angeles City before moving to Manila. Lea finished her secondary education at the O. B. Montessori Center in San Juan and also attended the UP College of Music's extension program aimed at training musically talented children in music and stage movement.