La Diva to sing The Philippine National Anthem

The Country's Phenomenal Trio La Diva is set to amaze the world for they will be singing The Philippine National Anthem on Pacquiao-Cotto fight this November 14, 2009.

La Diva prepares for their first album

The album will have 14 cuts, mostly revivals like songs from Destinys Child and Jason Mraz. They'll soon record the songs in their album which is slated to be released in September or October.

New Divas take the Stage

With their success as La Diva, the three singers are already garnering attention and creating a following.

La Diva: A concert, an album, and a bright future

Tatlo sa mga pinaka-hinahangaan na young singers ay nare-recognize ngayon as one of the most talented singing groups in the Philippines—at pati na rin abroad. La Diva is keeping pretty busy nowadays, and they are loving every minute minute of it. Text by Erick Mataverde. Photos by Connie M. Tungul.

Sila Jonalyn Viray, Maricris Garcia and Aicelle Santos, ang Pinoy Pop Superstar Season 1 winner, Pinoy Pop Superstar 3 winner, and Pinoy Pop Superstar 2 finalist, respectively, ay tuwang-tuwa sa mga break na kanilang nakukuha.

"Sa ngayon, masaya naman kami, pero siyempre dream pa rin namin na marecognize 'yung individuality namin," kanilang kuwento. "Segment lang kasi talaga siya [sa SOP], tapos since nakita na maganda yung pag-tanggap ng tao,na hinahanap na siya, ganun, sinamantala na rin namin. stars

"[Mas] mahirap nung mga solo artists [pa kami] unlike ngayong La Diva, pinagsama-sama kami, tulungan kami. Naundun pa rin naman 'yung pinaghirapan namin [nung solo kami]. 'Pag dating sa work, lumalabas 'yung samahan namin."

And to prove that their talent is getting noticed, mayroon silang album on the works: "Mukhang mix po, may covers at 'yung mga nagawa na namin before sa SOP. Coming soon! Pina-plano pa lang siya, for sure may mga original at may covers din," ang banggit ni Aicelle tungkol dito.

Patuloy na kuwento nila na mayroon silang darating na concert.

"This April we're leaving for L.A. for our show. Show na namin [ito] kasi 'yung first time na nagpunta kami sa L.A., show po ni Dingdong (Dantes) at Marian (Rivera) and guests kami. This time first major show [namin] outside the country," banggit nila.

Nang sabihin namin na lumalaki ang kanilang following abroad via GMA PinoyTV, ito ang kanilang naging reaction: "Tuwang-tuwa po kami nakakarating din dun. Siguro for the same reason kung bakit po kami magkakaroon ng show, so without GMA PinoyTV, we would be nothing."

Sa pagtatapos, the trio shares this invitation to everyone: "Please don't forget to watch SOP every Sunday and 'yung upcoming show po namin sa abroad, this April, abangan nyo po 'yan. [Sa] mga Kapuso namin na andyan sa Amerika, magkita-kita po tayo. And abangan ninyo ang album namin, at sana suportahan nila. And of course nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa La Diva, kung hindi dahil sa inyo, wala kami [dito] at hindi kami magtatagal."

La Diva: Harmony in more ways than one

The trio of Jonalyn, Aicelle and Maricris is steadily gaining popularity, and as they continue to prove in SOP week after week, kabilang sila sa mga magagaling na singers sa bansa. They recognize that their exceptional talents as individual singers are enhanced even more now that they’re a singing group. Text by Erick Mataverde. Photos by Connie M. Tungul.



Mapapanood natin sila every weekend sa SOP, and these young and talented singers that make up La Diva attest that their voices are heard in more ways than one.

"For SOP po kasi 'yung music department mainly ang nagbibigay ng song selections namin, tapos minsan kami. Kung may suggestions na gusto naming kantahin, sinasabi namin pero ang pinaka nag a-areglo si Danny Tan. But we also suggest like kung ito 'yung mas makakapagpabuti, makakapagpaganda ng songs," ang kwento ni Maricris Garcia.

Observation naman ni Jonalyn Viray, "Tingin po namin mas mahirap nung solo artists kami, kasi kailangan mas mag-try harder, unlike ngayong La Diva pinagsama-sama kami at nagtutulungan kami."

Aicelle Santos adds, "In the beginning nandun din 'yung nahirapan kami, pero nakapag-adjust kami. Pagdating sa work lumalabas 'yung samahan namin. So okey kami na i-promote kami as a grupo, as La Diva…Parang innate na sa amin 'yung napapakiramdaman kami, parang isang tinginan lang, alam na namin.”

Maricris further explains why La Diva is steadily gaining popularity: "Ngayon ang pinaka-okey at gusto ng manonood at medyo fresh din ang dating, at bagong konsepto, kasi sa Pilipinas bihira pa 'yung parang Destiny's Child. Ang SOP nagcre-create ng bagong ideas kaya nabuo ang La Diva.”

Siyempre, inalam din namin kung bakit nagwo-work ang chemistry nilang tatlo at si Maricris ang nag-explain, "Kasi sa aming tatlo, pare-parehas naman. Basta pag may kaliangan ka sa kanila walang second thoughts, nandyan palagi."

Si Aicelle ang kino-konsider ni Maricris at Jonalyn as their big sister or ate dahil sa kanyang mature na personality. She doesn’t hesitate to point out the exceptional traits of her group mates: "Ang gusto ko kay Cris 'yung sobrang masayahin. Minsan you're down, [pero] ‘pag kasama mo siya, wala ka nang problema. Si Jonalyn, hangga ako sa kanya, kasi pareho kaming eldest in the family, naging responsible girl. But then, [nandun ‘yung pagiging youthful niya kahit] alam ko maraming serious matters pa rin siyang [hina-handle]."

Nang tanungin sila kung may nagmo-motivate ba sa kanilang success, the three chimed in, "Maraming inspiration, like friends, family, (laughs) pang-showbiz ang sagot!"