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 sings "GMA-Cebu Station ID"

Aicelle Santos' iGMA Photoshoot






Maricris Garcia's iGMA Photoshoot




Jonalyn, gustong umarte ulit.




While sumabak na noon si Jonalyn Viray sa mundo ng acting, she has since then focused on her singing. Pero iGMA finds out that this Diva wants to take a second shot at becoming an actress! Text by Jason John S. Lim. Photo by Mitch S. Mauricio.

"Para sa akin, mas gusto ko mag-concentrate muna sa singing," nilinaw ni Jonalyn Viray sa amin. Naitanong kasi namin sa kanya kung may balak ba siyang umarte muli, after news of Bryan Termulo and Chris Cayzer's foray into acting reached us.

Jonalyn continues, "Kumbaga, since na-try ko na 'yung acting before, may idea na ako kung ano 'yung mga ginagawa, tapos 'yung time ng tapings—'di ba usually inaabot ng madaling araw? Eh as a singer, mahirap kumanta kapag puyat, kasi napaka-dry ng lalamunan mo." And that's why, she adds, "Gusto ko muna i-establish 'yung singing career. Tapos medyo, kapag bongga na—"

Inamin ni Jonalyn sa amin na masarap rin umarte: "Sa totoo lang, masaya din." At kung ibabalik ang dating tambalan nila ni Gerald Santos, she wouldn't complain either.

"Depende kung gusto rin niya," she adds with a laugh

Pero, gaya nga ng sabi niya, singing ang concentration niya for now.

"'Yung mga personal projects ko naman, 'yung nami-minimize. Kasi binubuo talaga kami [with Aicelle Santos and Maricris Garcia] ngayon as a group. So mas dominant 'yung mga projects namin ngayon as La Diva."

If she does have solo projects, Jonalyn says it's more of mini-shows or provincial shows.

To end, Jonalyn leaves a message sa kanyang ardent supporters: "Siyempre unang-una, nagpapasalamat kami sa inyo dahil kung hindi dahil sa inyo, wala kaming La Diva ngayon. Kumbaga, kung hindi nila kami naa-appreciate, hindi kami aabot sa ganito—hindi namin ipagpapatuloy. Kaya maraming-maraming salamat and asahan niyo na, siyempre, ibabalik namin sa inyo, what you deserve."

Willing na ba kayong makita si Jonalyn back in acting ulit? Or would you rather she follow her heart and concentrate on her singing for now? Talk about it with fellow Jonalyn fans sa iGMA Forum!

And get to know Jonalyn more through her daily updates sa Fanatxt! Just text JONALYN and send to 4627 for all telcos. Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for Globe, Smart, and Talk N Text, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. (This service is exclusive for the Philippines only.)

La Diva prepares for their first album


The La Diva album is in the works, and excited na ang ating divas para i-promote ito. At sigurado rin kami na excited na ang kanilang mga fans, kaya inalam namin from Jonalyn, Aicelle, and Maricris mismo kung ano ang dapat nating abangan from their album. Text and photos by Jason John S. Lim with interviews by Erick Mataverde.

Aicelle Santos gets right to the point: "We have a very, very beautiful original song. Ang ganda noon, ang ganda ng message and the melody—magugustuhan nila 'yun."

"[At] para naman kahit papano may trademark kami sa industry," dagdag ni Jonalyn Viray. "Hindi puro mga revivals."

Pero bakit isang song lang?

Aicelle says that it's important na makita muna ng mga tao 'yung gusto nila—the reason why La Diva shot to fame in the first place—and that's through cover songs that show off their powerful vocals and the blending of their voices.

"Doon medyo talagang natuwa 'yung tao," Aicelle explains.

At dahil nga sa tuwa na ito, Aicelle, Jonalyn, and Maricris Garcia are focusing all of their efforts into the group.

"Ngayon, lahat naka-focus sa La Diva, sa grupo talaga," Maricris tells us. "Sinasamantala na namin 'yung moment na hinahanap siya ng tao."

And dahil sa paghahanap na ito, kaya rin nabuo ang plano na magkaroon sila ng album and their own show.

Maricris continues, "Basta lahat ng mga future plans and shows para sa aming tatlo, para sa grupo."

Wala pang concrete details na maibigay ang mga divas, whether release date ng album or ng mga sarili nilang show. Everything is up in the air pa daw, though may hula si Jonalyn: "Siguro sa bandang pasukan. Wala pa masyadong details. Abangan!"

Sa ngayon, they want to focus na lang daw muna sa sigurado, which is their regular SOP performances, their upcoming album, and their very supportive fans.

"Thank you," sabi ni Aicelle. "Sana po 'wag kayong magsawa sa pagsuporta. Panoorin niyo kami every Sunday and we'll be coming up with an album."

Biro pa niya, "Please do buy copies. Copies ha? Madami! Bawat tao, lima. Thank you, thank you po!"

Dagdag ni Maricris, "Sana patuloy ang pagsuporta and salamat sa walang-sawang pagsuporta rin. Sana, magtuloy-tuloy pa."

Anong songs ng La Diva ang gusto niyong makita sa album nila? Sound off sa comments below!

At maki-bonding sa tatlo through Fanatxt! Just text JONALYN, AICELLE, or MARICRIS and send to 4627 for all telcos. Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for Globe, Smart, and Talk N Text, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. (This service is exclusive for the Philippines only.)