SOP's La Diva

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.

Taking the stage with La Diva

On Friday, May 8, La Diva will take the stage sa Aliw Theater! That's because they're the front act for the international group Chicago's Finest. Anong dapat abangan sa kanilang performance? Alamin from the divas themselves! Text and Photos by Jason John S. Lim. Interview with Erick Mataverde.

"We haven't rehearsed yet," Aicelle Santos confesses nang tanungin siya ng iGMA tungkol sa preparations ng La Diva, for their upcoming performance sa Aliw Theater.
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Ano ang magiging participation ng La Diva sa concert ng Chicago's Finest? Maricris Garcia says, "kami 'yung opening, [ang] magsa-start nung show." Comparing themselves to appetizers, she adds na "kailangan ganahan [ang audience] after namin.

"Sa ngayon, nag-iisip pa kami ng magandang kanta para doon sa show," Maricris continues, saying they have to take into consideration the type of audience na hahatakin ng isang Chicago's Finest na event.

Kaya as of yesterday, May 5, todo-todo na ang preparation nila.

Jonalyn Viray reveals, "Actually hindi naman siya 'yung masyadong madugong preparation." She explains na "yung mga kakantahin namin, 'yung mga nakanta na rin namin before so pipili na lang kami sa repertoire namin kung ano 'yung parang pinaka-best fit."

Aicelle continues, “It's like a review [of] two of the best songs we did. So abangan na lang nila ‘yun."

With them being chosen as the front act of a popular international group, does this mean La Diva will have a concert soon?

"We're hoping and praying na magkaroon na kami ng show na sa amin talaga," Aicelle admits. For now, they'll have to work on their first album as a trio.

At may kwento rin ang La Diva tungkol diyan! But let's leave that for another day. For now, samahan natin ang focus ng tatlong singing sensation as they prepare for their front act gig this May 8, Friday, sa Aliw Theater. Will you be watching?

Wish the divas good luck, siyempre, 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.)

And siyempre, lagi niyo pa rin silang mapapanood every Sunday sa SOP! Abangan din this weekend kung tungkol saan ang secret project ng La Diva with iGMA.

Thursday, May 07, 2009

How harmony goes in La Diva

The trio of young singers from the Pinoy Pop Superstar fame is currently making waves as a group called “La Diva” which is seen as specializing in proper blending and not outshining each other. Jonalyn Viray, Maricris Garcia, and Aicelle Santos have become a staple among live and TV audiences with their weekly appearances over “ SOP.”

“We take turns in singing, each has her own spot,” says Aicelle who won for herself the “Best Country Song” in a Kazakhstan Song Festival. She argues with a good reason, “Kaya kami nagble-blend kasi iba-iba characters ng voices namin.”

During a chat with a small pool of entertainment journalists, all three La Diva members had been given counterparts for their voices, much to their liking. Aicelle is Jaya, Jonalyn is Regine Velasquez, and Maricris is Zsa Zsa Padilla.

Both Jonalyn and Maricris were grand champions of Pinoy Pop Superstar, with the former being crowned on year 1 while the latter on year 3. The just 19-year-old first Pinoy Pop champ released an album “On My Own” and has sung songs for GMA-7’s “Dramarama sa Hapon” series of soaps. Maricris, for her part, scored a big hit in “Mahal Kita,” theme song to the hugely successful TV series “Marimar.”

On how they’re different from the others of their same age and talent, Aicelle added, “Mga song selections namin usually mga standards, not R&B. Lagi din kaming naka-gown kaya we were given the name La Diva.”

The trio of songstress, now doing rounds in malls, will stage a concert in L.A., USA set this summer. They’re also scheduled to do an album of their own soon.

Source: http://beta.mb.com.ph/node/197295

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A NIGHT WITH LA DIVA

April, 18, 2009 (Saturday)
Virgil Auditorium
152 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90004

April 25, 2009 (Saturday)
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa
49500 Seminole Dr. Cabazon, CA 92230

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Thursday, April 09, 2009

"A Night with La Diva" Schedule

A NIGHT WITH LA DIVA

April, 18, 2009 (Saturday)
Virgil Auditorium
152 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90004

April 25, 2009 (Saturday)
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa
49500 Seminole Dr. Cabazon, CA 92230

Saturday, April 04, 2009

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."

Sunday, March 15, 2009

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!"

A Night with La Diva

Si John Lapus ang special guest ng La Diva sa kanilang first major concert sa April 18, 2009. “A Night with La Diva” ang title ng show nina Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos at Maricris Garcia.

Hindi makapaniwala ang tatlo na magkakaroon na sila ng sariling concert pero gaganapin ito sa Virgil Auditorium sa LA at hindi sa Pilipinas.

Sa tanong kung hindi ba sila naiinggit sa success ng kanilang fellow singer na si Sarah Geronimo, “hindi” ang sagot ng tatlong mi-yembro ng LA Diva.

Natutuwa raw sila para kay Sarah dahil sa magandang takbo ng showbiz career nito. Gusto rin ng La Diva na marating ang naabot ni Sarah, pero hindi sila nagmamadali.

Maraming dapat ipagpasalamat sina Jonalyn, Aicelle at Maricris kaya hindi nila hinahayaan na maapektuhan sila ng insecurity.

Kung mangyari man na hindi maging matagumpay ang kanyang singing career, plano ni Jonalyn na ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral para magkaroon siya ng fall back.

This year, balak ni Jonalyn na mag-enroll sa isang music course dahil gusto niya na maging voice teacher. Gagamitin daw niya ang kanyang talent sa pagkanta para makatulong sa iba.

Supportive sa isa’t-isa sina Maricris, Jonalyn at Aicelle. Hindi raw sila katulad ng ibang grupo na nagsasapawan sa pagkanta ang mga miyembro.

Sunday, February 22, 2009