"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.)

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.)

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.


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.

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.

"[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."