Jona Viray

Jonalyn "Jona" Roxas Viray (born November 15, 1989[1]) is a Filipino singer and occasional actress.[2] She is the first Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand winner.

Jona
Jona singing at Music Museum during "Fearless" concert, wearing a Nat Manilag haute couture gown
Born
Jonalyn Roxas Viray

(1989-11-15) November 15, 1989[1]
Marikina, Philippines
Other namesThe "Fearless Diva", Philippines’ "Soul Princess" and "Prima Jona"
Alma materUniversity of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music
OccupationSinger, occasional actress, philanthropist, TV personality
Years active1995-present
Height1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)

She was the lead singer of trio girl-group La Diva, alongside Maricris Garcia and Aicelle Santos with whom she shared success following her career as a solo artist. The trio earned string of hits with their rendition of songs such as "I'm Yours", "Angels Brought Me Here", "Apologize" and "Stand up For Love". They were chosen to sing the Philippine National Anthem at the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto boxing match in Las Vegas as well as the theme song of Philippine remake of the Mexican telenovela Rosalinda. Following the group's disbandment and her return as a solo artist she released her single 'Help Me Get Over' which was awarded the 'Song of the Year' at the 6th PMPC Star Awards for Music.[3]

In February 2016, Viray ended her decade-long exclusivity with GMA and transferred to ABS-CBN with changing her screen name to "Jona". On her first project in the Kapamilya Network, Jona sang "I Will Survive", the theme song of primetime drama series, We Will Survive.[4] She also sang the second version of I'll Never Love This Way Again, the OST soundtrack of 2016 romantic-drama film, Barcelona: A Love Untold and was chosen to sing the 65th Miss Universe theme entitled "Confidently Beautiful".

Throughout her career as member of La Diva and as a solo artist, Jona has won an 6 Awit Award, Aliw Awards, PMPC Star Awards For Music and World Championship of Performing Arts . She is known for her belting technique, melismatic singing style and her ability to sing operatic arias.

Ever since the onset of her career Jona has been quoted as the "Philippines' Soul Princess" by Philippine media and critics. Jona is classically-trained at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. She took Bachelor of Music, major in Classical Voice, minor in piano.

Early life

Born on November 15, 1989,[5] in Marikina City, Philippines,[1] she is the only girl and the eldest of 4 kids from Pio Duran, Albay.[5] She started joining singing contests on an early age.[6] She won first runner-up in "Birit Bulilit" of IBC 13 as a child[6] and one of the finalists in MTB Teen Pop Star[6] wherein her winning piece was Mariah Carey’s Never Too Far.[6] Growing up, Jonalyn, much like any aspiring singer, and actress admired Mariah Carey, Regine Velasquez, Whitney Houston, Kyla, Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé.[5][7] Viray cites Kyla and Sarah Geronimo as her inspiration saying they "inspired [her] to get up there and do what they did."

Pinoy Pop Superstar

Jona was 15 years old when she competed at the singing competition Pinoy Pop Superstar held by the local television station GMA 7 and hosted by Regine Velasquez. Jona emerged as the weekly champion after singing the Whitney Houston hit song "Run to You". She also sang "Reflection", "I Have Nothing" and "Never Too Far" on the weeks that follow, and after four consecutive weeks of being weekly champion, she qualified to the grand finals.

For winning the title of, Jona won 1 million pesos in cash and became the owner of a Futura Classic house and lot developed by Filinvest and a brand-new Toyota Innova. She also won an exclusive one-year contract with GMA Records, the recording arm of GMA Network, and received 100,000 pesos worth of Belo Medical services, plus gift certificates worth 50,000 pesos from Gandang Ricky Reyes.[8]

Transfer to ABS-CBN

In February 2016, Jona ended her decade of exclusivity with GMA and transferred to rival network ABS-CBN. Part of her reintroduction was the changing of her screen name to "Jona". Her earliest project in the Kapamilya Network saw her competing in the 2016 edition of Himig Handog, a songwriting and music video competition and also singing "I Will Survive", the theme song of primetime drama series, We Will Survive.[4]

From then on she has sung several theme songs for ABS-CBN films and drama series, became a mainstay of the longest noontime musical variety show ASAP, released her first album under Star Music which achieved Gold and Platinum certifications, held two major concerts which were only several months apart and find herself again competing and winning second place this time in Himig Handog 2017. On the 31st Awit Award, Jona bagged 6 awards, Most Downloaded Artist, Most Streamed Artist, Most Downloaded Song for "You," Most Streamed Song for "Pusong Ligaw," People's Voice for Favorite Collaboration for "Till the End of Time" with BoybandPH and Best Selling Album of the Year for self-titled album "Jona." Her collaboration with Regine Velasquez, "Matibay," also won Best Musical Arrangement award for composer Marvin Querido.

ASAP Birit Queens

On May 15, 2016, ASAP launched a group called the ASAP Birit Queens. The group is composed of Jona, Morissette Amon, Angeline Quinto and Klarisse de Guzman. The group held a concert on March 31, 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The group disbanded in late 2017.

Discography

Studio albums
Title Label Released Certification
Pinoy Pop Superstar: The Finalists [9]GMA Records2005Certified Platinum Record
On My Own [9]Certified Gold Record
La Diva [9]2010
Jonalyn VirayCreative Media Entertainment2013
JonaStar Music2017Certified Gold + Platinum Record

Singles
Title Original soundtrack of Album
Ay, Amor! [9]RosalindaLa Diva
Ikaw Ang Pag-Ibig [9]Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang
Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan[9]Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan
Maging Akin Ka Lamang [9]Maging Akin Ka LamangNone
If We Just Hold On[9]Le Robe De Mariee
Mahawi Man ang Ulap[9]Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap
Ang Mundo Ko'y Ikaw[9]Bakekang
Ikaw Nga[9]Mulawin
Di na Mag-iisa[9]Darna
Ayoko Na Sana[9]Faithfully
Help Me Get Over[9]My Husband's LoverJonalyn Viray
Sa Piling Mo[9]Lola
Nakita Kang MuliPadam Padam: The Music of Their Hearts
Tanging Ika'y MamahalinInnamorataNone
Kailan Ba Tama ang Mali?Kailan Ba Tama ang Mali?
I Will SurviveWe Will Survive
Maghihintay AkoHimig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2016
I'll Never Love This Way Again (second version)Barcelona: A Love Untold
Ano Nga Ba TayoFrom her new album "Jona"
Pusong LigawPusong Ligaw
YouMy Ex and Whys
Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita Asintado
Ngayon at KailanmanNgayon at Kailanman
Title Year PH

Hot 100

 PH

Top 20

 Album
"Maghihintay Ako" 2016 49 3 Jona
"Pusong Ligaw" 2017 28 3 Jona

Concerts
  • Fearless (February 28, 2014, Music Museum)
  • Journey into my Heart (November 27, 2015, Music Museum)
  • Queen of the Night: Jona (November 25, 2016, Kia Theatre)
  • ASAP Birit Queens (March 31, 2017, Mall of Asia Arena)
  • Prima Jona (November 18, 2017, The Theatre at Solaire)
  • The Aces (with Lani Misalucha and Darren Espanto) (March 30, 2019, Smart Araneta Coliseum)

Filmography

Television
YearTitleNotesNetwork
1996 Birit Bulilit[9]1st Runner Up
IBC
2004 MTB Teen Popstar[9]Finalist
ABS-CBN
2004/2005Pinoy Pop Superstar [9]Winner
GMA Network
2005/2010SOP[9]Herself / Performer
2005My Guardian Abby[9]Guest
QTV
(now GMA News TV)
2006I Luv NY[9]Jenny de Castro
GMA Network
2010/2013Party PilipinasHerself / Performer
2012My Daddy Dearest[9]Guest Singer
2013/2015Sunday All StarsHerself / Performer
2013Walang Tulugan with the Master ShowmanGuest
Kahit Nasaan Ka ManHerself
2014Cattleya
2015 Sarap Diva
2016-presentASAPHerself / Performer
ABS-CBN
2016It's ShowtimeHerself / Performer / Guest
Gandang Gabi, Vice!
2017Magandang BuhayHerself / Performer / Guest
2018I Can See Your VoiceHerself / Guest

Other TV Appearances
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gollark: WRONG.
gollark: So just use UNTYPED bigints.
gollark: Exactly.
gollark: It's technically workable.

References
  2. "56k". The-top-tens.com. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  3. "'My Husband's Lover' ending theme by Jonalyn Viray named Song of the Year at Star Awards". GMA News.
  4. Anarcon, James Patrick (February 24, 2016). "Jonalyn Viray now a Kapamilya; changes screen name to Jona". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  5. "Jonalyn Viray Basic Info and Facts from TV Network GMA 7". GMA 7 Philippine TV Network. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  6. "Jonalyn Viray Singing Competitions Joined Article Source". filipinomusica.com. Archived from the original on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  7. "Jonalyn Viray Biography, Voice, Albums". Celebrity Ring. 2008-08-22. Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  8. "Jonalyn Viray Emerged as the first ever Pinoy Pop Superstar". Findarticles.com. 2005-05-11. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  9. "Jonalyn Viray Filmography". IMDb. 2008-08-22. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
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