Jessa Zaragoza

Richelle Ann Mallari Loyola-Avanzado (born January 31, 1979), better known by her stage name Jessa Zaragoza, is a Filipina singer and actress. She is well known as the dubbed "Phenomenal Diva" and "Jukebox Queen of the 90's" for her first studio album "Just Can't Help Feelin" in 1997 with the hit carrier single "Bakit Pa?" which became a Number One Ballad in the Philippines and a Top 40 hit during 1997-1999. The album also was a Certified by PARI and certified platinum. Its carrier single "Bakit Pa?" was also released by OctoArts Films and GMA Films as a Valentine's Day Film Offering directed by Multi-Genre Award Winning Film Director Jose Javier Reyes. She also then collaborated with Award Winning film director Mel Chionglo in "Malikot Na Mundo" with actors Lara Morena and Raymond Bagatsing and Patrick Guzman her last film with the same film production. By 2000, she has also released her fourth studio album and first for Star Records "Ibigay Mo Na" and 2004's "Kahit Na Ilang Umaga". She sang the cover of Sana"y Wala Nang Wakas for the hit Primetime Series of the same name. In 2002-2003, she played Andromeda on the hit series Bituin with acting counterparts Nora Aunor and Cherie Gil.

In 2008 she sang the revival of Didith Reyes' hit song "Bakit Ako Mahihiya" for the critically acclaimed series Eva Fonda starring Cristine Reyes and was part of her 2009 album "Jessa Sings The Great Musical Icons" under MCA Music. By 2012, she released another studio album after three years her seventh studio album entitled "Pag Wala Na Ang Ulan" with GMA Records. From 2012 to present, she has also been seen weekly on the satire comedy show Pepito Manaloto as DeeDee alongside veteran sitcom comedian Nova Villa. This is Zaragoza's first comeback to the comedy genre after 2001's sitcom "Attagirl on ABS-CBN.

Biography

Zaragoza was a GMA Network talent using her real name as Richelle Ann Loyola when she decided to audition as Little Miss Philippines of Eat Bulaga! in 1987. In the early 1990s, she was part of German Moreno's longest running variety show, That's Entertainment. She was also part of comedy shows Alabang Girls on ABC (now TV5) from 1992 to 1994.

As well as an actress, Zaragoza is also a singer, having been signed to OctoArts EMI Philippines (now PolyEast Records). Her first album Just Can't Help Feelin was released in 1997. Her second album Phenomonal was released in 1999. She later transferred to rival network ABS-CBN from 2000–2004, and signed a deal with its recording company Star Records, releasing her next two albums Ibigay Mo Na (2000) and Kahit Na Ilang Umaga (2004). She also sang the theme songs for soaps and TV series of ABS-CBN and GMA.

Among her most popular songs is "Bakit Pa" which was the soundtrack to a romantic comedy film she starred in, also entitled Bakit Pa? with Troy Montero and Diether Ocampo as her leading men. The film was released in theaters on February 3, 1999 as a Valentine's movie presentation of Octoarts and GMA Films. She was also part of a soap opera which ran from May to October 1999 on GMA-7 entitled Di Ba't Ikaw.

In 2000, new hit singles surfaced such as "Ibigay Mo Na", Ibigay Mo Na was controversial for its album lay out and sexually themed song which was criticized for being painfully harmful but a heartfelt ballad "Siya Ba Ang Dahilan" and "Kung Kailan Pa".

In 2001, Zaragoza sang the theme song of the ABS-CBN afternoon soap, Recuerdo de Amor which ran from 2001–2002. She was also cast in another ABS-CBN soap which starred Nora Aunor, Carol Banawa and Desiree Del Valle entitled Bituin. she also starred on the hit sitcom Attagirl alongside Vanessa Del Blanco, Andrea del Rosario and Cindy Kurleto which ran for three seasons.

In 2003, she sang the ABS-CBN theme song of Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas. The song was featured on her album Kahit Na Ilang Umaga, released by Star Records.

In 2004, she participated at the Himig Handog Songwriting Contest interpreting the song "Hindi Na Bale" composed by Jimmy Antiporda.

In 2006, she collaborated with her singer/songwriter husband, Dingdong Avanzado on the duet album, Laging Ikaw, released under Universal Records. During the 2006 period she had worked with fellow friends comedian Marissa Sanchez, and actress Ara Mina on a worldwide tour called "The Divas Tour" which was produced by Dingdong Avanzado which was critically a successful concert venue which went for six months in different parts of the world.

In 2007, controversy erupted between her and Rufa Mae Quinto when Quinto allegedly interpreted and stated that Zaragoza was the reason of hers and Dingdong's breakup. It became one of Philippine showbiz's most memorable breakups. Zaragoza defended herself on a live interview on GMA's Startalk about the alleged accusations. Quinto appeared in YES magazine as a featured artist on the front cover, and in the article she talked about her personal life and past relationships.

In 2009, after a series of shows in the U.S. together with Avanzado, Zaragoza came back on primetime television in the remake of the series in 1999 Rosalinda. She also released an album which featured all cover versions on Jessa Sings the Great Musical Icons. The album paid tribute to such musical legends such as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Tina Turner, Sting and the Police, Madonna and Stevie Wonder.

In 2010, she went back to ABS-CBN to be part of the short-lived primetime television series, 1DOL. She then made several guest TV appearances, performing renditions of songs with Avanzado.

Zaragoza also appeared in an episode of Wansapanataym: Super Kikay and the Flying Pagong with Kim Chiu.

In 2012, she portrayed Angela in the afternoon soap based on the 1989 film produced by Seiko Films' Ruben Marcelino, Kokak as the mother to title protagonist Sarah Lahbati. In July of that year, her album Pag Wala Na Ang Ulan was released under GMA Records. The album includes the song "Nasaan" from the TV series Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit on GMA.

On August 3, 2013, she released a digital single called "Missing You" in two different languages; Tagalog and English.^[1][2]

On August 7, 2014 Zaragoza Interpreted "Bumalik Ang Nagdaan" with Star Music (formerly known as Star Records) for the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs. This is her third time to interpret a song for the Himig Handog Love Song Contest, together with her former singles "Susubukan Kong Muli" (2001) "Hindi Na Bale" (2005) were released during those years. Hindi Na Bale was also her second time working with Jimmy Antiporda and was also revived by Bugoy Drillon In 2010. This Is her comeback to the recording company after 9 years for the Interpretation of the song her previous works were the albums "Ibigay Mo Na" (2000) and Kahit Na Ilang Umaga (2003-2004) album.

Personal life

Zaragoza is married to singer Dingdong Avanzado. They wed on March 18, 2001. They have a daughter named Jayda and since 2003, they have resided in Vallejo, California, the wedding was highly publicized in newspapers and Talk TV during the time of Pop Music being more mainstream the two resided in the US. being the prince of pop and Jukebox Queen of the Philippines titles ^[3]

Filmography

Discography

• 1997: Just Can't Help Feelin' (first album with OctoArts EMI Philippines, now called Polyeast Records)
• 1998: Phenomenal
• 1998: Siya Ba Ang Dahilan? (final album with OctoArts EMI Philippines)
• 1998: The Best Of (compilation album of best hits produced by OctoArts EMI Philippines)
• 1999: Ibigay Mo Na(first album produced with Star Records, second album of the year released in 2000)
• 2004: Kahit Na Ilang Umaga (final album produced and released in 2004–2005 with Star Records)
• 2005: Laging Ikaw (duet album with Dingdong Avanzado, including duets of best hits)
• 2009: Sings the Great Musical Icons I (an all-cover album with Universal Records)
• 2012: Pag Wala Na Ang Ulan (GMA Records)

References

External links

• Official website