Jona Viray

Jonalyn Viray
Jona singing at Music Museum during "Fearless" concert, wearing a Nat Manilag haute couture gown
Background information
Birth name	Jonalyn Roxas Viray
Also known as	The Philippines' Fearless Diva, Soul Princess and “Prima Jona”
Born	(1989-11-15) November 15, 1989[1] Marikina, Philippines
Origin	Pio Duran, Albay, Philippines[1]
Genres	Pop ballad, R&B, soul, Classical.
Occupation(s)	Singer, Occasional Actress, Endorser, Philanthropist, TV Host
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Star Magic (2016-present) Star Music (2016-present) Creative Media Entertainment (2013-present) GMA Records (2005-2013)

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

Early life

Born on November 15, 1989,^[5] Jona 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, 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

Viray 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.

In the grand finals, the eight grand contenders wore identical attire: the men in black suits with red shirts; and the women in red gowns. They sang their own respective chosen songs as the UP Concert Chorus, dressed in black, and carrying lighted white balloons, provided the background. MC Monterola and Jonalyn Viray had a back-to-back performance, MC singing "Through the Fire" and Jonalyn "It Might Be You". Kristel Astor sang "If You Dont Know Me By Now", Philbert de Torres did "Once There was a Love", Sheila Ferreri gave an impressive rendition of Eva Eugenios' "Tukso", Charmaine Piamonte sang "I Believe", Brenan Espartinez sang "Home" and Michael Garcia sang "If You're Not the One".

From the eight were chosen the Top Four: Jonalyn Viray, Michael Garcia, Charmaine Piamonte and Brenan Espartinez. Michael was as cool, smooth and confident in singing "She's Out of My Life" and Charmaine was equally at ease and cool in singing "I Will Love Again". Jonalyn was in her best elements as she sang "Run to You" by Whitney Houston. Brenan was also confident and remarkable as he sang his song "Careless Whisper".

From the Top Four, Michael and Charmaine were eliminated to give way to the Top Two, Jonalyn and Brenan who then delivered their own versions of the Pinoy Pop Superstar theme song "My Miracle." Jonalyn bested Brenan and was declared the first ever Pinoy Pop Superstar grand champion.

For winning the title of, Jonalyn 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]

Projects in GMA Network

Immediately after winning in Pinoy Pop Superstar GMA Records released Jonalyn's first studio album entitled "On My Own" in 2005. The 10-song album managed to reach a Gold certification.

She also became a mainstay in GMA's musical variety-show SOP until the show's cancellation in February 2010. Jonalyn was fortunate enough to have been selected still in the follow-up shows Party Pilipinas in 2010 and Sunday All Stars in 2013. The shows, although relatively short-lived than SOP, managed to keep Jonalyn in the public viewing.

Jonalyn had her first acting stint in 2006 via GMA's primetime series I Luv NY topbilled by Jolina Magdangal, Jennylyn Mercado, Mark Herras and Marvin Agustin.

In 2013, Viray released her self-titled album under Creative Media Entertainment. It includes the single "Help Me Get Over" which was awarded "Song of the Year" during the 6th PMPC Star Awards for Music held the following year.

Other than these, Jonalyn was behind numerous GMA series theme songs such as that of Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap, Bakekang, Faithfully, Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan, and My Husband's Lover to name a few.

World Championships of Performing Arts

On 12 August 2006, Viray was sent as part of the Philippine team to what's dubbed as the "Olympics of Performing Arts", - the World Championships of Performing Arts(WCOPA), held at the Hollywood Palladium in the world's entertainment capital. It was no easy feat considering that they had to outdo 4,000 other performers from 40 participating countries.^[9]

Overall, Viray bagged:

Female Solo Industry Award (Bested more than 4,000 contestants from 40 Countries)

Over-all Champion for Female Vocal Solo in WCOPA 2006 for Broadway Category - Original Category - Pop Category

For Solo Category
Gold Medalist in WCOPA 2006 for Broadway Category
Gold Medalist in WCOPA 2006 for Original Category
Gold Medalist in WCOPA 2006 for Pop Category
Gold Medalist in WCOPA 2006 for RnB Category
Gold Medalist in WCOPA 2006 for Jazz Category
Gold Medalist in WCOPA 2006 for Variety Category
Championship Plaque - Overall Female Vocal Solo - Broadway
Championship Plaque - Overall Female Vocal Solo - Pop
Championship Plaque - Overall Female Vocal Solo - Original

For Duet Category
Gold Medalist in WCOPA 2006 for Pop and Rnb Jazz Category ( With Brenan Espartinez)
Vocal Duet Industry Award Over-all champion for Duet for Pop Category - Gospel Category - Broadway Category

La Diva

Viray in 2012

La Diva is a Filipino trio pop girl group, first established from the now-defunct musical variety-show SOP. The group is composed of two winners and a runner-up of Pinoy Pop Superstar, namely Jona, Aicelle Santos and Maricris Garcia. La Diva has sold more than 10,000 albums in the Philippines which has earned them several achievements, including an Awit Award, two PMPC Star Awards for Music and an Aliw Award, becoming the fourth best-selling female group in the Philippines behind the Sexbomb Girls, Aegis and Mocha Girls.

It was on May 2008 when the GMA ARTIST CENTER formed the musical trio. Member Jonalyn Viray cited that a meeting for the creation of La Diva was held in January that year, with the stipulation that each member of the group would still keep their own identity, and their solo career. While the three ladies of La Diva are uncertain of how the group was formed, the combining factor is that each of them came from the GMA's reality talent search Pinoy Pop Superstar. Jona and Maricris Garcia were the Grand Champions of the first and third seasons respectively, and Aicelle Santos was the runner-up of the second season.

Viray left La Diva in December 2013, because of some contract issues, but was able to sing with the group until 2015.

Transfer to ABS-CBN

In February 2016, Viray 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.

ASAP Birit Queens

On May 15, 2016, ASAP launched a group called the ASAP Birit Queens. The group is composed of Viray, Morissette Amon, Angeline Quinto and Klarisse de Guzman. The group disbanded in late 2017.

Discography

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)

Filmography

Other TV Appearances

• Unang Hirit^[10]
• SiS^[10]
• Extra Challenge^[10]
• Eat Bulaga!^[10]
• Sweet Life^[10]
• Full Time Moms^[10]
• Showbiz Central^[10]
• S-Files^[10]
• Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho^[10]
• Celebrity Duets: Philippine Edition^[10]
• Protégé: The Battle For The Big Artista Break
• Net 25
• Just Duet
• Showtime
• Rated K
• Umagang Kay Ganda
• Tonight with Boy Abunda
• Kris TV

References

External links

• Jonalyn Viray at iGMA.tv
• Jona Viray on IMDb