JE C.C.
The ‘La Diva’ and ‘Birit Queens’ belter have accomplished some of her biggest career milestones since she transferred to ABS-CBN.
Jona was already thriving with GMA Network for a decade, and when she suddenly made her move out of her former home network, her fans and much of the industry were taken aback. La Diva was already among GMA Network’s most successful performance groups, and Jona, by herself, has scored multiple singles, including big soundtrack bangers that Kapuso audiences hummed and sang along to.
As much as being an exclusive Kapuso talent for 10 years transformed Jona into the great performer that she is now, her Kapamilya stint certainly did her better. She went from being a mere winner to a survivor. Not too many in the world she braved to embrace last as long as 10 years or more, and yet, she is still here, still with big venues and new milestones to conquer.
“First time ko nagkaroon ng platinum album,” she told in a PEP.ph interview as she narrated how her six years with ABS-CBN brought her to new heights in her career.
That seems a recognition of the huge impact that decision she made on her life. That album is Jona, her self-titled album with Star Cinema in 2017; it is also the one that gave her multiple hit singles, including ‘Pusong Ligaw’, ‘You’, ‘I’ll Never Love This Way Again’, and the Himig Handog entry ‘Maghihintay Ako’. She has never had at least three singles taking spots in music charts, all at once.
With her Kapamilya transfer, Jona also earned the nods of many critics. In 2018 alone, Awit Awards handed her eight solid recognitions. She interpreted a Himig Handog song, three years in a row. She recorded no less than five original soundtracks for hit TV series and movies and went on to score a handful of additional awards, including the Artist of the Year trophy from the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC), and the Most Influential Artist of the Year award from EdukCircle.
Jona’s horizon as a recording artist and a performer expanded inordinately through ABS-CBN. She was able to extend her talent to Filipinos abroad via TFC, and she was able to establish herself as one of the prime young belters in the music scene. Her artistry evolved.
“I think isa sa mga changes na iyon is iyong maturity ko bilang music artist. Parang pakiramdam ko mas lumalim iyong appreciation ko sa music. And siyempre, the way I also sing, parang mas disciplined, mas controlled”, she noted.
Six years into her journey as a Kapamilya talent, Jona seems prepared for the further ascent, expansions that would see her reach more meaningful milestones, new focal points in her already victorious career. And now that she’s back and ready to conquer more ambitious stages, the spotlight is once again on her, only this time, it’s brighter.
