Donna Cruz
| Donna Cruz | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Donna Cruz Yrastorza |
| Born | February 14, 1977 |
| Origin | Manila, Philippines |
| Genres | OPM, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1984-present |
| Labels | VIVA Music Entertainment |
| Website | donnacruz |
Donna Cruz Yrastorza-Larrazabal (born February 14, 1977) or popularly known as Donna Cruz is a Filipina recording artist and entertainer. She emerged as the biggest multimedia superstar in the 1990s, becoming successful as a recording artist, actress, product endorser and television presenter. Cruz is related to the Cruz clan in Philippine showbiz which includes cousins Tirso, Sheryl, Sunshine, Geneva, Rayver and Rodjun, and is the first cousin of Spongecola frontman Yael Yuzon.
At age twenty, Cruz was the highest paid exclusive VIVA artist (in the VIVA Entertainment talent roster) in history, with earnings of ₱77 million in 1997 alone. According to Viva Entertainment, she is the most successful OPM female artist of the 1990s, with combined album sales of over 300,000 units throughout her nine years as an active recording artist, and her movies totaling a gross of ₱900 million in the local box office.
Biography
1988-1991: Early career beginnings
Born in Manila, Philippines, Cruz began performing as a child, becoming a grand finalist of Eat Bulaga!'s Little Miss Philippines beauty pageant and grand champion of Bulilit Batang Kampeon in 1988. She signed with Viva Records in 1991 and released her debut album Donna in that same year. During this decade, she became a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, as she was one of the most sought-after entertainers in the Philippines. Her singles "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso" and "Rain" became popular singles in OPM music. In the same year that Cruz was launched as an actress, she played a supporting role alongside Tony Lambino in Mars Ravelo's Darna, which was topbilled by actress Nanette Medved.
1992-1994: Breakthrough as an actress
In 1992, Cruz won as Best New Performing Artist in Awit Awards. She released Kurot sa Puso in that same year, and joined German Moreno's That's Entertainment, a daily variety show that featured young and upcoming new talents. Two years later, she released Langit na Naman, her third studio album. It was certified gold in the Philippines. it was in that same year that she starred in two drama movies, Kadenang Bulaklak alongside Vina Morales, Ana Roces and Angelu de Leon, and Pangako Ng Kahapon, together with Agot Isidro and Alice Dixson, the movie which gave her a Best Supporting Actress nomination. After the success of these movies, Cruz starred in her first soap opera entitled Villa Quintana opposite actor Keempee de Leon which also got a PMPC Nomination for Best TV Series. In 1995, she starred in college romance flicks such as Campus Girls, Okey Si Ma'am, and Love Notes: The Movie.
1995-1997: Dominance as a multimedia star
As a recording artist, she launched her biggest-selling album ever, Habang May Buhay, an album composed of selected movie theme songs. The album received its Quadruple platinum award, making it Donna's best-selling album so far. The cut "Only Me and You" was chosen as Awit Award's 1995 Best Ballad Recording, and Donna as Best Female Ballad Performance in an album. The album was certified 4x platinum. The single "Only Me and You" won her the Best Ballad Recording by a Female Artist. Also, a movie was made as a tie-in with the release of the movie Habang May Buhay in which she starred alongside Ian de Leon and Hilda Koronel. Before the year closed, Cruz joined de Leon as well as his mother, veteran actress Nora Aunor in the drama film, Muling Umawit ang Puso, in which she won her first acting award, a Best Supporting Actress trophy given by the Metro Manila Film Festival.
In 1996, she starred alongside Bong Revilla in Pag-Ibig Ko Sa Iyo'y Totoo and again with Ian de Leon and newcomer Jao Mapa in Dahil Tanging Ikaw. During that same year, she starred in DoReMi, the biggest movie of 1996, together with Regine Velasquez and Mikee Cojuangco. Cruz released a Christmas album entitled, Merry Christmas Donna, which included the single "Muling Sumapit Ang Pasko," written by legendary songwriter Vehnee Saturno. The album was certified platinum, and became the biggest-selling Christmas album during that year.
In 1997, she recorded a duet with American singer Jason Everly, called "Wish", son of Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers which became the biggest radio single of that year. She also recorded an Alan Menken song entitled "The Story of My Life" which was included in the Philippine release of The Best of Disney Love Songs. Her album Pure Donna was also released and garnered platinum status in just a week after it was issued in record outlets. Later that year, Cruz together with Jason Everly starred in the blockbuster film, Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot, which is her latest film to date. Also that same year, she joined Eat!...Bulaga as a co-host and performer. She was also part of SOP, a Sunday musical variety show. Cruz also starred and hosted her musical special Pure Donna, which was broadcast on GMA 7 on her twentieth birthday. The special won the Best Musical Special in the 1997 Aliw Awards.[1] A Villa Quintana: The Movie starring Cruz and Keempee de Leon was also planned but was scrapped by Viva Films at the last minute. Before the year ended, Cruz was officially the highest-paid female celebrity in the 1990s, with annual earnings worth ₱77 million in 1997 alone, according to VIVA Entertainment.
1998-2005: Marriage, pregnancy and college graduation
In February 1998, Cruz became engaged to Yong Larrazabal, an ophthalmologist from Cebu. During that year, she was supposed to film Putikang Anghel a movie which will depict Cruz in a sexier, more mature and daring role, with Onemig Bondoc and Jake Roxas, but production was halted after Vic del Rosario, Jr., owner of Viva Entertainment, Inc. rejected the script.[2] Cruz married Larrazabal in September of that year, and relocated to Cebu permanently. She released her final album under Viva Records in 1999, entitled Hulog ng Langit, which focused on love songs and lullabies. During that year, she gave birth to a daughter named Belle. Three years later, she gave birth to her second child, a son named Cian. Cruz made a special guest appearance in Bahay Mo Ba 'To? as Lynnette, reprising her role in Villa Quintana. A year later, she managed to successfully finish a computer degree from Cebu Doctors College in 2003.
2006-present: Comeback and guestings
Cruz returned to the spotlight in 2006, after appearing with her two children, Belle and Cian, for a Jollibee commercial. In 2007, Cruz gave birth to her third child, named Gio. In that same year, Cruz sang the Pampers Christmas Advertisement jingle "Payapang Daigdig". In 2008, Cruz spearheaded the Lactum's 100% Panatag Ako campaign by singing "Kailanman Panatag", a song written by Ogie Alcasid and Nicole Tolentino, and performed the song in ASAP.
In 2010, Cruz appeared as a celebrity contestant in Wowowee, and performed "I Can" with fellow celebrity contestants Dimples Romana and Nikki Valdez. A year later, Cruz appeared in the sitcom Daldalita where she played the role of Carmela de Leon-Matias, who is Daldalita's mother. This marked Cruz' first acting role in a television show since 1998's Growing Up.
Discography
Studio albums
- Donna (1989)
- Kurot Sa Puso (1992)
- Langit Na Naman (1994)
- Habang May Buhay (1995)
- Merry Christmas Donna (1996)
- Pure Donna (1997)
- Hulog Ng Langit (1999)
Soundtrack albums
- Campus Girls: Music from the Motion Picture (1995)
- Love Notes: Music from the Motion Picture (1995)
- Muling Umawit Ang Puso: Music from the Motion Picture (1995)
- DoReMi: Music from the Motion Picture (1996)
Compilation albums
- The Best of Donna Cruz (1998)
- Servant of All (2000)
- Donna Cruz Sings Her Greatest Hits (2001)
- Viva Silver Series: Donna (2006)
Singles
- Alam Mo Na, Di Ba? (Covered by Sugarpop)
- Boy (I Love You) (Originally sang by Cherie Gil, covered by Toni Gonzaga)
- Dahil Tanging Ikaw (Originally sang by Jaya for the theme song of the same movie title)
- Habang May Buhay (Originally sang by Wency Cornejo, covered by Aiza Seguerra for the theme song of ABS-CBN primetime drama Habang May Buhay)
- Hulog ng Langit (Covered by Frencheska Farr and Geoff Taylor for the theme song of GMA 7 early primetime drama Langit sa Piling Mo and covered by Angeline Quinto/Aiza Seguerra for the theme song of ABS-CBN daytime drama Mundo Man ay Magunaw)
- Huwag Kang Mangako (Originally sang by Kuh Ledesma and covered by Lovi Poe for the theme song of GMA 7 primetime drama Akin Pa Rin ang Bukas)
- Ikaw Lang at Ako (Covered by Liezel Garcia for the theme song of ABS-CBN daytime drama Paraiso)
- Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso (Covered by Toni Gonzaga and covered by Janella Salvador)
- Langit Na Naman (Originally sang by Hotdog and covered by Sam Milby/Daniel Padilla)
- Wish (duet with Jason Everly, covered by Sarah Geronimo and Anton Alvarez)
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–1994 | Alabang Girls | Bighani/Big Honey |
|
| 1993 | That's Entertainment | Herself/Host |
|
| 1993–1997 | Ober Da Bakod | Muning |
|
| 1995 | Wishing for a Soulmate | Libay |
|
| Hustisya | |||
| Laging Nasa Puso | |||
| 1995-1997 | Villa Quintana | Lynette Quintana |
|
| 1995–1998 | Eat Bulaga! | Co-Host | |
| 1996–1998 | Growing Up | Stephanie Acosta | |
| 2005 | Bahay Mo Ba 'To | Guest | |
| 2008 | ASAP | Guest |
|
| 2011 | Party Pilipinas | Guest |
|
| Daldalita | Carmela | ||
| 2013 | Villa Quintana | Isabelle Quirante | |
| 2014 | Sarap Diva | Guest |
Film
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Andrew Ford Medina: Huwag Kang Gamol | Donna |
| 1991 | Dr. Potpot Travels to the Moon | |
| 1991 | Darna | |
| 1992 | Pangako Sa'yo | |
| 1992 | Pretty Boy | |
| 1993 | Ang Boyfriend Kong Gamol | Donna |
| 1993 | Manchichiritchit | |
| 1993 | Kadenang Bulaklak | Violy Abolencia |
| 1993 | Tom & Jerry: Hindi Kaming Hayop | |
| 1993 | Row 4: Ang Baliktorians | Dory Pangilinan |
| 1994 | Pintsik | Gilda |
| 1994 | Pinagbiyak na Bunga | Kristine |
| 1994 | Pangako ng Kahapon | Belinda Tavera |
| 1994 | Johnny Guess: Ang Taong Laging Nagtatanong | |
| 1994 | Ober Da Bakod: The Movie | Muning |
| 1995 | Love Notes Movie (Ep. 2: Langit na Naman) | Ditas |
| 1995 | Okey Si Ma'am! | Lailani Arana (Leny) |
| 1995 | Campus Girls | Georgie |
| 1995 | Muling Umawit ang Puso | Noemi |
| 1995 | Habang May Buhay | Pia |
| 1995 | Pag-Ibig Ko Sa Iyo'y Totoo | Dulce |
| 1996 | DoReMi | Donette Legaspi |
| 1997 | Dahil Tanging Ikaw | Erica and Cecile |
| 1997 | Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot | Rizelle |
Awards
Awit Awards
| Year | Recipient/Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Herself | Best New Female Recording Artist | Won |
| 1995 | "Only Me and You" | Best Ballad Recording | Won |
Film Academy of the Philippines
| Year | Recipient/Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Pangako ng Kahapon | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
Star Awards
| Year | Recipient/Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Pangako ng Kahapon | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
Metro Manila Film Festival
| Year | Recipient/Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Muling Umawit ang Puso | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
Aliw Awards
| Year | Recipient/Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Pure Donna | Best Musical Special | Won |
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTGEg2eIrpU
External links
- Articles with hCards
- Pages using Template:Infobox musical artist with unknown parameters
- 1977 births
- Living people
- That's Entertainment (Philippine TV series)
- Filipino child actresses
- Filipino film actresses
- That's Entertainment Tuesday Group Members
- Filipino television actresses
- Filipino child singers
- Filipino female singers
- People from Cebu City
- People from Manila
- Singers from Manila
- Actresses from Manila
- Cruz family
