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 | 1984-2000, 2016-present |
| Labels | |
| 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 uncles Tirso Cruz III and Ricky Belmonte, cousins Sheryl, Sunshine, Geneva, Jenn Apsay, Rayver and Rodjun Cruz. On her paternal side, Cruz is the first cousin of Spongecola frontman Yael Yuzon, former Pupil guitarist Yanni Yuzon and Emerald Emilio.
Her self-titled debut album Donna was well received by the general public and earned her a double platinum certification, making her the youngest artist in history to receive a platinum record in the Philippines. Cruz's fourth studio album Habang May Buhay became the fastest-selling OPM album in the nineties, earning a certification of four-times platinum six months after its release. Its lead single "Only Me and You" became the biggest radio single in the Philippines at the time, enlisted to be played once every hour in more than seven Philippine-based radio stations throughout the summer of 1995. In December 1995, Cruz won Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the 1995 Metro Manila Film Festival for her portrayal as Noemi in the movie Muling Umawit ang Puso making her the youngest recipient of the award at the time.
In 1996, Cruz starred in DoReMi, the most successful musical comedy film in the Philippines. Its soundtrack album went platinum. A month later, Cruz released Merry Christmas Donna and it continued Cruz's unprecedented streak of successful albums in the Philippine music industry, making her the first teenage artist to have all five studio albums certified either gold or platinum. It was in the release of both the DoReMi soundtrack and the holiday album Merry Christmas Donna that made her the only artist in OPM history to release two albums that both reached platinum in the same calendar year. In 1997, Cruz released her most acclaimed album Pure Donna which earned the distinction of reaching platinum in less than a week. It was certified three times platinum in 1998.
At age twenty, Cruz was the highest paid exclusive artist (in the Viva Entertainment talent roster) in history. According to Viva Entertainment, she is the most successful OPM female artist of the 1990s, with combined album sales of over 2,500,000 units throughout her nine years as an active recording artist. Cruz is the only female artist in the Philippines to have had official PARI certifications for all her studio albums released from 1989 up to her hiatus in 2000. Her movies all in all have totaled a gross of ₱900 million in the local box office.
Cruz returned to the music industry with the release of her eighth studio album Now and Forever under Star Music.
Biography
1988-1991: Early career beginnings and Donna
Born in Manila, Philippines, Cruz began performing as a child, joining pageants and singing competitions. Her first stint in showbiz was when she ended up as a grand finalist of Eat Bulaga!'s Little Miss Philippines beauty pageant. Her biggest break up to that point was her achievement of becoming a grand champion of Bulilit Kampeon in 1988. She signed with Viva Records in 1989 and released her debut album Donna in that same year. Her singles "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso" and "Rain" became popular singles in OPM music. Cruz recorded all the songs at the age of twelve, making her the youngest artist from Viva Records to ever record a full studio album. The album was very successful and earned a double platinum certification, making her the youngest artist to ever reach platinum in the Philippines.
1992-1994: Kurot Sa Puso, Langit Na Naman and 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. She became part of the sitcoms Alabang Girls and Ober Da Bakod, both produced by VIVA Entertainment Group. 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, Angelu de Leon and Nida Blanca, and Pangako Ng Kahapon, together with Agot Isidro, Alice Dixson and Charito Solis which gave Cruz her first Best Supporting Actress nomination. After the success of these movies, Viva Entertainment Group gave Cruz her first soap opera entitled Villa Quintana opposite actor Keempee de Leon in 1994.
1995-1996: Habang May Buhay and dominance in the entertainment industry
In 1995, she starred in college romance flicks such as Campus Girls, Okey Si Ma'am, and Love Notes: The Movie. As a recording artist, she launched her signature album, Habang May Buhay, an album composed of love songs. The album received a quadruple platinum award, becoming Cruz's best-selling album so far. The single "Only Me and You" was chosen as Awit Award's Best Ballad Recording in 1995, and Cruz won the award for Best Ballad Performance by a Female Vocalist. Before the year closed, Cruz joined 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. Cruz was only eighteen when she won the coveted recognition making her the youngest recipient of the award (Cruz was eighteen at the time) until actress Rebecca Lusterio won the award in 2004 (who was sixteen at the time).
In 1996, her second single "Habang May Buhay" was released as a tie-in with a romantic movie of the same name. Habang May Buhay was top-billed by Cruz, Ian de Leon, Candy Pangilinan and veteran actress Hilda Koronel. She also starred alongside Bong Revilla and Nanette Medved in the action romantic-comedy movie, Pag-Ibig Ko Sa Iyo'y Totoo. Cruz 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 1996. Later that year, Cruz starred in DoReMi, the biggest movie of 1996, together with Regine Velasquez and Mikee Cojuangco. By the end of 1996, Cruz became the most popular female recording artist in the OPM music scene, having earned platinum and gold certifications for her first four albums. After releasing music that mostly had themes about love, Cruz released the holiday record Merry Christmas Donna which included the single "Muling Sumapit Ang Pasko," written by Cruz's longtime collaborator Vehnee Saturno. The album was certified platinum, and became the biggest-selling Christmas album during that year.
1997-1998: Pure Donna and career milestones
In 1997, Cruz starred in Dahil Tanging Ikaw alongside Ian de Leon and Jao Mapa. Her album Pure Donna was also released and garnered platinum status in just a week after it was issued in record outlets. 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] Later that year, Cruz reunited with Jason Everly to star in the romantic-comedy 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. 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.
In 1998, 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's final project before her marriage in September 1998 was in Growing Up in which she voluntarily decided to play a supporting role to actress Angelu de Leon instead of starring co-lead. Cruz eventually dropped out of the show and married ophthalmologist Potenciano Larrazabal III and relocated to Cebu permanently. A compilation named The Best of Donna was released to commemorate Cruz's ten year catalog with Viva Entertainment from 1989-1998.
1996-2005: Hulog Ng Langit and career hiatus
Cruz 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 Isabella Adriana. After giving birth, she released "Ikaw Pala 'Yon" her final single under her then-current contract with Viva Entertainment Group. Viva Records released Donna Cruz Sings Her Greatest Hits in 2001. After finishing her contract with Viva, she was able to graduate with degree in Bachelor of Science, Computer Science in Cebu Doctors University.[3] In 2003, she gave birth to her second child, a son named Potenciano IV. Cruz also made a special guest appearance in Bahay Mo Ba 'To? as Lynnette, reprising her role in Villa Quintana in 2003.
2006-2014: Television appearances 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 Iñigo Renato. 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 "Kailanma'y 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 with Ogie Alcasid and Manilyn Reynes where she played the role of Daldalita's mother. This marked Cruz' first acting role in a television show since 1998's Growing Up. In that same year, Cruz performed on stage in GMA 7's Party Pilipinas singing her hit single, "Rain".
2015-present: Now and Forever and return to the entertainment industry
In 2015, Cruz sang the Similac Gain School theme song, "Wonderful World". Months later, Cruz returned to the music scene signing her comeback album under Star Music in January 2016. She appeared on Tonight with Boy Abunda, Kris TV and on ABS CBN's ASAP to promote her latest album, entitled Now and Forever. A sequel to the movie DoReMi is also in its initial stages which will reunite Cruz with co-stars Regine Velasquez, Mikee Cojuangco and Gloria Romero.
Personal life
Donna Cruz Yrastorza was born on February 14, 1977 to parents Renato Yrastorza and Yolly Cruz. She has an older brother named Jomar. Famously belonging to the Cruz clan of Philippine showbiz, her relatives include uncles Tirso Cruz III and the late Ricky Belmonte, as well as cousins Geneva, Sheryl, Sunshine, Rayver and Rodjun Cruz. On her paternal side, Cruz is the first cousin of brothers Yanni and Yael Yuzon who are both musicians. In February 1998, Cruz became engaged to Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III, an opthalmologist from Cebu. She married Larrazabal on September 19, 1998 in Manila before moving to Cebu permanently. She and Larrazabal have three children named Isabella Adriana nicknamed "Belle" (born 1999),[4] Potenciano IV nicknamed "Cian" (born 2003)[5] and Iñigo Renato nicknamed "Gio" (born 2007).[6]
Discography
Cruz has released eight studio albums, two soundtrack albums and three compilation albums. Cruz has sold over 2,500,000 units of her albums from 1989-2000 under Viva Records, making her the biggest-selling female artist of OPM music in the nineties. In 2016, she was officially signed as a recording artist under Star Music, marking her comeback in the OPM music scene.
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)
- Now and Forever (2016)
Soundtrack albums
- Muling Umawit Ang Puso: Music from the Motion Picture (1995)
- DoReMi: Music from the Motion Picture (1996)
Compilation albums
- The Best of Donna (1998)
- Donna Cruz Sings Her Greatest Hits (2001)
- Silver Series: Donna (2006)
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 | |||
| 1994/1996 | Villa Quintana | Lynette Quintana | |
| 1995/1998 | Eat Bulaga! | Co-Host | |
| 1996/1998 | Growing Up | Stephanie Acosta | |
| 2005 | Bahay Mo Ba 'To | Guest | |
| 2011 | Party Pilipinas | ||
| Daldalita | Carmela | ||
| 2014 | Sarap Diva | Guest | |
| 2016 | ASAP | Herself / Performer | |
Film
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Andrew Ford Medina: Huwag Kang Gamol | Donna |
| 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 | Ober Da Bakod: The Movie | Muning |
| 1995 | Campus Girls | Georgie |
| 1995 | Love Notes: The Movie | Ditas |
| 1995 | Okey Si Ma'am! | Lailani Arana |
| 1995 | Muling Umawit ang Puso | Noemi |
| 1996 | Habang May Buhay | Pia |
| 1996 | 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
- ↑ "Donna Cruz". http://telebisyon.net. External link in
|publisher=(help) - ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTGEg2eIrpU
- ↑ http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/119601-donna-cruz-family-life-new-album-star-music
- ↑ http://www.newsflash.org/1999/09/sb/sb000943.htm
- ↑ http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/278732/donna-mama
- ↑ http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/650248/private-world-donna-yong
External links
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