Donna Cruz
Encyclopedia
Donna Cruz Yrastorza-Larrazabal (born February 14, 1977) better known by her stage name Donna Cruz, is a Filipina
pop
singer and actress. She comes from the Cruz clan which include celebrities Sheryl Cruz
, Geneva Cruz
and Sunshine Cruz
, her cousins.
's 14K in the Mermaid International Children's Song Festival in Hiroshima
, Japan. She was also a grand finalist in the Little Miss Philippines on Eat Bulaga.
After the successful release of her debut album, Cruz embarked on her first movie, playing the girlfriend of Smokey Mountain member Tony Lambino, in the remake of Darna. It was in this movie that she was officially launched as an actress.
A year after launching her debut album, she released another LP entitled Kurot Sa Puso. Though it proved to be less successful than her debut, it enabled her to launch herself as one of the most sought-after icons of 1990s. Two years later, she released her third solo album, Langit Na Naman which received a gold award.
, Vilma Santos
, Sharon Cuneta
, and Pops Fernandez
, this "triple threat" status will most likely continue in the late 90's and in the new millennium, paving way for more artists to do the same. According to the Philippine Showbiz Industry, Cruz had the most appearances in Philippine TV during 1990s, from her beginnings in 1991 up to her hiatus and marriage in 1998. Also, the Cruz clan would be known as the top earning Philippine showbiz clan in the same decade.
In 1994, she starred in two drama movies, Kadenang Bulaklak and Pangako Ng Kahapon, which gave her a Best Supporting Actress nomination. She also starred in a soap opera called Villa Quintana opposite actor Keempee de Leon. The year after, she starred in the critically acclaimed movie Muling Umawit Ang Puso, alongside Ian de Leon and multi-awarded actress Nora Aunor
. In this movie, she won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
In 1995, she launched her biggest-selling album ever, Habang May Buhay, an album composed of selected movie theme songs. The album was certified 7x 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. The year after, she starred in the biggest movie of 1996, DoReMi, in which she shared the spotlight with Regine Velasquez
and Mikee Cojuangco.
In 1996, Cruz released a Christmas album entitled, Merry Christmas Donna, which included the single "Muling Sumapit Ang Pasko," written by legendary songwriter Vehnee Saturno, who wrote Cruz's biggest hit, "Only Me And You."
In 1997, she recorded a duet with American singer Jason Everly, called "Wish", son of Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers and made a local film with him entitled "Isang Tanong Isang Sagot." She also recorded an Alan Menken
song entitled "The Story of My Life" which is included in the Philippine release of The Best of Disney Love Songs album. Her album Pure Donna was also released and garnered platinum status in just a week after it was issued in record outlets.
Also that same year, she joined Eat!...Bulaga as a co-host, eventually performing every now and then during her stay. During her short stay in the variety show, she was able to showcase her hosting skills, which led to her to guest often as co-host during the early years of SOP. Due to her ability to host, Cruz also starred and hosted her musical special Pure Donna, which was broadcast on GMA 7 on her 20th birthday. The special won the Best Musical Special in the 1997 Aliw Awards.
Cruz was also a known figure for popular brands such as Jollibee, Camay Soap, Whisper Napkins, Lux Super Rich Shampoo, U2 clothing, Cinderella, and Sari-Sari Store.
. They have two children, namely Belle and Cian. Despite being a busy mom, she successfully finished a computer degree from Cebu Doctors College in 2003.
Even as a full-pledged Mom, Cruz retained her status as a bankable commercial endorser appearing on television, radio and print ads for several giant products including Sara Lee, Progress Milk
where she appeared with daughter Belle and sang the theme "Wishes For You" and Jollibee in 2006, along with her two children, Belle and Cian. In 2007, Cruz gave birth to her third child, named Inigo Renato. Cruz was taped to sing the jingle for the 2006 and 2007 Pampers Christmas Ad "Payapang Daigdig" and Lactum
's 2008 100% Panatag Ako campaign singing "Kailanman Panatag" which was written by Ogie Alcasid and Nicole Tolentino. Her most recent endorsement is from Facial Care Center featuring four other fab and beautiful women.
Donna is set to comeback on television via ABS-CBN
's Magkaribal
before 2010 ends. She is set to portray the role of the sister of Angel Aquino's character but then she backed out.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer and actress. She comes from the Cruz clan which include celebrities Sheryl Cruz
Sheryl Cruz
Sheryl Rose Anna Marie Sonora Cruz , better known simply as Sheryl Cruz, is a Filipina actress and singer. She is known for her role as Divina Ferrer on 2007's television drama series Sinasamba Kita and as Valeria on Bakekang and Rosalinda.-Acting career:Cruz started her career at a very young age...
, Geneva Cruz
Geneva Cruz
Geneva Mendoza Cruz-Miller, who is better known by her screen name Geneva Cruz, is a Filipina singer and actress. Cruz was a member of the defunct music group Smokey Mountain.-Career:...
and Sunshine Cruz
Sunshine Cruz
Sunshine Cruz-Manhilot or Sunshine Cruz-Montano is a Filipina female actress and singer. She is the part of the Cruz family clan.-Early life:She was born on July 28, 1977...
, her cousins.
Matinee idol
Donna began her recording career at age 13. She released her first self-titled album containing the hits "Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso", "Rain" and "Boy (I Love You)," in which she won Best New Artist in the 1992 Awit Awards. Prior to signing a recording contract with Viva Records, she joined the singing contest Bulilit Bagong Kampeon where she emerged as the grand champion in 1988. She also became the grand prix champion along with Timothy Villegas of Ryan CayabyabRyan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab is a Filipino musician and was the Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts...
's 14K in the Mermaid International Children's Song Festival in Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, Japan. She was also a grand finalist in the Little Miss Philippines on Eat Bulaga.
After the successful release of her debut album, Cruz embarked on her first movie, playing the girlfriend of Smokey Mountain member Tony Lambino, in the remake of Darna. It was in this movie that she was officially launched as an actress.
A year after launching her debut album, she released another LP entitled Kurot Sa Puso. Though it proved to be less successful than her debut, it enabled her to launch herself as one of the most sought-after icons of 1990s. Two years later, she released her third solo album, Langit Na Naman which received a gold award.
Multimedia artist
Cruz has been, if not the most popular, one of the most popular Filipino female celebrity in 1990s, proved by string of #1 radio hits, multi-platinum albums, box-office movies, top-rated and award winning TV shows, and multi-million endorsement deals. Just like earlier artists like Nora AunorNora Aunor
Nora "Guy" Aunor is a multi-awarded Filipino actress, singer and producer. Aunor has also topbilled several stage plays, television shows, and concerts. She is regarded as the "Superstar in Philippine Entertainment Industry"...
, Vilma Santos
Vilma Santos
Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto commonly known as Vilma Santos-Recto or Ate Vi is a multi-awarded actress and politician...
, Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
, and Pops Fernandez
Pops Fernández
Maria Cielito Lukban Fernandez , also known as Pops Fernandez, is a Filipino singer and actress. She is dubbed the "Concert Queen."-Career:...
, this "triple threat" status will most likely continue in the late 90's and in the new millennium, paving way for more artists to do the same. According to the Philippine Showbiz Industry, Cruz had the most appearances in Philippine TV during 1990s, from her beginnings in 1991 up to her hiatus and marriage in 1998. Also, the Cruz clan would be known as the top earning Philippine showbiz clan in the same decade.
In 1994, she starred in two drama movies, Kadenang Bulaklak and Pangako Ng Kahapon, which gave her a Best Supporting Actress nomination. She also starred in a soap opera called Villa Quintana opposite actor Keempee de Leon. The year after, she starred in the critically acclaimed movie Muling Umawit Ang Puso, alongside Ian de Leon and multi-awarded actress Nora Aunor
Nora Aunor
Nora "Guy" Aunor is a multi-awarded Filipino actress, singer and producer. Aunor has also topbilled several stage plays, television shows, and concerts. She is regarded as the "Superstar in Philippine Entertainment Industry"...
. In this movie, she won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
In 1995, she launched her biggest-selling album ever, Habang May Buhay, an album composed of selected movie theme songs. The album was certified 7x 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. The year after, she starred in the biggest movie of 1996, DoReMi, in which she shared the spotlight with Regine Velasquez
Regine Velasquez
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez , better known as Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, is a Filipino singer, actress, record producer and TV host...
and Mikee Cojuangco.
In 1996, Cruz released a Christmas album entitled, Merry Christmas Donna, which included the single "Muling Sumapit Ang Pasko," written by legendary songwriter Vehnee Saturno, who wrote Cruz's biggest hit, "Only Me And You."
In 1997, she recorded a duet with American singer Jason Everly, called "Wish", son of Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers and made a local film with him entitled "Isang Tanong Isang Sagot." She also recorded an Alan Menken
Alan Menken
Alan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards...
song entitled "The Story of My Life" which is included in the Philippine release of The Best of Disney Love Songs album. Her album Pure Donna was also released and garnered platinum status in just a week after it was issued in record outlets.
Also that same year, she joined Eat!...Bulaga as a co-host, eventually performing every now and then during her stay. During her short stay in the variety show, she was able to showcase her hosting skills, which led to her to guest often as co-host during the early years of SOP. Due to her ability to host, Cruz also starred and hosted her musical special Pure Donna, which was broadcast on GMA 7 on her 20th birthday. The special won the Best Musical Special in the 1997 Aliw Awards.
Cruz was also a known figure for popular brands such as Jollibee, Camay Soap, Whisper Napkins, Lux Super Rich Shampoo, U2 clothing, Cinderella, and Sari-Sari Store.
Hiatus, married life and comeback
In 1998, she married Yong Larrazabal, an ophthalmologist from CebuCebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
. They have two children, namely Belle and Cian. Despite being a busy mom, she successfully finished a computer degree from Cebu Doctors College in 2003.
Even as a full-pledged Mom, Cruz retained her status as a bankable commercial endorser appearing on television, radio and print ads for several giant products including Sara Lee, Progress Milk
Wyeth
Wyeth, formerly one of the companies owned by American Home Products Corporation , was a pharmaceutical company. The company was based in Madison, New Jersey, USA...
where she appeared with daughter Belle and sang the theme "Wishes For You" and Jollibee in 2006, along with her two children, Belle and Cian. In 2007, Cruz gave birth to her third child, named Inigo Renato. Cruz was taped to sing the jingle for the 2006 and 2007 Pampers Christmas Ad "Payapang Daigdig" and Lactum
Mead Johnson
Mead Johnson & Company is a company which was majority owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb after an acquisition in 1967, but was spun off in 2009 as an independent firm. Mead Johnson is a major manufacturer of infant formula both domestically and globally with its flagship product Enfamil...
's 2008 100% Panatag Ako campaign singing "Kailanman Panatag" which was written by Ogie Alcasid and Nicole Tolentino. Her most recent endorsement is from Facial Care Center featuring four other fab and beautiful women.
Donna is set to comeback on television via ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
's Magkaribal
Magkaribal
Magkaribal is a Philippine suspense drama about love, fashion, and family which began on June 28, 2010 on ABS-CBN. The show was launched as part of the half-term show line-up by ABS-CBN as a part of its celebration for the 60th Anniversary of Philippine Soap Opera.The series is the story of two...
before 2010 ends. She is set to portray the role of the sister of Angel Aquino's character but then she backed out.
Discography
Studio albums
- Donna (1991)
- Kurot Sa Puso (1992)
- Langit Na Naman (1993)
- Habang May Buhay (1995)
- Pure Donna (1997)
- Hulog Ng Langit (1999)
Other albums
- Merry Christmas Donna (1996)
- Do-Re-Mi OST (1996)
- The Best of Donna Cruz (2000)
- Servant of All (2000)
- Donna Cruz Sings Her Greatest Hits (2003)
- Viva Silver Series: Donna (2006)
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1993–1997 | Ober Da Bakod Ober Da Bakod Ober Da Bakod was a Philippine sitcom produced by Viva Television and co-produced and broadcast by GMA Network from 1992–1997.-Plot:The brothers Mokong and Bubuli have feelings for the rich sisters Honey Grace and Barbie... |
Muning | GMA Network GMA Network GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company... |
| 1995 | Villa Quintana Villa Quintana Villa Quintana is a Philippine drama series produced by Viva Television and GMA Network top-billed Keempee de Leon and Donna Cruz in the lead characters.-Plot:It is a story of young lovers, Isagani Samonte and Lynnette Quintana.... (Primetime Drama Series) |
Lynette | GMA Network GMA Network GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company... |
| 1995–1998 | Eat Bulaga! Eat Bulaga! Eat Bulaga! is a noon-time variety show in the Philippines produced by Television And Production Exponents Inc. and aired by GMA Network. The show is broadcast from The New TAPE Studios at the GMA Broadway Centrum in New Manila, Quezon City. Eat Bulaga! is aired Weekdays at 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm ... |
Co-Host | GMA Network GMA Network GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company... |
| 1996–1998 | Growing Up | Stephanie Enriquez | GMA Network GMA Network GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company... |
| 2011 | Daldalita Daldalita Daldalita is a Philippine drama-fantasy-musical TV series produced by GMA Network. It stars child actress Jillian Ward in the title role, with Ogie Alcasid, Manilyn Reynes, Rufa Mae Quinto, love team Elmo Magalona and Julie Anne San Jose and with the special participation of 90's hit... |
Carmela | GMA Network GMA Network GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company... |
Movies
- Andrew Ford Medina: Huwag Kang Gamol (1991)
- Dr. Potpot Travels to the Moon (1991)
- Darna (1991)
- Pretty Boy (1992)
- Manchichiritchit (1993)
- Kadenang Bulaklak (1993)
- Tom & Jerry: Hindi Kaming Hayop (1993)
- Pintsik (1994)
- Pinagbiyak na Bunga (1994)
- Pangako ng Kahapon (1994)
- Johnny Guess: Ang Taong Laging Nagtatanong (1994)
- Ober Da Bakod: The Movie (1994)
- Love Notes (1995)
- Campus Girls (1995)
- Muling Umawit ang Puso(1995)
- Habang May Buhay (1995)
- Pag-Ibig Ko Sa Iyo'y Totoo (1995)
- Do Re Mi (1996)
- Dahil Tanging Ikaw (1996)
- Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot (1997)