La Diva Interview

La Diva, made up of Jonalyn Viray, Maricris Garcia, and Aicelle Santos, are an enthusiastic lot. During the –three-on-one interview with STIR.PH, the ladies happily involved themselves to Stir writer’s questions. Who would be? The country’s leading all-girl vocal group, the pride of the GMA Artist Center, stormed the 23rd Aliw Awards last. They won the Best Group Performance in a Concert for their first major concert Only La Diva held late last year and Best Group of the Year and Best Music Video of the Year for their debut album’s carrier single “Kasiping Ka” from the 2nd PMPC Star Awards for Music. Have a reality check.


How did you, ladies, feel when you received the awards?
Jonalyn Viray: Ngayong taon na ito nare-recognize ang talent namin. Nakuha namin ang tatlong award. Hindi ko ma-explain yung sobrang tuwa. Talagang sobrang swerte.

Aicelle Santos: Syempre po we felt very blessed kasi nga sabay-sabay yung award at nare-recognize yung talents namin  as a group.

Maricris Garcia: Hindi pa rin ako lubos makapaniwala. Kasi nang tinawag yung pangalan namin, nasa dressing room pa kami nang biglang tinawag. Yun na paala nanalo kami na hindi namin inaakala.

What do you think is the group’s secret for this success?
Aicelle: Parang nahihirapan naman akong sagutin. Siguro yung friendship namin sa isa’tisa.

Maricris: From the start na mag-perform kami together, andoon na kaagad. Andoon na agad ang pagbibigayan sa isa’t isa. Nag-a-adjust siguro ang sekreto.

Jonalyn: Perfectionist kami sa bawat performances naming.

What are major plans of the group next year?
Jonalyn: Maybe concert abroad, actually marami pong wino- work out na mga concert sa ibang bansa. And hopefully next year po magkakaroon po kami ng second album.

Do you think La Diva should also sing OPM songs and not only foreign revivals?
Jonalyn: Sana next album, gusto naming kantahin mga OPM naman kasi yung first album po namin puro mga revivals. So this time kung mabibigyan ulit ng chance OPM naman.

How about concerts abroad? Do you also want to promote OPM?
Jonalyn: Yes, of course. Gusto naming na magkakaroon din kami ng contribution, isang paraan yun para matulungan naman namin ang industry.

You have a concert later this year in Las Vegas?
Jonalyn: Ah yes we have but sa ngayon kasi inaayos pa eh. Sana po matuloy pero inform pa lang po kami ng management kung ano na ang nangyayari.

How does it feel when Kapuso and Kapamilya artists are all in awe of the extraordinary voices of La Diva?
Jonalyn: Syempre masarap din sa pakiramdam lalung-lalo na pag na-appreciate nila kami. Gusto naming galingan pa.

Pilita Corales is one showbiz icons who really love your music. When do you, ladies, plan to sing a couple of her songs.
Jonalyn: Sa totoo lang napakahirap kantahin yung mga lumang songs, ang hirap sabayan yung tempo, talagang may distinct style. Pero thankful kami at nagpapasalamat kay Ms. Pilita Corales.

When doing concerts abroad, who is the most appealing to foreigners. I heard it’s  Jonalyn. Do you agree?
Aicelle: Tama!

Next year, what will be your new image or packaging? Are you going to be more daring?
Aicelle: Sa tingin ko, habang nagbabago ang panahon kailangan mo ring makisabay. Kung ano man yung mauso na style, aming sabayan. Pero hindi naman namin sinasabi na magpapaka-all out kami. Kahit papaano, maiiba ang image namin para merong pa ring abangan yung mga tao.

What can your fans worldwide look forward to?
Aicelle: Siguro mas aggressive na La Diva sa performance at pananamit.

Have you recorded Christmas songs?
Aicelle: Wala pa. We hope na magkakaroon kami ng Christmas album or makasama man lang sa compilation album, happy na kami. source