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Donna Cruz

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Donna Cruz
Born
Donna Cruz Yrastorza

(1977-02-14) February 14, 1977 (age 47)
Manila, Philippines
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1984–present
Spouse
Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III
(m. 1998)
Children3
Musical career
OriginManila, Philippines
Genres
Instruments
Labels
Websitedonnacruz.com/definitive/

Donna Cruz Yrastorza-Larrazabal (born February 14, 1977), professionally known as Donna Cruz (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈkɾus]), is a Filipina singer and actress. Since the middle of the 1990s, she has released 8 studio albums, and featured as an actress in local films. She has also appeared on four soundtrack albums.

Biography

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1988–1991: Early career beginnings and Donna

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Donna Cruz Yrastorza was born in February 1977 in Manila, Philippines. As a child, Cruz joined pageants and singing competitions. Her first stint in showbiz was when she appeared as a finalist in Eat Bulaga!'s Little Miss Philippines child beauty pageant. She won Bulilit Kampeon in 1988, and signed with Viva Records in 1989. She released her debut album Donna in 1991 at the age of 14, featuring an original single "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso" and cover of Boy Mondragon's song "Rain".

1992–1994: Kurot sa Puso, Langit Na Naman and breakthrough as an actress

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In 1992, Cruz joined German Moreno's That's Entertainment, a daily variety show that featured young and upcoming new talents. She released Kurot sa Puso in early 1993 and later that year starred in the movie Kadenang Bulaklak alongside Vina Morales, Ana Roces, Angelu de Leon and Nida Blanca.[1] She joined the sitcoms Alabang Girls and Ober Da Bakod, both produced by VIVA Entertainment Group. In 1994, she released Langit Na Naman, her third studio album. That same year that she starred in another drama produced by Viva, Pangako Ng Kahapon, together with Agot Isidro, Alice Dixson and Charito Solis.

1995–1996: Habang May Buhay

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In 1995, the Viva Entertainment Group gave Cruz a lead role in the soap opera Villa Quintana , opposite actor Keempee de Leon. She also starred in the films Campus Girls, Okey Si Ma'am, and Love Notes: The Movie. She released her fourth album, Habang May Buhay, which comprised love songs and featured the single "Only Me and You". Later that year, Cruz joined actress Nora Aunor in the drama film, Muling Umawit ang Puso, for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

In 1996, her 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 in 1996. Later that year, Cruz starred in DoReMi together with Regine Velasquez and Mikee Cojuangco. By the end of 1996, Cruz released a holiday record Merry Christmas Donna which included the single "Muling Sumapit ang Pasko," written by Cruz's longtime collaborator Vehnee Saturno.

1997–1998: Pure Donna

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In 1997, Cruz starred in Dahil Tanging Ikaw alongside Ian de Leon and Jao Mapa. Her album Pure Donna was also released and she hosted a musical special Pure Donna that was broadcast on GMA 7. The special won the Best Musical Special in the 1997 Aliw Awards.[2] Later that year, Cruz reunited with Jason Everly to star in the romantic-comedy film, Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot. She also joined Eat Bulaga! as a co-host and performer, and was part of SOP, a Sunday musical variety show.

Cruz's last project before her marriage in September 1998 was in the tv series Growing Up where she had a supporting role to actress Angelu de Leon. A compilation named The Best of Donna was released to commemorate Cruz's ten-year catalog with Viva Entertainment from 1989–1998.

1999–2004: Hulog Ng Langit and career hiatus

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Cruz released her final album under Viva Records in 1999, entitled "Hulog ng Langit", which focused on love songs and lullabies. At age 22, she gave birth to a daughter and released "Ikaw Pala 'Yon" her final single under her then-current contract with Viva Entertainment Group.

In 2001, Viva Records released Donna Cruz Sings Her Greatest Hits and in November of that year, performed at the Philippine Advertising Congress Awards in Cebu. After finishing her contract with Viva, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Cebu Doctors University.[3] In 2003, she gave birth to a son and made a guest appearance in Bahay Mo Ba 'To? as Lynnette, reprising her role in Villa Quintana in 2004. In 2008, Cruz featured on the song "Kailanma'y Panatag", a song written by Ogie Alcasid and Nicole Tolentino, and performed the song in ASAP.[4]

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. In that same year, Cruz performed on stage in GMA 7's Party Pilipinas singing her hit single, "Rain".[5]

2015–present: Now and Forever and return to the entertainment industry

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In 2015, Cruz sang the Similac Gain School theme song, "Wonderful World". Months later, Cruz returned to the music scene, signing her comeback album with Star Music in January 2016. She appeared on Tonight with Boy Abunda, Kris TV and ASAP to promote her latest album, Now and Forever.

Personal life

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Cruz was born on February 14, 1977, to parents Renato Yrastorza and Yolly Cruz. In February 1998, Cruz became engaged to Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III, an ophthalmologist from Cebu. They married in 1998, and have three children, Ysabella Adriana, Cian and Gio.[6][7][8] Ysabella Adriana graduated from Cebu Doctors' University in August 2021.[9]In August 2024, Cian earned his Bachelor's degree in Medical Biology with magna cum laude.[10]

Discography

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Cruz has released eight studio albums, four soundtrack albums and three compilation albums. Cruz was signed to Viva Records between 1991-2000. In 2016, she signed with Star Music.

Studio albums

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Soundtrack albums

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  • Campus Girls: Music from the Motion Picture (1995)
  • Love Notes - The Movie: 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

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Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Network
1988 Eat Bulaga's Little Miss Philippines[broken anchor] Herself
1992–1994 Alabang Girls Bighani / Big Honey
1993 That's Entertainment Herself/host GMA Network
1993–1997 Ober Da Bakod Muning
1995 Wishing for a Soulmate Libay
Hustisya
Laging Nasa Puso
1995–1997 Villa Quintana Lynette Quintana GMA Network
1995–1998 Eat Bulaga! Co-Host
1998 Growing Up Stephanie Acosta
1998–2000, 2016 ASAP Herself / Performer
2011 Party Pilipinas Guest GMA Network
Daldalita Carmela de Leon-Matias
2016 Tonight with Boy Abunda Herself / Guest ABS-CBN
Kris TV
Gandang Gabi, Vice!
2017 Full House Tonight Herself / Guest Performer

Film

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Year Movie Role
1991 Andrew Ford Medina: Huwag Kang Gamol Donna
Darna Sally
1992 Pangako Sa'yo
1993 Pretty Boy
Ang Boyfriend Kong Gamol Donna
Row 4: Ang Baliktorians Dory Pangilinan
Manchichiritchit Donna
Tom & Jerry: Hindi Kaming Hayop
1994 Pinagbiyak na Bunga Kristine
Kadenang Bulaklak Violy Abolencia
Pintsik Gilda
Ober Da Bakod: The Movie Muning
Pangako ng Kahapon Belinda Tavera
1995 Campus Girls Georgie
Okey Si Ma'am! Lailani Aranas
Love Notes: The Movie Ditas
Muling Umawit ang Puso Noemi Salazar
1996 Habang May Buhay Pia
Pag-ibig Ko Sayo'y Totoo Dulce Lopez
DoReMi Donette Legaspi
1997 Dahil Tanging Ikaw Erica and Cecile
Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot Rizelle

Awards

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Awit Awards

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Year Nominee / 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

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1994 Pangako ng Kahapon Best Supporting Actress Nominated

Star Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1994 Pangako ng Kahapon Best Supporting Actress Nominated

Metro Manila Film Festival

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1995 Muling Umawit ang Puso Best Supporting Actress Won

Aliw Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1997 Pure Donna Best Musical Special Won

References

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  1. ^ a b "Donna — The young star who's everywhere". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. February 9, 1993. p. 19. Retrieved November 26, 2021. Donna [...] is now ready to release her second album 'Kurot sa Puso', [sic] while wrapping up work for the movie 'Ang Boyfriend Kong Gamol'...
  2. ^ "Donna Cruz". telebisyon.net. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012.
  3. ^ "Donna Cruz returns to the music scene, signs with Star Music". Rappler.
  4. ^ "PHOTOS: 90s OPM icon Donna Cruz, happy to be back on ASAP | ABS-CBN Entertainment". Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Donna Cruz on making a showbiz comeback: "Basta hindi maaapektuhan yung panahon ko para sa mga anak at asawa ko, sa pamilya ko."". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  6. ^ "PHNO: SHOWBIZ CHATTER". Newsflash.org. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  7. ^ "Donna as Mama". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  8. ^ "The private world of Donna & Yong". The Philippine Star.
  9. ^ Aquino, Maine (August 1, 2023). "Ysabella Larrazabal has her mother Donna Cruz's great looks". Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Llemit, Kathleen (August 4, 2024). "Donna Cruz's son graduates magna cum laude in medical biology". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
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