Jonalyn "Jona" Roxas Viray is a Filipino singer and occasional actress. She is the first Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand winner. She was the lead singer of trio girl-group La Diva, alongside Maricris Garcia and Aicelle Santos with whom she shared success following her career as a solo artist. The trio earned string of hits with their rendition of songs such as "I'm Yours", "Angels Brought Me Here", "Apologize" and "Stand up For Love". They were chosen to sing the Philippine National Anthem at the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cottoboxing match in Las Vegas as well as the theme song of Philippine remake of the Mexican telenovela Rosalinda. Following the group's disbandment and her return as a solo artist she released her single 'Help Me Get Over' which was awarded the 'Song of the Year' at the 6th PMPC Star Awards for Music. In February 2016, Viray ended her decade-long exclusivity with GMA and transferred to ABS-CBN with changing her screen name to "Jona". On her first project in the Kapamilya Network, Jona sang "I Will Survive", the theme song of primetime drama series, We Will Survive. She also sang the second version of I'll Never Love This Way Again, the OST soundtrack of 2016 romantic-drama film, and was chosen to sing the 65th Miss Universe theme entitled "Confidently Beautiful". Throughout her career as member of La Diva and as a solo artist, Jona has won an 6 Awit Award, Aliw Awards, PMPC Star Awards For Music and World Championship of Performing Arts. She is known for her belting technique, melismatic singing style and her ability to sing operatic arias. Ever since the onset of her career Jona has been quoted as the "Philippines' Soul Princess" by Philippine media and critics. Jona is classically-trained at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. She took Bachelor of Music, major in Classical Voice, minor in piano.
Jona was 15 years old when she competed at the singing competition Pinoy Pop Superstar held by the local television stationGMA 7 and hosted by Regine Velasquez. Jona emerged as the weekly champion after singing the Whitney Houston hit song "Run to You". She also sang "Reflection", "I Have Nothing" and "Never Too Far" on the weeks that follow, and after four consecutive weeks of being weekly champion, she qualified to the grand finals. For winning the title of, Jona won 1 million pesos in cash and became the owner of a Futura Classic house and lot developed by Filinvest and a brand-new Toyota Innova. She also won an exclusive one-year contract with GMA Records, the recording arm of GMA Network, and received 100,000 pesos worth of Belo Medical services, plus gift certificates worth 50,000 pesos from Gandang Ricky Reyes.
Transfer to ABS-CBN
In February 2016, Jona ended her decade of exclusivity with GMA and transferred to rival network ABS-CBN. Part of her reintroduction was the changing of her screen name to "Jona". Her earliest project in the Kapamilya Network saw her competing in the 2016 edition of Himig Handog, a songwriting and music video competition and also singing "I Will Survive", the theme song of primetime drama series, We Will Survive. From then on she has sung several theme songs for ABS-CBN films and drama series, became a mainstay of the longest noontime musical variety show ASAP, released her first album under Star Music which achieved Gold and Platinum certifications, held two major concerts which were only several months apart and find herself again competing and winning second place this time in Himig Handog 2017. On the 31st Awit Award, Jona bagged 6 awards, Most Downloaded Artist, Most Streamed Artist, Most Downloaded Song for "You," Most Streamed Song for "Pusong Ligaw," People's Voice for Favorite Collaboration for "Till the End of Time" with BoybandPH and Best SellingAlbum of the Year for self-titled album "Jona." Her collaboration with Regine Velasquez, "Matibay," also won Best Musical Arrangement award for composer Marvin Querido.
