Jolina returns to recording
If you grew up in the ’ 90s, you probably remember the song “Chuva Choo Choo,” one of the more memorable hits popularized by singeractress Jolina Magdangal, also known among fans as the cute and kikay “Jolens.”
If you grew up in the ’90s, you probably remember the song “Chuva Choo Choo,” one of the more memorable hits popularized by singer-actress Jolina Magdangal, also known among fans as the cute and kikay “Jolens.”
At the time, Jolens was a huge star, competing with the likes of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to capture the imagination of young girls eager to copy her style. Oh, but how time flies.
Today, Jolens is all grown up at 37. She is blissfully married to Rivermaya drummer Mark Escueta, with whom she shares parental duties raising their baby boy Pele Iñigo.
Basking in newfound joy as mother
and wife has inspired Jolens to return to the studio and record her latest album, “Back To Love.”
It’s been seven years since her last album and Jolens admits recording felt like a whole new experience.
“Sa tagal ko nang hindi nakakagawa ng album, ninamnam ko ulit ’yung feeling ng recording at paggawa ng album,” she said at a press conference.
Jolina is thankful to Star Music for helping her return to her musical roots and even letting her pitch in a few of her own ideas for the album. “Pinagbigyan nila ako sa mga favors ko na, ‘Pwede bang ganito, ganyan ang gawin?’ Open na open sila sa mga suggestions ko. Sa isang artist ang sarap ng ganu’ng feeling. Ang sarap pala na talagang involved ka sa paggawa ng album,” she said. Among other things, Jolens is responsible for the album’s butterfly concept. “’Dun kasi talaga nagsimula ang kakikayan ko eh. Basta may paruparo, I think Jolina Magdangal agad ang maiisip ng tao,” she said. She is both nervous and excited over her latest release.
“Ayoko isipin kung kikita ba o hindi basta excited ako sa album. Minahal ko ito eh, Minahal ko ang paggawa nito, ang pagkanta ko rito, kaya I am sure na mamahalin din ng tao ’yung mga kanta at ’yung album,” she said. It looks like she’s right. Two weeks since its release, the album has already reached Gold record status, selling more than 7,500 units. Because of that, producer Rox Santos gave her the tag Star Music Queen.
“Ito’y base rin sa datos namin sa Star Music. Sa roster namin, siya ang may pinakamaraming platinum and gold record albums. Nakapag-produce rin siya ng maraming hits tulad nu’ng pinakasikat niyang kanta na ‘Laging Tapat,’” Santos said.
Jolina is now busy promoting the album and is looking forward to meeting fans around the country.
“Dati ine- enjoy ko talagang libutin ang iba’t-ibang malls para mag- promote ng album. Masaya akong pumipirma ng mga album at posters ng mga fans at makipag- kwentuhan sa kanila,” she shared. Coming out with a concert is something she’s mulling. She hopes to create something as memorable and striking as Madonna’s recent “Rebel Heart” concert tour in Manila.
“Parang gusto ko na kahit hindi pa ganu’n kakilala ’yung ibang mga kanta pero dahil sa ganda nu’ng production number magugustuhan pa rin ng audience,” she said. “Back To Love” includes the remix version of “Kapag Ako Ay Nagmahal” featuring Gloc-9. She also collaborated with Vice Ganda on “Chuva Choo Choo 2.0” and Kyla on “Throwback Lang.”
Other songs includes “Kaya Mo Pa Ba,” “Paano Na ’To,” “Nasaan Na,” “Sa Panaginip Lang,” “Still You,” “Ganito Pala Ang Pag- ibig,” and the carrier single “Ikaw Ba ’Yun.”
“Back To Love” is now available in record bars nationwide. It is also available for download on iTunes, Amazon, My Music Store, One Music, and Star Music.
Back home
Jolen’s career continues to be on the upswing after returning to ABS-CBN in 2014.
Indeed, there’s no place like home for Jolens who started her career with the network as a kid on “Ang TV.”
Nowadays, she headlines a segment on the Sunday afternoon musical show “ASAP” called “Love Songs And Stories.”
“Akala ko nu’ng una isang beses ko lang gagawin ’ yung segment, ako ini- enjoy ko lang siya, pero nagtuluy-tuloy na. Ang saya nu’ng kantahan at thankful ako na hindi lang siya puro hosting, kumbaga kakanta din ako sa huli,” she said. Jolens will also appear on the upcoming series “Written In The Stars.”
“Kahit kaming mga cast naghihintay din kami sa pag- resume ng taping pero ang sabi sa’min magkakaroon muna kami ng meeting bago magre- shoot, so waiting muna kami,” she said.
When asked about her “Written
In The Stars” co-star Toni Gonzaga’s alleged pregnancy, she said, “Hindi pa siya nagsasabi eh, so hindi namin alam kung totoo o hindi. Ayoko namang magtanong, nahiya naman ako.”
Jolens is also part of this year’s Himig Handog.
A director and a friend
At the same press conference, Jolens waxed emotional when asked about the passing of good friend director Wenn Deramas.
The two first worked together on the defunct show “Teysi Ng Tahanan.” They reunited on “Flordeliza” last year.
If she were to dedicate a song from her album to the late director, it would be “Ganito Pala Ang Pag-ibig,” which was written by her husband, Rivermaya’s Mark Escueta.
“Para na ring family sa akin si Direk Wenn kasi. At ’yung kanta na ’yun binuo namin ng pamilya ko, si Mark ang sumulat, ako ang kumanta, tapos nandu’n din si Pele. Sobrang saya lang din kasi ng kantang ’yun,
and sa dami ng nagiging problema natin sa buhay araw-araw, never kong nakita si Direk Wenn na malungkot… lagi niyang pinapakita sa’kin na ang ganda ng buhay,” she said. She also related how Wenn made her feel more relaxed working on “Flordeliza,” which was a comeback vehicle of sorts for her.
“Nu’ng bumalik ako sa ABS-CBN, naging kampante ’yung loob ko kasi siya ’yung unang nakatrabaho kong direktor. Nag- trust ako na gawin ’ yung project kasi nandu’n siya,” she said.