Jolina has no regrets

Jolina Magdangal started her showbiz career as an 11-year old singer of the 14 K and the cast of Ang TV. After turning 25 last Nov. 6, she feels like a much seasoned performer.

"I’ve spent more than half of my life, 14 years, in showbiz, and I have no regrets because it’s been very good to me," she declares proudly.

Jolina has just launched her first album with GMA Records, Jolina Forever. "I had two albums with Universal Records as a child, seven solo albums naman and five movie soundtrack albums with Star Records. Now, I feel like parang bagong buhay ako sa GMA Records because they allowed me to conceptualize the entire album as their very first recording artist. And because it’s a new life and a new record label, I decided to change even the photos used in my album. Before, we used only pictures shot inside a studio, so this time, I had all the photos taken outdoors. We went on location at the lagoon at the back of the UP Oblation para mukhang fresh at maaliwalas ang dating because it’s a wooded area. Even the packaging of the jacket, I told them to use brown paper para mukhang paper bag ang dating. I want it green, to give it that environmental look."

Her album has 11 songs, with Bahala Na as the carrier single. It has a colorful music video, directed by Louie Ignacio who directs Jolina every Sunday on SOP and who gave it that distinct MTV treatment with its split screens and Jolina sporting various costumes, make-up and hairstyles. The album also has Jolina’s own rendition of the theme song of her hit telenovela, Narito ang Puso Ko. We also enjoyed her revival of You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me and another English song, Forever Be. But what are her personal favorites from the songs in this album?

"I like two, Kung Kailan Wala Ka Na by Soc Villanueva about realizing how much you love someone kung kailan wala na siya sa buhay mo, and the song na pinasadya ko kay Trina Belamide, Una’t Nag-iisang Mahal," she replies.

Among her past songs, what’s her favorite? "I love Kapag Ako ay Nagmahal by Larry Hermoso from Labs Kita, Okay Ka Lang and Laging Tapat which people continue to request me to sing. My songs are for easy listening and I prefer them that way."

Other cuts in her album are Sayang, Parang Baliw, All My Life, Text Me I Luv U, Kahit Kailan, and Happy Ending.

Jolina is really happy that GMA 7 took good care of her since she moved to the station two years ago to join Kahit Kailan to be paired with James Blanco, also her leading man now in Narito ang Puso Ko.

"Naging maganda ang pasok ko sa GMA and I was able to adjust right away because they never made me feel I come from the rival station. I’m also thankful na agad tinanggap ng tao ang team up namin ni James. Nakakatuwa nga dahil everywhere I go now, people call me Isabel, my name in Narito. I really enjoy taping the show kasi maganda ang samahan namin nina Tita Rosa Rosal as my lola and Ariel Rivera and Amy Austria as my parents."

Aside from her new album and her TV show, Jolina also has a new movie, Annie B, Bida ng Ukay-Ukay for Viva Films. She is paired with Dingdong Dantes and Jordan Herrera, directed by Louie Ignacio. "It’s a fun movie. Janice de Belen is my older sister and Sarah Geronimo is our youngest sister. Gloria Romero is our grandmother and Amy Austria is our mom. We have plenty of big production numbers in the film. The opening sequence is the title song, Annie Batungbakal, which I do with Tita Gloria, Sarah, and Mel Martinez. Then I have a song and dance number with Jordan, Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko at the disco and I get to sing Because of You to Dingdong. With Sarah, I have a duet of Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan and I get to do a solo of Is It Okay If I Call You Mine. All these songs are in the film’s original soundtrack album."

Is it true she initially rejected Jordan Herrera as one of her leading men in Annie B? "Not really reject naman. I just wondered kung bakit siya when we’re doing a wholesome film and he’s more identified with bold films, di ba? But after I read the script, I realized bagay nga sa kanya ang role ng childhood friend ko who becomes a cab driver and is very devoted to me, pero hindi ko naman pinapansin. When we started shooting, all my doubts about him vanished because he’s really a good actor. It also helps that both of us are doing soaps with GMA 7. He is in Twin Hearts as Tanya Garcia’s persistent suitor while I’m in Narito ang Puso Ko."

Jolina is also one of the most business-minded among our young stars with her Jolina’s Fashion Gallery that several branches, plus a snack bar in some malls called Chuva Chicha. "The boutique in Ever Gotesco Commonwealth is more of a fund-raising thing for charity. The proceeds go to the GMA Kapuso Foundation to help the needy."

We tell Jolina that when we were in New York last November, Pinoys who now reside there told us that she has a boyfriend who is currently studying at the Big Apple. We ask her if this is true.

"It is, but as much as possible, I want our relationship to be private and I’m quite protective of him dahil wala naman siya sa showbiz. Kasi baka mawala ‘yung magic kapag nalaman na ng lahat. Basta all I can say now is that I’m very happy with him and I want to savor our relationship without the prying eyes of the public. In due time, I’ll introduce him din naman to everyone."

What are the guy’s qualities that she finds endearing? "For one thing, he’s really very intelligent. He’s now a lawyer. He also has a good sense of humor and very responsible. He also comes from a good family at boto sa kanya ang parents ko. Actually, we started as magkabarkada lang."

We heard the guy is called Bebong Muñoz and is the brother of the late singer Tenten Muñoz. Isn’t it difficult to have a long distance love affair with him?

"Hindi naman, basta kaya mo. It’s really easy now, what with all the modern technology we have in communications. May texting, may cellphone, may e-mail. The important thing is that you remain faithful to each other even if you live so far apart."