Gian Magdangal

Giancarlo "Gian" Alzate Magdangal (; born November 18, 1981 ), is a Filipino singer, performer, theater and television actor. He is a former boy band member of 17:28. he rose to prominence as one of the runners-up of Philippine Idol in 2006.

He is a cousin of actress and fellow singer Jolina Magdangal.

Biography

Early life and career Magdangal was born in Parañaque, and claims that he started to sing when he was 2 years old, as he was singing lullabies to his grandmother. He grew up listening to Broadway musicals, Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, and Brian McKnight. Seeing his potential as a singer, he was sent to undergo voice lessons at the St. Scholastica's College Conservatory of Music.

Magdangal's early musical exposure was during high school in La Salle Green Hills when he became part of the Kundirana. It was there where he realized how singing can touch and change lives. During his stint in Kundirana, he perfected his craft in music while still balancing a busy lifestyle as a stage actor in his school's drama club. He was also a member of Tiples de Sto. Domingo, an all-boys choir based in Quezon City.

While in college at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, taking up Business Administration with a major in Computer Application, The Little Mermaid, and Once On This Island.

During his training in Trumpets Music Academy, he accidentally entered a workshop for Advanced Musical Theater, when he was enrolled for the basic workshop. Plantado, the workshop's facilitator at that time, accepted Magdangal in her class where he was introduced with different players in the musical industry who eventually became his trainers. He said that theater training taught him confidence, discipline, humility, and teamwork. He believed that one should not pursue a career in entertainment simply for the money.

Philippine Idol Magdangal said that Philippine Idol was like "a calling" to return to music. However, he felt that the competition was not meant for him because of conflicts between his work and the audition dates. He only found an opening at the Cebu auditions, but he was short of money. He eventually flew to Cebu City with the help of sponsors in time for the final leg of the auditions, This was to avoid suspicion that Smart Communications, which was a major advertisement sponsor of Philippine Idol, was backing him up.

He failed to make to the Top 4 during the Men's Semi-Final Round, and had to go through the Wildcard phase to enter the Top 12 Finalists.

The judges often compared Magdangal (who studied in a De La Salle school) with fellow finalist Jan Nieto (who studied in Ateneo de Manila University), calling it "the new Ateneo-La Salle rivalry". They are also compared to the rivalry between Filipino singers Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano during the 1980s.

He was placed at the Bottom 4 or Bottom 3 twice. Although Magdangal was praised by the judges for his vocal talent, he is often criticized for his lack of emotional depth when performing his contest pieces.

He placed runner-up to eventual winner Mau Marcelo in a hotly contested voting verdict made by the public.

Post-Idol Magdangal received P250,000 as prize for being a runner-up on Philippine Idol. He said that he gave part of it to pay family debts and some of it went to his savings. However, a stipulation in Magdangal's contract states that he is not supposed to mention "Philippine Idol" in any of his appearances on GMA Network, and this has been noticeable since his first appearances.

Magdangal, along with fellow Idol finalists Jelli Mateo and Pow Chavez, were included in a list of Most Promising People of 2007. He was described as the year's Christian Bautista, if not even better.

Together with his fellow Idol finalists, Magdangal performed in a concert held in Araneta Coliseum on 23 March 2007.

He performed in Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant in 2007, where he serenaded the finalists. Magdangal also guested in a fund-raising concert entitled "From the Soul...For the Mind", which benefited non-government organization Family Farm Schools. He performed in a concert headlined by Tiples de Santo Domingo, in which he was a member, in Philam Life Theater on 15 September 2007.

Magdangal was included in Candy Magazine's list of "Candy Cuties" for 2007.

He also guested in the Philippine version of Celebrity Duets, wherein he performed with socialite and self-proclaimed "eventologist" Tim Yap.

In 2011, Magdangal was cast as Crisóstomo Ibarra in the stage musical Noli Me Tángere, an adaptation of José Rizal's novel of the same name by composer Ryan Cayabyab and librettist Bienvenido Lumbera.

On 18 February 2015, Magdangal was interviewed and revealed he is now a cast member of Hong Kong Disneyland playing multiple roles like Capt. Li Shang of Mulan in the Golden Mickeys Theater Show.

Personal life Magdangal has one child, Gian Haley with Sheree Bautista. In 2025, he married singer Lara Maigue.

Filmography Television / digital series Year Title Role 2006 Philippine Idol Contestant / Runner-up 2007–2010 SOP Himself / Performer 2009 Rosalinda Gerardo 2010–2013 Party Pilipinas Himself / Performer 2011–2012 Kokak Norman 2013 Forever Rico Sunday All Stars Himself ('Insta Gang' Member) Myx 3on3 Player (Yellow Team) Annaliza Atty. Jun Castro 2014 Carmela: Ang Pinakamagandang Babae sa Mundong Ibabaw Tasyo Fernandez Rhodora X Medical Team I Niño Juanito Bet On Your Baby Himself 2018 FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Executive Secretary Damien Ocampo 2019; 2022 ASAP Natin 'To Himself (guest performer) 2021–2022 Viral Scandal Bobby Ramones 2022 Lyric and Beat Adrian Mano Po Legacy: The Flower Sisters Adult Felino Go 2023 Regal Studio Presents: My Fairy Lady Harris The Iron Heart Cian Abot-Kamay na Pangarap Lander Soler 2025 Akusada Atty. Carlo Marcelo

Film Year Title Role Note(s) 2023 Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko 2024 Chances Are, You and I Fuchsia Libre Daddy Yo 2025 Untold Geraldo Vera 2026 Ouano Ave. (Cebuano Guys) Kurt Castillo 2027 Mga Taong Naka-Underwear sa EDSA Elton Delgado

Discography Studio album Year Title Label 2009 Love Tracks Musiko/Sony Music

with 17:28 (Members: Gian Magdangal, Jonard Yanzon, Chino Alfonso, Wackie Valdes) Year Title Label 2003 17:28 Star Music 2004 Cozy Viva Records

Awards Year Award-giving Body Category 2006 Awit Awards Best Performance by a New Male Artist 2008GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsMost Promising Male Singer 2018 Gawad Buhay Awards Male Lead Performance in a Musical 2023