Jonalyn Viray

Jonalyn Roxas Viray (born November 15, 1989), known mononymously as Jona, is a Filipino singer and songwriter. She gained recognition after winning Pinoy Pop Superstar. She was previously the lead singer of trio girl-group La Diva. Following the group's disbandment, she released her single "Help Me Get Over" which was awarded the Song of the Year Award at the 6th PMPC Star Awards for Music. In February 2016 she changed her screen name to Jona. She has won several awards, both solo and as member of La Diva. She is known for her belting technique, melismatic singing style, and her ability to sing operatic arias.

Early life and career Early life Jonalyn Roxas Viray was born on November 15, 1989. She is the only girl and the eldest of four children from Pio Duran, Albay. In a 2025 interview with Toni Gonzaga, Jona disclosed that she experienced sexual abuse by her father at the age of ten.

Jona started joining singing contests at an early age. and one of the finalists in MTB Teen Pop Star of ABS-CBN's Magandang Tanghali Bayan where her winning piece was Mariah Carey's "Never Too Far".

Jona was 15 years old when she competed in the singing competition Pinoy Pop Superstar on GMA Network. She 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" in the weeks that follow, and after four consecutive weeks of being weekly champion, she qualified for the grand finals. For winning the title of Pinoy Pop Superstar, Jona won 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 worth of Belo Medical services, plus gift certificates worth 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, and competed and won second place in Himig Handog 2017. On the 31st Awit Award, Jona won 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 Selling Album of the Year for self-titled album "Jona". Her collaboration with Regine Velasquez, "Matibay", also won Best Musical Arrangement award for composer Marvin Querido.

ASAP Birit Queens On May 15, 2016, ASAP launched a group called the ASAP Birit Queens. The group is composed of Jona, Morissette, Angeline Quinto and Klarisse de Guzman. The group held a concert on March 31, 2017, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The group temporarily disbanded in late 2017 but has since reunited occasionally.

On the launch of the Billboard Philippines, three of Jona's songs charted in Billboard Philippines Top 20: "Pusong Ligaw" and "Maghihintay Ako" charted at number 3 and number 4 respectively, and "You" charted at number 9. She performed at the 27th Asian Television Awards that included a cover of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" a rendition of "The Magic Flute "Queen of the Night aria" ("Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen"). On the artist's night, she performed "Love Don't Cost A Thing", "Into the Unknown", "Fifth Element Aria" and her own song "Till the End of Time". She also headlined the YouTube Music Night for Southeast Asia in 2021.

Artistry Influences Jona has said that from childhood she has been influenced by Regine Velasquez, Céline Dion, and Mariah Carey for her musical style, and sound. She also admires to Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Etta James, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Sam Smith.

Voice and timbre

Jona has been noted for her "melismatic singing style" or use of melodic variations. Her voice has been described "soulful" and "powerful". She is a classically trained artist from the UST Conservatory of Music with a major in classical voice. Critics often lists her among the Top Filipino singers in the world alongside music icons like Lea Salonga for "her powerful vocals and her ability to convey raw emotion through her performances"

Musical Style Love is the subject for the vast majority of Jona's music. She is also known for her power ballads which deals with themes of heartbreak, hope, and perseverance.

Personal life and advocacy Jona, being the eldest child, is a breadwinner of her family.

Discography

Studio albums On My Own (2005) Jona (2017) Extended plays Jonalyn Viray (2013)

Concerts

Television appearances Year Title Notes 1996 Birit Bulilit Herself 2004 MTB Teen Popstar 2012 One Love|Best Performance in a Concert (Female) 2014 Dares to be Fearless|Best Performance in A Concert (Female) 2017 Queen of the Night|Best Major Concert (Female)

Journey to Arena|Best Female Artist in a Major Concert

"Till the End of Time" Best Collaboration "You" Most Downloaded Song "Pusong Ligaw" Most Streamed Song

Most Downloaded Artist Most Streamed Artist Jona|Best Selling Album of the Year 2019 "Take It To Forever" Best R&B Performance

2013 "Ikaw" Song of the Year

2018 Birit Queens|Most Promising Female Concert Artist of the Year

2017 "Maghihintay Ako" Song of the Year

2017 "I'll Never Love This Way Again" Favorite Remake

"Ano Nga Ba Tayo?" Song of the Year"

Jona Female Artist of the Year "Til the End of Time" Collaboration of the Year "Pusong Ligaw" Media Soundtrack of the Year 2019 "Take it to Forever" Collaboration of the Year

2014 "Help Me Get Over You"

2016 "Naghihintay"

Album of the Year Female Artist of the Year Queen of The Night Jona|Female Performer of the Year Birit Queens|Concert of the Year

Song of the Year

Female Recording Artist of the Year