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. She won first runner-up in Birit Bulilit of IBC as a child 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". She also sang Regine Velasquez's version of "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" on Batang Vidaylin of ABC in 2000.
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" and has been referred to as the Philippines' "Soul Princess" for her vocal talent.
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.
Aside from her musical career, Jona is an animal welfare advocate and rescuer. In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, she built her private animal sanctuary in Tanay, Rizal, which serves as a home to over 70 rescued dogs and cats as of 2025.
Discography
Studio albums On My Own (2005) Jona (2017) Extended plays Jonalyn Viray (2013)
Concerts +List of concerts, with dates, venues and number of performances Title Date Venue NotesJonalyn: UncoveredFebruary 11, 2011Bagaberde Grill and Bar• 24th Aliw Awards Best Performer in Hotels, Music Lounges, Bars (Female)Beyond LimitsSeptember 2, 2011Music Museum• Co-headlined with Julie Anne San Jose and Frencheska Farr.One LoveFebruary 15, 2012Metrobar• Nominated for Best Concert Performer - Female at the 25th Aliw Awards.FearlessFebruary 28, 2014 Music Museum• 26th Aliw Awards Best Female Performer in a Concert.Journey Into My HeartNovember 27, 2015 Music Museum• Guest performers includes Ice Seguerra, Kyla, Tres Marias, and The Angelos.Queen of the Night: JonaNovember 25, 2016Kia Theater• Nominated for Best Major Concert Performer - Female at the 30th Aliw Awards.ASAP Birit QueensMarch 31, 2017Mall of Asia Arena• Co-headlined with Angeline Quinto, Morissette and Klarisse de Guzman.Prima JonaNovember 18, 2017The Theater at Solaire• Guest performers includes Regine Velasquez and Arman Ferrer.Love, JonaMarch 30, 2019Online• YouTube Music Night free online concert].The AcesMarch 30, 2019Smart Araneta Coliseum• Co-headlined with Lani Misalucha and Darren Espanto.Jona: Journey to the Arena, 20th Anniversary ConcertOctober 10, 2025SM Mall of Asia Arena• First major solo concert in one of the biggest venues in the Philippines. Guests include Regine Velasquez, Lani Misalucha, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Alamat, and former members of La Diva Maricris Garcia and Aicelle Santos whom she was a part of.
Television appearances Year Title Notes 1996 Birit Bulilit Herself 2004 MTB Teen Popstar 2004—2005 Pinoy Pop Superstar 2005—2010 SOP 2005 My Guardian Abby 2006 I Luv NY Jenny de Castro 2010—2013 Party Pilipinas Herself 2012 My Daddy Dearest Guest Singer 2013—2015 Sunday All Stars Herself 2013 Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman Guest Kahit Nasaan Ka Man Herself 2014 Cattleya 2015 Sarap Diva 2015—2016 Marimar Real Ate Corazón 2016–present ASAP Herself 2017 Magandang Buhay 2018 I Can See Your Voice 2023–present Tawag ng Tanghalan Hurado 2025 Your Face Sounds Familiar (season 4) Round 6 guest performer as Mariah Carey
Accolades
+ Award Year Recipient(s) Category Result Aliw Awards2011Jonalyn UncoveredBest Performance by a Female in Hotel Lounges and Bars2012One LoveBest Performance in a Concert (Female)2014Dares to be FearlessBest Performance in A Concert (Female)2017Queen of the NightBest Major Concert (Female)2025Journey to ArenaBest Female Artist in a Major ConcertJonaBest Female ArtistEntertainer of the YearAwit Awards2018"Sampu"Best Performance by Female Recording Artist"Till the End of Time"Best Collaboration"You"Most Downloaded Song"Pusong Ligaw"Most Streamed SongJonaMost Downloaded ArtistMost Streamed ArtistJonaBest Selling Album of the Year2019"Take It To Forever"Best R&B PerformanceASOP Music Festival2013"Ikaw"Song of the YearBox Office Entertainment Awards2018Birit QueensMost Promising Female Concert Artist of the YearMOR Pinoy Music Awards2017"Maghihintay Ako"Song of the YearMyx Music Awards2017"I'll Never Love This Way Again"Favorite Remake2018"Ano Nga Ba Tayo?"Song of the Year"JonaFemale Artist of the Year"Til the End of Time"Collaboration of the Year"Pusong Ligaw"Media Soundtrack of the Year2019"Take it to Forever"Collaboration of the YearStar Awards for Music2014"Help Me Get Over You"Song of the Year2016"Naghihintay"2017JonaFemale Recording Artist of the YearAlbum of the YearFemale Artist of the YearQueen of The Night JonaFemale Performer of the YearBirit QueensConcert of the Year2018"Sampu"Song of the YearFemale Recording Artist of the YearPrima JonaConcert of the YearFemale Concert Performer of the Year2019"Ngayon at Kailanman"Female Recording Artist of the YearRevival Recording of the YearWish 107.5 Music Awards2018"Ano Nga Ba Tayo"Ballad Song of the Year World Championship of the Performing Arts 2006 Jona Industry Award For Female Solo Jona Gold Medal for Broadway "Close to Where You Are" Gold Medal for Original Song Jona Gold Medal for Pop Jona Gold Medal for R&B/Jazz Jona Gold Medal for Variety "Close To Where You Are" Overall Champion for Female Vocal Solo (Original) Jona Overall Champion for Female Vocal Solo (Broadway) Jona Overall Champion Female Vocal Solo (Pop) Jona Gold Medal for Best Pop Duet Jona Gold Medal for Best R&B/Jazz Duet Jona Vocal Duet Industry Award Jona Overall Champion for Best Duet (Broadway) Jona Overall Champion for Best Duet (Pop) Jona Overall Champion for Best Duet (Gospel)
Notes
References
External links Jonalyn Viray at iGMA.tv