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Jolina Magdangal defines her destiny

By Alwin M. Ignacio, Contributor

10/02/2008

People had their first brush with Maria Jolina Perez Magdangal, now popularly known as Jolina Magdangal, when she reigned as a bubblegum princess with an outlandish sense of fashion and as one-half of an immensely popular love team a decade hence. In fact, those who loathe Magdangal compared her manner of dressing to a hideously decorated Christmas tree and many wonder how someone not very attractive with a passable singing voice could get as big as she did.

Of course, these criticisms Magdangal only remembers with a sweet smile and a hearty chuckle. Her career is on high gear nowadays. She co-hosts with Marvin Agustin Dear Friend, a top-rating “he said/she said” Sunday afternoon show for teenagers; stars in I.T.A.L.Y., a movie about the lives of OFWs in a cruise ship that is showing nationwide; and has a brand new album called Destiny, a 10-track studio album with original and revival pop ditties, currently out in record bars.

“This album features a more mature me, from the sound, selection of songs, and the way I look,” says Jolina. “The album’s title is very appropriate because ever since I was a young girl, I always like singing and I feel that it is my destiny to be in the entertainment industry since it has always been a calling of mine to make other people happy. I remember, bata pa ako, talagang lalabas lang ako sa bahay namin, tapos kakanta-kanta na ako with an imaginary mike.”

“Secondly, in I.T.A.L.Y., my name is Destiny Pinlac,” she continues and laughs, “and one of the songs in the album is ‘Will of the Wind’ and it is really a favorite of mine and coincidentally it is also the theme song of the movie. I am also a firm believer of destiny. Meron talagang destined para sa iyo. Whether it’s in your career or love life, we all have our respective destinies.”

How did she finalize the songs choices? “I am very choosy when it comes to that matter. What I do is I first hear every song one time. Then, when night time comes and I remember a certain tune, then ‘yun na, ito na. Then I read the lyrics and discern if I can give justice to it. It is extremely important to me that I can relate to the song.”

“The song ‘Will of the Wind’ is very special to me,” answers Magdangal when asked what is her favorite ditty. “The message of the song is very inspiring, ‘yung minsan talaga dapat go with the flow ka lang sa buhay, at times you have to be spontaneous and that you cannot put everything in a box or that pulos plano ang lahat. One must learn to appreciate the surprises and the sharp turns of life.”

Jolina shares that she herself experienced all sorts of highs and lows in her career and she considers herself lucky that she did not have to go through artista searches that is in vogue lately.

“I really don’t mind that I did not have instant fame and I know that whatever I have right now is a product of hard work, prayers and a lot of luck. I did everything slowly but surely. It pains me to see young people getting hurt, humiliated and their dreams being shattered, and what is worst every one sees it on national television, and with the advent of technology, puwede pa ‘yung malagay sa YouTube. So, in a way, I feel good that all I did was wait in line and kahit pa nabilad ako sa init ng araw noon and naghulas ang make-up ko, at least, it was done in the privacy of an audition room.”

She shares that doing mature roles is something she looks forward to do, though posing sexy for a men’s magazine makes her squeamish. “FHM talaga? Ano ba? Parang hindi ko kaya. I admire people who have the guts to do it, but in my case I just really cannot. Ayokong i-pa-Photoshop ang body ko.”

She laughs and continues, “I believe that one can be sexy without baring much. You can just highlight on your appeal, or wear backless or show off your legs while wearing a mini skirt.”

“Oh, I would love to do that. I am very willing,” replies Jolina when asked if she is comfortable to be an antagonist. “Although I am not sure yet if I will do it in a soap opera or in a movie para isang bagsakan lang. It is a big challenge for me and I know that it is risky. When I become a contravida kasi, gusto ko bongga. I want to do it and I am sure my fans will appreciate it when it happens. ‘Yung mga hindi makatanggap, di bahala na sila.”

The one destiny in Jolina’s life that most people are waiting is her altar date with partner Bebong Muñoz. She reveals that they still need to settle important matters in their individual lives and that they do not want to rush into marriage just because everybody wants them to tie the knot.

So, why is Bebong the one? Her eyes light up by the mere mention of her fiancée’s name and she replies, “Meron siyang something na hindi ko alam or ma-pinpoint na ayokong alamin kasi feeling ko, ‘pag inalam ko ‘yun baka mawala ‘yung spice. Honestly, he is not perfect but he is just perfect for me, and I am happy with whatever he has. He balances and calms me.”

“Hindi siya sobra-sobrang sweet pero once na may gawin siyang gesture or he gives me a surprise mahaba ang hair ko, kahit nagpaputol na ako. I see us growing old together, laughing together, and remembering our glory days while holding hands. When we turn old and our hair are all gray, I see us being best friends and that we both know that we have each other no matter what.”

Jolina concludes, “I still get excited when I hear my song on the radio. Nagsisigaw talaga ako! I tell them that is my song! Please increase the volume of the radio. I still get excited up to this day because hearing my songs are proofs that my dreams came true.”

Produced by GMA Records and distributed by Universal Records, Destiny is now available in Astroplus and Astrovision outlets nationwide. You may also download Jolina’s new album from all Wellcom, MP3 Express and MP3 King digital kiosks nationwide.