Jessa Zaragoza

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Mallari, the birth surname or paternal family name is Loyola, and the marital name is Avanzado.

Jessa Zaragoza
Born	Richelle Ann Mallari Loyola (1979-01-31) January 31, 1979
Nationality	Filipino
Occupations	Singer actress TV host model
Years active	1987–present
Spouse	Dingdong Avanzado ​ (m. 2001)​
Children	Jayda Avanzado
Musical career
Genres	OPM
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	OctoArts-EMI Phils. (now PolyEast Records) (1997–2000) Star Music (2000–2003; 2017–present) Universal (2005) MCA (2009) GMA Music (2012)

Richelle Ann Mallari Loyola-Avanzado (born January 31, 1979), better known by her stage name Jessa Zaragoza, is a Filipino commercial model, singer and actress. She is known as the "Phenomenal Diva" and "Jukebox Queen of the 90s" for her first studio album Just Can't Help Feelin in 1997 with the hit carrier single "Bakit Pa?" which became a hit ballad in the Philippines during 1997–1999.

Biography

Zaragoza was a GMA Network talent using her real name Richelle Ann Loyola when she auditioned for Little Miss Philippines in Eat Bulaga! in 1987. In the early 1990s, she was part of German Moreno's longest running variety show, That's Entertainment. She was also part of comedy shows Alabang Girls on ABC (now TV5) from 1992 to 1994.She did guesting stints for GMA and Viva Entertainment TV programs in the mid 90s she has guest starred in Bubble Gang Beh Bote Nga And AttaGirl in 2001 for ABS-CBN.

Zaragoza is also a singer. She signed a contract with OctoArts EMI Philippines (now PolyEast Records). Her first album Just Can't Help Feelin' was released in 1997. Its carrier single "Bakit Pa?" was also released by OctoArts Films and GMA Films (now GMA Pictures) as a Valentine's Day film offering directed by film director Jose Javier Reyes. Her second album Phenomonal was released in 1999. Among her most popular songs is "Bakit Pa," which was the soundtrack to a romantic comedy film she starred in, also entitled Bakit Pa? with Troy Montero and Diether Ocampo as her leading men. The film was released in theaters on February 3, 1999, as a Valentine's movie presentation of Octoarts and GMA Films. She was also part of a soap opera that ran from May to October 1999 on GMA Network entitled Di Ba't Ikaw.

In 2000, she released new hit singles such as "Ibigay Mo Na", "Siya Ba ang Dahilan" and "Kung Kailan Pa". Ibigay Mo Na was controversial for its album layout and sexually themed song, which was criticized for being painfully harmful but a heartfelt ballad.

She later transferred to rival network ABS-CBN from 2000 to 2004, and signed a deal with its recording company Star Records, releasing her next two albums Ibigay Mo Na (2000) and Kahit Na Ilang Umaga (2004). She also sang the theme songs for soap operas and TV series of ABS-CBN and GMA.

In 2001, Zaragoza sang the theme song of the ABS-CBN afternoon soap, Recuerdo de Amor which ran from 2001 to 2003. She was also cast in another ABS-CBN soap which starred Nora Aunor, Carol Banawa and Desiree del Valle entitled Bituin. She also starred on the hit sitcom Attagirl alongside Vanessa Del Bianco, Andrea del Rosario and Desiree del Valle which ran for three seasons.

In 2003, she sang the theme song of ABS-CBN's Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas. The song was featured on her album Kahit Na Ilang Umaga, released by Star Records.

In 2004, she participated at the Himig Handog Songwriting Contest interpreting the song "Hindi Na Bale" composed by Jimmy Antiporda.

In 2006, she collaborated with her singer-songwriter husband, Dingdong Avanzado on the duet album, Laging Ikaw, released under Universal Records. During the 2006 period she had worked with fellow friends comedian Marissa Sanchez, and actress Ara Mina on a worldwide concert tour called The Divas Tour. It was produced by Dingdong Avanzado and was a successful concert, running for six months in different parts of the world.

In 2007, controversy erupted between her and Rufa Mae Quinto when Quinto allegedly interpreted and stated that Zaragoza was the reason of hers and Dingdong's breakup. It became one of Philippine showbiz's most memorable breakups. Zaragoza defended herself against the allegations on a live interview on GMA's Startalk. Quinto appeared on YES magazine as a featured artist on the front cover, and in the article she talked about her personal life and past relationships.

She collaborated with film director Mel Chionglo in Malikot na Mundo with actors Lara Morena, Raymond Bagatsing, and Patrick Guzman, her last film with OctoArts Films.

In 2008, she sang a revival of Didith Reyes' hit song "Bakit Ako Mahihiya" for the critically acclaimed series Eva Fonda starring Cristine Reyes. She released her album Jessa Sings the Great Musical Icons under MCA Music in 2009. In 2012, she released her seventh studio album entitled Pag Wala Na ang Ulan with GMA Music. From 2012 to present, she has been appearing on the weekly comedy show Pepito Manaloto as DeeDee alongside veteran comedian Nova Villa. This is Zaragoza's return to comedy after the 2001 sitcom Attagirl on ABS-CBN.

In 2009, after a series of shows in the U.S. together with Avanzado, Zaragoza came back on prime time television in the remake of the Mexican telenovela Rosalinda. She also released an album that featured all cover versions on Jessa Sings the Great Musical Icons. The album paid tribute to such musical legends such as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Tina Turner, Sting and the Police, Madonna and Stevie Wonder.

In 2010, she went back to ABS-CBN to be part of the short-lived prime time television series, 1DOL. She then made several guest TV appearances, performing renditions of songs with Avanzado.

Zaragoza also appeared in an episode of Wansapanataym: Super Kikay and the Flying Pagong with Kim Chiu.

In 2012, she portrayed Angela in the afternoon soap based on the 1989 film produced by Seiko Films' Ruben Marcelino, Kokak as the mother to title protagonist Sarah Lahbati. In July of that year, her album Pag Wala Na Ang Ulan was released under GMA Records. The album includes the song "Nasaan" from the TV series Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit on GMA.

On August 3, 2013, she released a digital single called "Missing You" in two different languages; Tagalog and English.

On August 7, 2014, Zaragoza interpreted "Bumabalik Ang Nagdaan" with Star Music (formerly known as Star Records) for the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs. This is her third time to interpret a song for the Himig Handog Love Song Contest, together with her former singles "Susubukan Kong Muli" (2001) and "Hindi Na Bale" (2005) were released during those years. Hindi Na Bale was also her second time working with Jimmy Antiporda and was also revived by Bugoy Drillon in 2010. This Is her comeback to the recording company after 9 years for the Interpretation of the song her previous works were the albums Ibigay Mo Na (2000) and Kahit Na Ilang Umaga (2003–2004) album.

The year 2017 marked a peak Zaragoza's career when she and her husband Avanzado launched their 20/30 album, a revival and commemorative album.

In 2021, she is one of the Jukebosses in the hit karaoke TV show Sing Galing with other singers and songwriters Rey Valera, Randy Santiago and K Brosas on TV5.

Personal life

Zaragoza is married to singer Dingdong Avanzado. The wedding happened on March 18, 2001, and was highly publicized in newspapers and television talk shows. They have a daughter named Jayda. They were called the prince of pop and jukebox queen of the Philippines when they lived in Vallejo, California, in 2007.

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Type of Role	Network
1986–1996	That's Entertainment	Herself	Host	GMA Network
1989–1994	Anna Luna			ABS-CBN
1992	Alabang Girls			ABC 5
1993	Kool Skool	Various
1994	Chibugan Na!	Herself / guest performer		RPN
1995–1997	Villa Quintana	Patrice Quintana	Supporting role / Antagonist	GMA Network
1997	Masamang Damo	Menchu
1999	Di Ba't Ikaw	Hasmin Cardenas	Lead role
2002–2003	Bituin	Sultana Andromeda / Ms. Andromeda		ABS-CBN
2009	Rosalinda	Evangelina Kintanar-del Castillo	Supporting role / Antagonist	GMA Network
	SOP	Herself	Guest
	Celebrity Duets: Philippine Edition 3
2010	1DOL	Magdalena	Main role	ABS-CBN
	Showtime	Herself	Celebrity Judge
	Pepito Manaloto	Deedee Kho	Main role	GMA Network
	Wansapanataym: Super Kikay and her Flying Pagong	Elma	Episode guest	ABS-CBN
2011	Willing Willie	Herself	Guest appearance	TV5
2011–2012	Ruben Marcelino's Kokak	Angela	Supporting role / Protagonist	GMA Network
2012	Wansapanataym: Remote Emote	Amy	Episode guest	ABS-CBN
	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Aso	Ria
	Wil Time Bigtime	Herself	Special guest	TV5
2012–2013	Cielo de Angelina	Congresswoman Teresa Alfonso	Supporting role / Protagonist	GMA Network
2012–present (hiatus)	Pepito Manaloto: Ang Tunay Na Kuwento	Deedee Kho	Main role / Protagonist / Antagonist
2014	Paraiso Ko'y Ikaw	Yvette Bartolome-Rodrigo	Supporting role / Primary Antagonist
2016	Eat Bulaga!	Herself	Just Duet Performer
	Dear Uge	Julia Pia	Episode Guest
2018	Your Face Sounds Familiar	Herself	Special guest	ABS-CBN
2020	Wowowin	Herself	Special guest	GMA Network
	Tagisan ng Galing	Herself	Judge	Net 25
2021–2022	Sing Galing!	Herself	Judge	TV5

Discography

• 1997: Just Can't Help Feelin' (first album with OctoArts EMI Philippines, now called Polyeast Records) (includes the singles "Bakit Pa?", "Pa'no Kaya?", "Di Bat Ikaw" and the title track "Just Can't Help Feelin")
• 1998: Phenomenal
• 1999: Siya Ba ang Dahilan? (final album with OctoArts EMI Philippines)
• 1999: The Best Of (compilation album of her hits produced by OctoArts EMI Philippines)
• 2000: Ibigay Mo Na(first album produced with Star Music, second album of the year released in 2000)
• 2004: Kahit Na Ilang Umaga (final album produced and released in 2004–2005 with Star Music)
• 2005: Laging Ikaw (duet album with Dingdong Avanzado, including duets of hits)
• 2009: Sings the Great Musical Icons I (a covers album with Universal Records)
• 2012: Pag Wala Na ang Ulan (GMA Music)

Songs sampled from Dingdong Avanzado : "Maghihintay Sayo" (2000) in "Ibigay Mo Na" "Kung Maibabalik" (2003) in "Kahit Na Ilang Umaga"

External links

• Official website
• Jessa Zaragoza at IMDb