Donna Cruz
Donna Cruz
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Donna Cruz

Donna Cruz Yrastorza-Larrazabal (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈkɾus], born February 14, 1977) is a Filipino singer and actress. Since the middle of the 1990s, she has released 8 studio albums, and featured as an actress in local films. She has also appeared on four soundtrack albums.

Donna Cruz Yrastorza was born on February 14, 1977 in Manila, Philippines. As a child, Cruz joined pageants and singing competitions. Her first stint in showbiz was when she appeared as a finalist in Eat Bulaga!'s Little Miss Philippines child beauty pageant. She won Bulilit Kampeon in 1988, and signed with Viva Records in 1989. She released her debut album Donna in 1991 at the age of 14, featuring an original single "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso" and cover of Boy Mondragon's song "Rain". Her self-titled debut album is the biggest-selling debut album by a Filipino artist, making Cruz the youngest and only artist in the Philippines to reach 9× Platinum with her first album, a feat that she accomplished before becoming a teenager.

In 1992, Cruz joined German Moreno's That's Entertainment, a daily variety show that featured young and upcoming new talents. She released Kurot sa Puso in early 1993 and later that year starred in the movie Kadenang Bulaklak alongside Vina Morales, Ana Roces, Angelu de Leon and Nida Blanca. She joined the sitcoms Alabang Girls and Ober Da Bakod, both produced by VIVA Entertainment Group. In 1994, she released Langit Na Naman, her third studio album. That same year that she starred in another drama produced by Viva, Pangako Ng Kahapon, together with Agot Isidro, Alice Dixson and Charito Solis.

In 1995, the Viva Entertainment Group gave Cruz a lead role in the soap opera Villa Quintana, opposite actor Keempee de Leon. She also starred in the films Campus Girls, Okey Si Ma'am, and Love Notes: The Movie. She released her fourth album, Habang May Buhay, which comprised love songs and featured the single "Only Me and You". Later that year, Cruz joined actress Nora Aunor in the drama film, Muling Umawit ang Puso, for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

In 1996, her single "Habang May Buhay" was released as a tie-in with a romantic movie of the same name. Habang May Buhay was top-billed by Cruz, Ian de Leon, Candy Pangilinan and veteran actress Hilda Koronel. She also starred alongside Bong Revilla and Nanette Medved in the action romantic-comedy movie, Pag-Ibig Ko sa Iyo'y Totoo. Cruz recorded a duet with American singer Jason Everly, called "Wish", son of Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers in 1996. Later that year, Cruz starred in DoReMi together with Regine Velasquez and Mikee Cojuangco. By the end of 1996, Cruz released a holiday record Merry Christmas Donna which included the single "Muling Sumapit ang Pasko," written by Cruz's longtime collaborator Vehnee Saturno.

In 1997, Cruz starred in Dahil Tanging Ikaw alongside Ian de Leon and Jao Mapa. Her album Pure Donna was also released and she hosted a musical special Pure Donna that was broadcast on GMA 7. The special won the Best Musical Special in the 1997 Aliw Awards. Later that year, Cruz reunited with Jason Everly to star in the romantic-comedy film, Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot. She also joined Eat Bulaga! as a co-host and performer, and was part of SOP, a Sunday musical variety show.

Cruz's last project before her marriage in September 1998 was in the TV series Growing Up where she had a supporting role to actress Angelu de Leon. A compilation named The Best of Donna was released to commemorate Cruz's ten-year catalog with Viva Entertainment from 1989–1998.

Cruz released her final album under Viva Records in 1999, entitled "Hulog ng Langit", which focused on love songs and lullabies. At age 22, she gave birth to a daughter and released "Ikaw Pala 'Yon" her final single under her then-current contract with Viva Entertainment Group.

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