Donna Cruz Yrastorza-Larrazabal (born February 14, 1977), professionally known as Donna Cruz (Tagalog pronunciation:[ˈkɾus]), is a Filipina 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 in February 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 Philippineschild 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".
1992–1994: Kurot sa Puso, Langit Na Naman and breakthrough as an actress
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.[2] 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.
In 2001, Viva Records released Donna Cruz Sings Her Greatest Hits and in November of that year, performed at the Philippine Advertising Congress Awards in Cebu. After finishing her contract with Viva, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Cebu Doctors University.[3] In 2003, she gave birth to a son and made a guest appearance in Bahay Mo Ba 'To? as Lynnette, reprising her role in Villa Quintana in 2004. In 2008, Cruz featured on the song "Kailanma'y Panatag", a song written by Ogie Alcasid and Nicole Tolentino, and performed the song in ASAP.[4]
In 2010, Cruz appeared as a celebrity contestant in Wowowee, and performed "I Can" with fellow celebrity contestants Dimples Romana and Nikki Valdez. A year later, Cruz appeared in the sitcom Daldalita with Ogie Alcasid and Manilyn Reynes where she played the role of Daldalita's mother. In that same year, Cruz performed on stage in GMA 7's Party Pilipinas singing her hit single, "Rain".[5]
2015–present: Now and Forever and return to the entertainment industry
In 2015, Cruz sang the Similac Gain School theme song, "Wonderful World". Months later, Cruz returned to the music scene, signing her comeback album with Star Music in January 2016. She appeared on Tonight with Boy Abunda, Kris TV and ASAP to promote her latest album, Now and Forever.
Personal life
Cruz was born on February 14, 1977, to parents Renato Yrastorza and Yolly Cruz. In February 1998, Cruz became engaged to Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III, an ophthalmologist from Cebu. They married in 1998, and have three children, Ysabella Adriana, Cian and Gio.[6][7][8] Ysabella Adriana graduated from Cebu Doctors' University in August 2021.[9]In August 2024, Cian earned his Bachelor's degree in Medical Biology with magna cum laude.[10]
Discography
Cruz has released eight studio albums, four soundtrack albums and three compilation albums. Cruz was signed to Viva Records between 1991-2000. In 2016, she signed with Star Music.
^ ab"Donna — The young star who's everywhere". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. February 9, 1993. p. 19. Retrieved November 26, 2021. Donna [...] is now ready to release her second album 'Kurot sa Puso', [sic] while wrapping up work for the movie 'Ang Boyfriend Kong Gamol'...
