The Story of Jessa Zaragoza
Richelle Ann Loyola is a famous Filipina singer and actress. She is better known as Jessa Zaragoza often misspelled as Zaragosa. She is tagged as the Jukebox Queen and the Phenomenal Diva of the country. Her song “Bakit Pa?” and “Ibigay Mo Na” were such a success that garnered her such titles. One cannot deny the three things that Jessa possessed to be admired: her eyes, her upper front bumper and her voice of course.
Jessa attended college in 1998 with the Degree of Psychology at Trinity College Of Quezon City. Jessa Zaragoza was married to co-singer Ding Dong Avanzado and bore him a daughter named Jayda.
She landed first in Viva Films as an actress not as a singer. Her singing capabilities were not exposed and left unnoticed. However, on her transfer to OctoArts, her singing prowess was discovered. Jessa has much to be thankful to Vehnee Saturno who helped convincing OctoArts to produce an album and to Boss Orly Ilacad who believed in her in-born potential.
Jessa released her debut album entitled Just Can’t Help Feeling on 1996. The album produced the single Bakit Pa? and turned out successful garnering her the title as Phenomenal Diva. The album reached sextuple platinum after few months from its release. The movie of same title was starred by Diether Ocampo and Troy Montero and directed by Jose Javier Reyes, a known Filipino director. The movie was all about a girl played by Jessa, having two relationships; the real one and the other from the internet. The movie was produced under OctoArts Films.
She was dubbed as The Phenomenal Diva and the Jukebox Queen because of her hit recorded songs, which was constantly played on radio stations. Though successful, Jessa hasn’t showcased all what she can do for people tend to put her in a box with no chance of branching out.
Her career and exposure declined when she was married to Dingdong Avanzado and later, motherhood of Jayda. She believed that being Mrs. Avanzado was a choice and being Jessa Zarragosa was by a chance.
She was not seen much except on her soap opera of ABS-CBN. She starred in soap opera named “Di Ba’t Ikaw”, which was the title of one of her songs. She also enjoyed doing movies of comedy and feel-good. She was seen in “Bakit Pa” where her timing for comedy was good according to Joey Reyes, the director of the movie.
However, she returned into full-time in music scene through her major concert dubbed as ”Jessa… Reborn” featuring guests such as Ogie Alcasid and Josh Santana. Many have not realized Jessa as concert performer. This concert showcased the other side of the Phenomenal Diva.
The Rufa Mae- Dingdong- Jessa issue find closure after 7 years when the couple arrived in the country with their child. The three faced each other ina no-hold barred interview last July 2007 in Showbiz Central.
Currently, Jessa and Dingdong is now residing in United States together with their Jayda. They continued entertaining Filipino people with their concerts abroad.
Albums Just Can’t Help Feeling Kahit Ng Ilang Umaga Ibigay Mo Na Nahuli Kita Siya Ba Ang Dahilan The Best of Jessa Zaragoza The Story of Jessa Zaragoza The Ultimate Collection Laging Ikaw
