Jolina Mgadangal. Image: Instagram/@mariajolina_ig
When one thinks of Jolina Magdangal, an image of a 90s teen star with full bangs and multicolored hair strands in equally colorful, trendy outfits of the time comes to mind. She of numerous romcom hits under her belt also has a beautiful singing voice to match her acting prowess when girls her age were into heavy acting.
Thus, it is no surprise that the actress-TV host would be considered an icon of her time.
Magdangal, however, said she feels self-conscious when people would call her an “icon,” when she reflected on her more than three decades of career in show business during a vlog in fellow actress Camille Prats’ YouTube channel last Wednesday, Oct. 19.
“‘Yung pagiging icon, kahit sinasabi sa akin, parang nahihiya ako. Kasi feeling ko — ano ba ang basehan ng pagiging icon? Para masabi mong icon talagang tumatak ‘yan sa mga tao, e paano ‘pag wala nang butterfly, wala na ring icon?” Magdangal said, referring to her trademark hair clip that formed part of the whole fashion trend that she famously started.
(The idea of being an icon — when people tell it to me — I feel shy. I feel like, what is the basis of being an icon? To say that someone is an icon, they must have really left a mark to the public. So what if I lose my butterfly, then would I still be an icon?)
Magdangal, who has been in the showbiz industry for 32 years, then underscored how her love for what she does has kept her in the industry despite the hardships that came with it.
She also talked about how she aimed to be an inspiration to those who love her and look up to her, and how this has been her purpose for continuing what she does.
“Siguro ‘pag wala na akong nababasa na natutuwa [sa mga ginagawa ko sa TV] — pero kahit may isa na lang [na] nai-inspire dahil sa napapanood nila sa akin, I think [lalaban] lang ako dito sa industriya,” she stated.
(Maybe when I no longer receive comments that people find joy in what I do on television — but if I still inspire even one single person then I think I will soldier on in this industry.)
“Hindi madali ah lalo na’t alam mo naman na hindi rin fair ‘yung iba, kung paano sila lumaban sa industriya. Pero basta alam mo na wala kang inaapakan and ayon nga, meron ka pa ring nai-inspire na tao, go-go ako,” Magdangal added.
(It’s not easy especially when you know that others do not fight fairly in the industry. But as long as I know that I do not step on others and that I still inspire people, then I would still go for it.)
Aside from her singing career, Magdangal is also known for her hit films “Labs Kita… Okey Ka Lang?” (1998), “Kung Ayaw Mo Huwag Mo” (1998), and “Hey Babe!” (1999) where she starred with her then love team partner Marvin Agustin. She was also part of several TV shows including “Ang TV” (1992), “Gimik” (1996) and “Arriba Arriba” (2000). EDV