Maria Jolina Perez Magdangal-Escueta (Tagalog: [dʒɔˈlina magdɐˈŋal ʔɛsˈkwɛtɐ]; born November 6, 1978[1]) is a Filipino singer, actress, television presenter, commercial model, philanthropist and entrepreneur.

[36] The album was praised by critics for containing adventurous repertoire; with David Gonzales of All Music saying "An actress and television personality, has a fine voice that is full of depth and warmth [...] Magdangal has a promising future.

"[36] In 1997, Magdangal became known to a wider audience through the film adaptation of the television series F.L.A.M.E.S.,[37] and its accompanying soundtrack album where she recorded two original songs, "Sana’y Kapiling Ka" and "Tameme".

[43] Magdangal appears the major role as Karen Alonzo-Montejo in Esperanza (1997-1998), alongside co-stars Judy Ann Santos, Wowie de Guzman, Marvin Agustin, Angelika dela Cruz and Jericho Rosales.

[47] Magdangal's first critical and commercial success in film was the multi-million box office hit[48] and Filipino classic[49] Labs Kita... Okey Ka Lang?

[citation needed] By the end of the 1990s, Magdangal achieved further success in releasing her sophomore self-titled album Jolina (1999); top billing the blockbuster film Hey Babe!

[64][65] The album produced the Magdangal original song "Laging Tapat", which remained on the lists of top radio charts throughout the Philippines for weeks[66] and her version of "Paper Roses", a revival that became a favorite nationwide.

[66] David Gonzales of the Philippine Daily Inquirer stated in a review: "[Magdangal] may not sing the most adventurous music around, as her repertoire consists mostly of the passionate, easy-listening love song that appeals to many Filipinos, but she has a voice and style that promises to withstand the test of time.

[73] In 2000, Magdangal released her third studio album On Memory Lane (2000), which consists entirely of remakes of originals coming from periods considered as the golden age of popular music.

[75] Writing for allmusic.com, David Gonzales stated in a review: "The young Magdangal does an excellent job [in On Memory Lane], and her voice has matured impressively since 1998's (sic) Jolina; her delivery is polished and self-assured.

The series featured an ensemble cast including Rosa Rosal, Eddie Garcia, Amy Austria, Dina Bonnevie, Raymond Bagatsing, Ariel Rivera and Carmina Villarroel.

Directed by Eric Quizon and Gina Alajar, Magdangal played the role of a long-lost granddaughter of a wealthy Doña and was torn between the love interests of the characters of Raymart Santiago and James Blanco.

[94] The concept and aim of the Festival is "to find synergy among the diverse cultures of Japan and the ASEAN countries and to bring about a sense of togetherness and community among a wide range of people who support it, through exchanges in popular music".

Despite the film in general being panned by critics, Magdangal's performance earned her a nomination in the 2005 Entertainment Press’ Golden Screen Awards (ENPRESS) for Best Actress in Musical or Comedy.

Rito P. Asilo of the Inquirer News Service noted that "[Magdangal's] repertoire may have tenuous lyrical content, but her rich and naturally soulful voice, the album's best asset, makes utterly familiar tunes seem fresh and personal.

Directed by Louie Ignacio, the series was publicized as "the first Philippine primetime TV soap to use a world-class location as its backdrop"[109] with the majority of its episodes filmed in New York City.

Directed by Topel Lee, the film was based on a National Geographic Channel documentary about a British family that inappropriately used a Ouija board inadvertently trapping a spirit.

[118] In 2008, Magdangal was selected to judge in the music competition Pinoy Idol,[119] an international TV franchise distributed by Fremantle Media, alongside singer-composer Ogie Alcasid and retired talent manager Wyngard Tracy.

The film, where she starred along with Dennis Trillo, Eugene Domingo, Rufa Mae Quinto, Mark Herras and Rhian Ramos, featured five countries, and 13 cities as background of the story of intertwining lives and destinies of six people on a seven-day cruise aboard Costa Magica.

[138]In 2011, she co-starred in television with Claudine Barretto, Marvin Agustin, Luis Alandy and Milkcah Wynne Nacion in Iglot, a drama-fantasy and spin-off to the 2004 series Mulawin.

By November 2014, Magdangal started taping episodes for her next television series FlordeLiza[143] (2015), premiered January 2015, indicating her return to ABS-CBN after 12 years with GMA Network.

"[155] Late 2015, after a seven year hiatus in the recording industry, Magdangal released her eighth studio album Back to Love through digital downloading and streaming, containing seven original songs.

Produced by Antoinette Jadaone and directed by JP Habac, the film's principal photography took place in Malta and has generated positive feedback from casual viewers with its teaser, official trailer, and poster quickly gaining traction on social media.

[212] The campaign was a series of global fundraising events calling out individuals and corporations across 20 countries to donate an hour's worth of their earnings to support the less fortunate children.

[215] While in a collaboration effort of entertainment writers Ian Urrutia, Katrina Santiago, and selected panelists of the lifestyle magazine FHM Philippines, Magdangal was credited to have built a legacy that goes beyond film, television and music.

[216] According to the panel: She has secured her status as a pop culture icon whose impeccable blend of camp aesthetics and playful visual quirks remained relevant to this day.

Her quirky and bubbly persona and flamboyant and psychedelic style became her trademark... One of her major influences were the glittery and colorful butterfly hair clips in different shapes and sizes.

[241] In 2017, a parody account Jolegend Slaydangal became an instant hit in the Philippines and produced a number of memes glorifying Magdangal's successes in the showbiz industry and why she is worthy of the title as the country's Queen of Pop.

[242][243] FHM Philippines described Magdangal as the “most charming Pinay cutie pie... [who has remained as] the perennial apple of our eyes and the showbiz industry’s unanimous peg for wholesomeness and baby face-dome”, even after getting married and giving birth to her first child.

[246] For effectively establishing a “solid name and one that is unblemished with nary a scandal or controversy”, she was acknowledged to be a “true-blue epitome of a role model of the youth [and] pride of the industry”".