Gian Luca "Gian" Alzate Magdangal[1] (Tagalog: [ˈdʒijɐn magdɐˈŋal]; born November 18, 1981[2]), is a Filipino singer, performer, theater and television actor. He is a former boy band member of 17:28. he rose to prominence as one of the runners-up of Philippine Idol in 2006.

Gian Magdangal
Magdangal outside the GMA Network Center building in 2007
Magdangal in 2007
Background information
Birth nameGian Luca Alzate Magdangal
Born (1981-11-18) November 18, 1981 (age 42)
OriginParañaque, Philippines
GenresPop, R&B, Musical
Occupation(s)Singer, actor
InstrumentVocals
Years active2001–present (show business)
LabelsSony Music Philippines

He is a cousin of actress and fellow singer Jolina Magdangal.

Biography

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Early life and career

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Magdangal was born in Parañaque, and claims that he started to sing when he was 2 years old, as he was singing lullabies to his grandmother. He grew up listening to Broadway musicals, Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, and Brian McKnight. Seeing his potential as a singer, he was sent to undergo voice lessons at St. Scholastica's College's Conservatory of Music.[2] He also received vocal training from Trumpets Playshop, Sweet Plantado, Mon Faustino, Audie Gemora, Freddie Santos, and Carlo Orosa.[3]

Magdangal's early musical exposure was during high school in La Salle Green Hills when he became part of the Kundirana. It was there where he realized how singing can touch and change lives.[4] During his stint in Kundirana, he perfected his craft in music while still balancing a busy lifestyle as a stage actor in his school's drama club. He was also a member of Tiples de Sto. Domingo, an all-boys choir based in Quezon City.[5][6]

While in college at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, taking up Business Administration with a major in Computer Application,[2] Magdangal became part of a boy band quartet known as 17:28, which was formed by Gemora, along with his college friends. The group had their share of success compiling two albums under Star Music and Viva Records (wherein there were only three member left). One of their songs, "Sukob Na", became a rainy season jingle for ABS-CBN. After three years, the group decided to disband with Magdangal being the only active musician. He formed a band "Gian with Industriya".[4]

After graduating from college in 2003, Magdangal joined Trumpets Music Academy, a company which produced numerous theater plays in the metro in which he gained more exposure in acting. His theater credentials include the musicals Footloose,[7] The Little Mermaid, and Once On This Island.[8]

During his training in Trumpets Music Academy, he accidentally entered a workshop for Advanced Musical Theater, when he was enrolled for the basic workshop. Plantado, the workshop's facilitator at that time, accepted Magdangal in her class where he was introduced with different players in the musical industry who eventually became his trainers. He said that theater training taught him confidence, discipline, humility, and teamwork. He believed that one should not pursue a career in entertainment simply for the money.[4]

However, Magdangal discontinued his singing career to give priority to his family. He disbanded Gian with Industriya and entered the corporate world.[4] Before auditioning for Philippine Idol, he was working as a Marketing Events Officer[2] for Smart Communications.[9]

Philippine Idol

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Magdangal said that Philippine Idol was like "a calling" to return to music. However, he felt that the competition was not meant for him because of conflicts between his work and the audition dates. He only found an opening at the Cebu auditions, but he was short of money. He eventually flew to Cebu City with the help of sponsors in time for the final leg of the auditions,[4] where he sang "The Last Time" by Eric Benét. He wore a gray coat, which he considered as his good luck charm, all throughout the audition and theater eliminations.[2]

When Magdangal got into the Top 24, he took a leave of absence "without pay" from his work.[10] This was to avoid suspicion that Smart Communications, which was a major advertisement sponsor of Philippine Idol, was backing him up.

He failed to make to the Top 4 during the Men's Semi-Final Round, and had to go through the Wildcard phase to enter the Top 12 Finalists.

The judges often compared Magdangal (who studied in a De La Salle school) with fellow finalist Jan Nieto (who studied in Ateneo de Manila University), calling it "the new Ateneo-La Salle rivalry". They are also compared to the rivalry between Filipino singers Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano during the 1980s.[3] Entertainment writers even predicted that Magdangal and Nieto would vie for the title.[11]

He was placed at the Bottom 4 or Bottom 3 twice. Although Magdangal was praised by the judges for his vocal talent, he is often criticized for his lack of emotional depth when performing his contest pieces.[10]

He admitted that there were several physical changes in him during the competition, such as losing weight from 180 pounds to 162 pound at 6' 1",[4] as well as getting sick days before the finale that he had to undergo medication.[12]

He placed runner-up to eventual winner Mau Marcelo in a hotly contested voting verdict made by the public.

Post-Idol

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Magdangal received P250,000 as prize for being a runner-up on Philippine Idol. He said that he gave part of it to pay family debts and some of it went to his savings.[9]

Weeks after the competition, Magdangal signed a non-exclusive contract with GMA Network and had been a regular talent in its Sunday noontime variety show SOP Rules.[13] However, a stipulation in Magdangal's contract states that he is not supposed to mention "Philippine Idol" in any of his appearances on GMA Network, and this has been noticeable since his first appearances.[14]

Magdangal, along with fellow Idol finalists Jelli Mateo and Pow Chavez, were included in a list of Most Promising People of 2007. He was described as the year's Christian Bautista, if not even better.[15]

Together with his fellow Idol finalists, Magdangal performed in a concert held in Araneta Coliseum on 23 March 2007.[16]

He performed in Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant in 2007, where he serenaded the finalists. Magdangal also guested in a fund-raising concert entitled "From the Soul...For the Mind", which benefited non-government organization Family Farm Schools.[17] He performed in a concert headlined by Tiples de Santo Domingo, in which he was a member, in Philam Life Theater on 15 September 2007.[5]

He won Best Performance by a New Male Artist at the 20th Awit Awards in August 2007 for his song "Himala" that was part of the Philippine Idol Top 12 Album.[18]

Magdangal was included in Candy Magazine's list of "Candy Cuties" for 2007.[19]

He also guested in the Philippine version of Celebrity Duets, wherein he performed with socialite and self-proclaimed "eventologist" Tim Yap.

In 2011, Magdangal was cast as Crisóstomo Ibarra in the stage musical Noli Me Tángere, an adaptation of José Rizal's novel of the same name by composer Ryan Cayabyab and librettist Bienvenido Lumbera.

On 18 February 2015, Magdangal was interviewed and revealed he is now a cast member of Hong Kong Disneyland playing multiple roles like Capt. Li Shang of Mulan in the Golden Mickeys Theater Show.[20][21]

Personal life

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Magdangal has one child, Gian Haley with Sheree Bautista.

Filmography

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Television / Digital Series

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Year Title Role Network
2006 Philippine Idol Contestant / Runner-up ABC
2007–2010 SOP Himself / Performer GMA Network
2009 Rosalinda Gerardo
2010–2013 Party Pilipinas Himself / Performer
2011–2012 Kokak Norman
2013 Forever Rico
Sunday All Stars Himself ('Insta Gang' Member)
Myx 3on3 Player (Yellow Team) Myx
Annaliza Atty. Jun Castro ABS-CBN
2014 Rhodora X Medical Team I GMA Network
Carmela Tasyo Fernandez
Niño Juanito
Bet On Your Baby Himself with his Wife and child ABS-CBN
2018 FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Executive Secretary Damien Ocampo
2019; 2022 ASAP Natin 'To Himself / Guest Performer ABS-CBN / Kapamilya Channel
A2Z / TV5
2021–2022 Viral Scandal Bobby Ramones Kapamilya Channel
2022 Lyric and Beat Adrian iWantTFC
Mano Po Legacy: The Flower Sisters Adult Felino Go GMA Network
2023 Regal Studio Presents: My Fairy Lady Harris
The Iron Heart Cian† Kapamilya Channel / A2Z
TV5
Abot-Kamay na Pangarap Lander Soler GMA Network

Film

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Year Title Role
2024 Chances Are, You and I
Fuchsia Libre Daddy Yo

Discography

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Studio album

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Year Title Label
2009 Love Tracks Musiko/Sony Music

with 17:28

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(Members: Gian Magdangal, Jonard Yanzon, Chino Alfonso, Wackie Valdes)

Year Title Label
2003 17:28 Star Music
2004 Cozy Viva Records

Awards

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Year Award-giving Body Category
2006 Awit Awards Best Performance by a New Male Artist
2008 GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards Most Promising Male Singer[22][23]

References

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  1. ^ Guy with a Big Heart Philippine Idol features section
  2. ^ a b c d e Gian Magdangal Contestant Profile Philippine Idol official website
  3. ^ a b Gian and Jan Face-off Archived 2007-02-08 at the Wayback Machine ABC-5 official website, features section
  4. ^ a b c d e f Web Exclusive: Interview with Gian Magdangal before the Grand Finals Night Philippine Idol features section
  5. ^ a b The sound of Tiples Archived 2007-10-14 at the Wayback Machine Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 2, 2007 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  6. ^ Angelic voices for La Naval Archived 2012-03-11 at the Wayback Machine Inquirer Mobile, October 1, 2007 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  7. ^ "Footloose the Musical" on stage from Sept. 2-25, at Meralco Theater Manila Bulletin, August 30, 2005 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  8. ^ A phenomenal tale at 'The Island' Manila Bulletin, February 3, 2006 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  9. ^ a b Napagod sa pag-ibig[permanent dead link] Pilipino Star Ngayon, February 6, 2007 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  10. ^ a b Gian Magdangal’s game plan in ‘Idol’ Manila Bulletin, November 24, 2006 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  11. ^ ‘Philippine Idol’ fearless forecast: Gian vs. Jan Archived 2007-12-19 at the Wayback Machine Pep Eye, Philippine Entertainment Portal, November 24, 2006 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  12. ^ Gian Magdangal, after Philippine Idol Philippine Idol features section
  13. ^ "SOP" lets go of co-hosts for major revamp Philippine Entertainment Portal, January 22, 2007
  14. ^ When Magdangal guested on talk show "Mel and Joey", he mentioned that he joined "a singing contest".
  15. ^ Promising people Archived 2012-08-28 at the Wayback Machine Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 3, 2007 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  16. ^ Philippine Idol main page Archived 2007-11-16 at the Wayback Machine Promotion of Idol concert as posted on Philippine Idol website
  17. ^ From the Soul…For the Mind: A fundraising concert to benefit Family Farm Schools[permanent dead link] Yehey! Lifestyle section, May 30, 2007 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  18. ^ List of Winners in Major Categories Archived March 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine 20th Awit Awards (accessed October 31, 2007)
  19. ^ Hottest celebrities make it to Candy Magazine's list of Candy Cuties Archived 2007-12-23 at the Wayback Machine Philippine Entertainment Portal, September 13, 2007 (accessed November 5, 2007)
  20. ^ ABS-CBNnews.com, Maria Aleta Nieva-Nishimori. "How Pinoy went from singing contest finalist to Disney prince". ABS-CBN News.
  21. ^ "Finding their light where magic happens". Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on 2015-02-20. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  22. ^ "Gian Magdangal talks about one-week-old son with Sheree". GMA News Online. 15 May 2008.
  23. ^ "The 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards (Part 2)". Pep.ph. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
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