Maria Isabella Simone Arroyo Magalona-Bacarro (born November 23, 1988), better known as Saab Magalona, is a Filipino actress, singer, and blogger who started in the TV5 youth-oriented drama series Lipgloss. She is the daughter of Francis Magalona and sister of Maxene Magalona,[1][2] Frank Magalona & Elmo Magalona. In music, she is a member of the 8-piece indie rock band Cheats, where she acts as co-lead vocalist, alongside Candy Gamos and her husband, Jim Bacarro.

Saab Magalona-Bacarro
Magalona at the Rock For a Fully Abled Nation benefit concert in the Eastwood City, Manila, 2013
Born
Maria Isabella Simone Arroyo Magalona

(1988-11-23) November 23, 1988 (age 35)
Manila, Philippines
Occupations
  • Host
  • singer
  • actress
  • blogger
Years active2007–present
Spouse
Jim Bacarro
(m. 2015)
Children3
FamilyEnrique Magalona (great grandfather)
Pancho Magalona (grandfather)
Tita Duran (grandmother)
Francis Magalona (father)
Maxene Magalona (sister)
Frank Magalona (brother)
Elmo Magalona (brother)
Hiro Peralta (cousin)
Musical career
Genres

Career

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In 2007, she made her first onscreen appearance as the friend of Eleanor (played by Alessandra de Rossi) in the GMA Network telefantasya Kamandag where her sister Maxene played the role of one of Richard Gutierrez' leading ladies. In 2008, she joined the cast of TV5's Lipgloss. In October 2010, she made her GMA comeback on the teleserye Koreana, playing Ivy.

Her music career began when she filled-in for several indie bands such as Us-2 Evil-0 (2009), Duster, and BBYGRL (2012). A few years later, she and Jim Bacarro formed the band called Cheats following the disbandment of Bacarro's band Ernville.[3]

In 2018, she returned to television and signed up with ABS-CBN as the new host of music program Coke Studio Homecoming.[4]

Personal life

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Her father is the late Filipino rapper and actor Francis Magalona; her grandparents are the late actors Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. She took up creative writing at the Ateneo de Manila University.

On January 24, 2015, she married her boyfriend and fellow Cheats band member, Jim Bacarro, in a private ceremony that was held in St. Ignatius Chapel inside the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio. The ceremony was attended by the couple's family and close friends. This included Saab's siblings Frank, Elmo, and Maxene, who also served as the maid of honor; Miss World 2013 Megan Young and her sister Lauren Young, both part of the bridal entourage; Janine Gutierrez; and comedian Michael V., one of the principal sponsors.[5]

In September 2017, Magalona announced that she and Bacarro were expecting twins.[6] Later on, she suffered a miscarriage and lost her baby girl (Luna Isabel M. Bacarro), but the baby boy (Pancho Gerardo M. Bacarro) survived and stayed in the NICU for months. They named her son after her paternal grandfather, Pancho Magalona.

In September 2019, Magalona gave birth to another son, Vito Tomas.

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Network
2007–2008 Kamandag Ria Ramos GMA Network
2008–2009 Lipgloss Meg Madrigal TV5
2010–2011 Koreana Ivy Jung GMA Network
2011 Captain Barbell Kristel
2012 My Beloved Ginella Quijano
Hindi Ka na Mag-iisa Celine Montenegro
2013 Forever Leila
2013–2014 Adarna Robin Abrientos
2016 ASAP Host/Performer ABS-CBN
2018 Coke Studio Homecoming Host

Music career

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Albums with Cheats
  • Cheats (2016)

References

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  1. ^ Santiago, Erwin (2008-11-28). ""Lipgloss" star Saab Magalona admits rift with sister Maxene, denies living-in with boyfriend". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  2. ^ Bautista, Mario E. (2008-12-04). "Patrick doesn't want to trick Jennylyn". Journal Online. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  3. ^ "Who The Heck Are Cheats? | Spell Saab". spellsaab.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-03.
  4. ^ "Coke Studio Homecoming lineup revealed: IV of Spades, QUEST, Ben&Ben, Juan Miguel Severo, and more". Coke Studio Homecoming lineup revealed: IV of Spades, QUEST, Ben&Ben, Juan Miguel Severo, and more | Editorial | Bandwagon - Live music, bands and concert guide for Singapore, Manila and Jakarta. 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  5. ^ http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/01/24/15/look-saab-magalonas-wedding-baguio-city, LOOK: Saab Magalona's wedding in Baguio City
  6. ^ "Saab Magalona reveals she's pregnant with twins". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. September 30, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.