Kapamilya powerhouse singer Jona Viray recently opened up about a major milestone in her two-decade career—her first-ever outdoor performance at the Sinulog Festival in Cebu.
Jona was one of the headliners on Day 2 of BingoPlus Musikalingawan sa Sinulog 2026, held at Plaza Independencia on Saturday night, January 18. Sharing the stage with fellow vocal powerhouse Sheryn Regis, Jona delivered a stirring performance that left thousands of festivalgoers cheering despite intermittent rain.
Speaking exclusively to LionhearTV, Jona expressed her excitement over performing outdoors for the first time.
“Sobrang saya, yung energy grabe! Ang warm ng pagtanggap nila sa akin (tonight). I’m very very happy to be here,” she said.
Although she has performed in Cebu several times before, Jona clarified that all her previous shows in the city were held indoors.
“Yung first time ko kasi, sa ano ’yun—Waterfront Hotel! Concert siya with Arnel Pineda and Morissette, so puro indoor lang kami that time. Matagal na ’to, 2017 pa!”
The Sinulog experience, she said, was completely different—and unforgettable.
“So, first ko ngayon ’to, na sa outdoor ginawa! Masaya! Grabe ang energy, at saka andaming pagkain! Ang saya!”
Transitioning from indoor venues to an outdoor festival stage came with technical challenges, especially for a singer known for vocal precision. Jona explained how outdoor acoustics differ significantly from indoor concert halls.
“Para sa mga singers, iba ’yung tunog kapag indoor at saka outdoor. Pag sa outdoor, masyadong kalat yung sounds, kasi walang mga walls na nag-iinhibit ng mga sound.”
She added: “Unlike pag indoor, kayang kontrolin. Acoustically-treated, normally ’yung mga concert venues na gano’n.”
To protect her voice, Jona shared her specific requests to sound engineers during live performances.
“Ang nirerequest ko lang sa mga audio engineers natin is, as long as naririnig ko nang maayos ang vocals ko sa floor monitors at saka sa house. Ang preference ko is, 60% na mas malakas yung vocals, 40% yung music.”
She emphasized the importance of hearing her own voice clearly.
“Ayaw ko na natatabunan ng music. Kasi ang tendency, kapag natatabunan ng music ang boses, you tend to sing more… so mas madaling ma-strain ’yung vocals.”
Despite the technical adjustments, Jona’s outdoor debut proved to be a resounding success. She wowed the crowd with her hit song ‘Pusong Ligaw,’ showcasing the vocal power and emotional depth that have defined her career.
Day 2 of the festival also featured performances from Patrick Quiroz, Jed Madela, and Cebu pride Kent Villarba, rounding out a night that celebrated both national stars and local talent.
@lionheartv Jona Viray, kinantahan ng ‘A Million Dreams’ ang mga participants ng Sinulog2026! #JonaViray #BPSinulogShow #SinulogBP2026 #SinulogSayaWithBP
Now in its third year as part of the Sinulog celebrations, BingoPlus Musikalingawan sa Sinulog 2026 once again stood out as one of the festival’s biggest crowd drawers—blending music, community, and cultural pride. For Jona, the experience marked not just a successful performance, but a meaningful new chapter in an already storied career.
