“Why do I still love you even though you love someone else?” — Gigi De Lana: Her Story Behind the Voice

Gigi De Lana, born Mary Gidget Orfano De Lana on September 24, 1995 in Olongapo City, grew up in Laguna with her mother Emelda, who was a major inspiration behind her passion for music. She studied at Kalamba Doctor’s College and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

Despite the many challenges she faced—especially her mother’s battle with metastatic breast cancer, which sadly took her life in May 2024—Emelda continues to be Gigi’s guiding light and source of strength in both her personal life and career.

🎤 Early Musical Journey

Gigi began her musical career at the age of seven. She joined the reality talent competition Popstar Kids and became a grand finalist in Season 2. Afterward, she became a member of the singing group Sugarpop on the show SOP, and later performed on Eat Bulaga‘s segment Ikaw at Echo: Ka-Voice ni Idol, where she impressed the judges with her impersonation of Jennifer Hudson, also reaching the finals.

In 2020, she signed with Rise Artist Studio, a talent division under Star Magic. That same year, she played the role of Lem in Four Sisters Before the Wedding, a prequel to the hit movie Four Sisters and a Wedding.

🎶 Rise to Stardom with GG Vibes

As the lead vocalist of the band GG Vibes (formerly Renata Strings), they began live-streaming musical sessions on YouTube and other social media platforms every Wednesday and Saturday. Despite obstacles like poor internet connections and lack of equipment, they continued to bring joy to their fans.

Their cover of the song “Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita” went viral and sparked the #BakitNgaBaMahalKitaChallenge on TikTok, which garnered over 40 million views in 2022. Gigi launched her debut album “Gigi De Lana”, which featured eight original tracks and two bonus tracks, including her breakout single “Sakalam” and the official soundtrack of the series Viral Scandal, titled “Nasaan Ako.”

🎭 Music and Acting

Aside from music, Gigi also explored acting. She starred as Heart in the series Hello, Heart alongside Gerald Anderson, which aired on the streaming platform iQiyi. According to Gigi, although music remains her main passion, she has come to love acting because it gives her the chance to express emotions through different characters.

💔 Struggles and Personal Trials

As a young artist, Gigi faced rejections in auditions and was turned down by some bands. Nevertheless, she never gave up. Her band and her mother were her strength and inspiration to keep going. According to her, her mother was the first to believe in her, and continues to guide her journey even after passing away.

Despite her success, Gigi remains humble and committed to her dreams. She wants to continue making music, performing globally, and collaborating with other great artists—not just for herself, but for her family, especially her beloved mother who was her biggest inspiration.

⚠️ Controversies and Challenges

Even though Gigi is admired for her talent as a singer and actress, she hasn’t been immune to controversies.

In May 2023, after a car accident, Gigi reportedly fell victim to scammers who drained her bank account—money that was meant for her mother’s stage 4 cancer treatment. According to Gigi, the scammers even said, “Get well soon, Ma’am GG” while they were taking her money.

That same month, while performing in Ilocos Norte, Gigi allegedly fainted on stage. Some critics accused her of faking the incident to avoid performing. However, her band and supporters said she was genuinely unwell and needed medical attention.

Reports surfaced that Gigi was allegedly banned from ABS-CBN due to contract violations with Star Magic. Talent manager Ogie Diaz claimed that Gigi was not promoting her new songs on TV because of contractual disputes. However, neither Gigi nor Star Magic has released an official statement.

Gigi was also linked to a skincare brand called G Cosmetics, but investors reportedly criticized her for not promoting the products well enough, leading to a drop in sales. There were also claims that checks issued to her bounced, causing legal issues—though Gigi has yet to respond publicly to these allegations.

Organizers from certain provincial shows claimed Gigi demanded higher talent fees and did not cooperate well with staff. Again, there were accusations that she pretended to faint to skip performances, though these remain unverified.

💫 Comeback and New Horizons

Despite these issues, Gigi remains active in her career. On January 29, 2025, she appeared as a mystery singer on Showtime’s Hide and Sing segment, where she once again showed her talent. Her return to ABS-CBN debunked rumors that she had been banned. She performed alongside her band, GG Vibes.

Currently, Gigi and her band are preparing for their Rated GG 2.0 US Tour, which started in February. The tour includes cities like San Francisco, Anchorage, Guam, and New Orleans, where they hope to reconnect with fans and share their music.

❤️ A Performer at Heart

Gigi shared:

“The happiness that I feel inside when I’m performing and when I’m looking at the audience in their eyes—it makes me feel loved.”

“I started competing in Popstar Kids, then I got into Tawag ng Tanghalan. When my mom discovered I could sing, I started listening to Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Regine Velasquez. But when I was around 13 to 15 years old, I really got into Hayley Williams, Avril Lavigne, and Alanis Morissette. I’ve always loved alternative music.”

“Music is my passion, but I’ll take every opportunity—acting, dancing, hosting. Acting feels so different from singing; it’s about becoming the character, expressing emotions.”

“Five years ago, I was really, really depressed. I didn’t want to pursue my career anymore. I was rejected from auditions. I was just lazy… But now, I’m here. And I’m not giving up.”