Carol Claire Aguilar Banawa-Crisostomo (born March 4, 1981) is a Filipino actress, former singer and nurse currently based in United States. She is a Star Magic Batch 4 alumna.
Early life and career Carol Claire Aguilar Banawa was raised in Batangas, she has two siblings, Alexander and Cherry. Banawa started singing when she was a little girl while her family lived in Saudi Arabia. Her family then moved back to the Philippines. There, she was invited to join the new roster of ABS-CBN stars through the children-oriented show Ang TV.
She has performed at the Madison Square Garden in New York City at the 2003 New York Music Festival.
In 2004, Pinoyvision Records Released: her Platinum Hits Collection album, a compilation of her songs. The album also comes with a VCD of Banawa's hit music videos such as "Stay", "Ocean Deep" and "Noon at Ngayon".
In 2010, she made her comeback in the music industry, and starred in the hit Philippine TV series, Mara Clara, where she sang the opening song of the said TV series. She also covered Till My Heartaches End, the theme song of the 2010 film of the same name.
In 2016, her song "Bakit 'Di Totohanin" was featured in one of the scenes of the U.S. drama series The Vampire Diaries.
Personal life Banawa is married to Ryan Crisostomo and they have three children together.
Hiatus and nursing career Banawa took a break from the Philippine music scene in August 2003 to attend to the treatment of her father who was exposed to lethal levels of carbon monoxide. She obtained an associate degree in nursing and graduated summa cum laude from the Northern Virginia Community College, Washington, D.C. in 2018, followed by a bachelor's degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University in 2020. Presently, she is an operating room (OR) registered nurse based in the United States.
Discography
Studio albums Title Album details Certification / Sales CarolReleased: 1997 Label: Star Music Format: CD, cassette, digital download Gold Carol: RepackagedReleased: 2000 Label: Star Music Format: CD, cassette PARI: 3× Platinum TransitionReleased: 2001 Label: Star Music Format: CD, cassette PARI: Platinum Follow Your HeartReleased: 2003 Label: Star Music Format: CD, cassette PARI: PlatinumMy Music, My LifeReleased: November 14, 2010 Label: Star Music/Black Bird Music Format: CD, digital download
Other appearances
Compilation appearances Title Details Sa Araw ng Pasko Released: 1998 Label: Star Music
"Soon It's Christmas" AnakReleased: 2000 Label: Star Music Tanging Yaman (Inspirational album) Released: 2000 Label: Star Music Only Selfless Love Released: 2002 Label: Star Music Mysteria Lucis: Mysteries of Light Released: 2003 Label: Star Music The Brightest Stars of Christmas Released: 2003 Label: Star Music Filmography
Television Year Title Role Notes 1994 Ang TV Herself 1995–2003 ASAP Herself / Performer / Co-host Later became a guest performer in 2006 and again in 2010. 1996 Calvento Files Rosalie Episode: "Rosalie" 1996 Calvento Files Cindy Episode: "33 Feet Under" 1997 Kaybol: Ang Bagong TV Herself 2000 Tabing Ilog Andoy 2001 Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan Minerva 2002 Bituin Melody Sandoval 2002 Wansapanataym Episode: "Rapunzel" 2006 American Idol Herself Auditioned for the 5th season. 2006 Wowowee Herself, Guest 2006 Little Big Star Herself, Guest 2010 Music Uplate Live Herself, Performer, Guest
Film Year Title Role Notes 1996 Ang TV The Movie: The Adarna Adventure King's niece 1997 Calvento Files: The Movie Cindy 1998 Nagbibinata Carol 1998 Hiling Rowena 2000 Tanging Yaman Chona
Theater Year Title Role Notes 2000 Little Mermaid Jewel
Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, type of award, category of the award, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Work Result Metropop Song Festival1998 Munting Mutya Shanghai Song Festival1999Asia New Singer Competition Gold Record AwardCarol5th Katha Music AwardsBest Pop Female Vocal Performance Awit Awards2001Record of the Year"Iingatan Ka" (from Tanging Yaman – Inspirational Album)Platinum AwardCarolAsian SongfestSpecial citationPhilippines representative People's Choice AwardsMost Promising Host Entertainer Awardee 2002Gold Record AwardTransitionMulti-Platinum StatusCarolNew York Music Festival2003Special AwardGold certificationFollow Your HeartPlatinum Record AwardTransitionAwit AwardsBest Pop Female Vocal Performance"Stay" MTV Pilipinas AwardsFavorite Female Artist -2004Platinum Record AwardFollow Your HeartAwit Awards "Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosaryo"3rd Star Awards2011Female Pop Artist Of The Year ASAP Pop Viewers ChoicePop Movie Themesong
References
External links Carol Banawa (Artist Info) Carol Banawa Biography Carol Banawa Biography (page 2) The Carol Banawa Story (Entertainment Feature) Star Records Music Publishing Platinum Hits Collection Info Tanging Yaman Movie Review