Ignatius Jones - Biography

Biography

Ignatius Jones was born in 1957 as Juan Ignacio Trápaga in Singalong, Manila, Philippines of a Basque-Chinese father, Nestor Juan Trápaga, and a Catalan-American mother, Margot (born 15 May 1935, nee Esteban). Also born in Manila are two of his younger siblings, Luis Miguel and Rocio Maria (born 9 August 1962). His paternal grandfather was a conductor while Jones' father, Nestor, was a musician playing violin, conga and bongo drums. His maternal grandfather, Luis Esteban (died 1964), was an actor and professional cartoonist, while his maternal grandmother, Mary Case Esteban (born 1908), was a caterer for state events – including for then-President Ferdinand Marcos – and a couturier. In January 1963 Nestor migrated to Australia via a plane flight to Sydney, he was followed in March by Margot (Margaret) and their three children. Jones' younger sister, Monica Trapaga, was born in 1965 in Sydney – she was later a Play School presenter and children's entertainer. Jones became a naturalised Australian in 1971, but maintains a dual Spanish-Australian citizenship. Jones grew up in Wahroonga and attended St Leo's Catholic College before switching to St Ignatius' College, Riverview, near the Sydney river-side suburb of Lane Cove. Jones contended for dux of his year level with Tony Abbott – later a Liberal Party politician – Jones struggled with mathematics but excelled in Ancient Greek and Latin. Jones followed Monica to her dance lessons and started a theatrical career as a classical ballet dancer but switched to more contemporary music.