Maria Teresa Alfonso (born in Pangil, Laguna), performing as Sampaguita, is a Filipino Pinoy rock singer, songwriter, and model. Dubbed the “Queen of Filipino rock music,” she began her career as a model for the Bagong Anyo program. Her stage name was coined by percussionist Nick Boogie after the national flower of the Philippines. Sampaguita’s first performance occurred at the New Moon Concert in 1977 at the Folk Arts Theater. Alfonso’s active career spanned from 1977 to 1994, with a return to performance in 2010. Her discography featured the studio albums Sampaguita (1978), Beatwave (1984), and Nosi Ba Lasi (1989), which contained the hit single “Nosi Ba Lasi”. Other recordings included “Bonggahan”, “Babalik Sa Iyo”, and “Laguna”. In 1994, Alfonso retired from the music scene, returning in 2010 for the Ugat, The Legends of Pinoy Folk Rock concert at the Araneta Coliseum.
