Sultry singer-performer Vina Morales creates unprecedented waves and tremendous impact every time she performs on stage confidently equipped with her innately unabated seductiveness, voluptuous physicality, alluring charm, effortlessly strenuous dance moves, and unrivaled raspy-ish vocal range.
What makes Vina sexier when she performs is her unique husky voice that inevitably gives her that electrifying sex appeal with an enticingly inimitable sound and a pitch-perfect vocal range which she makes look effortlessly easy.
Born Sharon Garcia Magdayao on October 17, 1975 in Bogo, Cebu City to Enrique Magdayao of Cebu and Deanne Garcia of Spanish descent, she was christened cinematically Vina Morales when she entered the arena of make-believe. Actually she was named after Divina Vanessa Del Rosario, the first born of Viva Films producers Mina Aragon and Vic Del Rosario…and since then the moniker has aesthetically woven dreams from mere hope to reel and reality.
They say some are born singers while others were merely honed and trained but there’s something Cebuanas are innately born with—a wide vocal range. In Vina’s case, she seemed destined not only to be a prominently multi-awarded singer but also as an established entrepreneur, a dancer with supreme terpsichorean skill, and a seasoned actress… just like her younger sister, Shaina, who is closely following her footsteps.
For some, love and career can be simultaneously balanced but Vina’s fate on both was held on jeopardy. Once romantically linked to Juan Miguel Fernandez Zubiri, a former Congressman from the 3rd District of Bukidnon and Majority Floor Leader of the Philippine Senate, Vina’s successful movie career was almost always put on standstill and her privacy invaded in a way every time she’s romantically linked. But that’s what one gets when you’re a public property and popular at that.
Tagged as the Ultimate Performer, the Libra-born actress-singer has had a number of movie nominations and various music recognitions and awards.
Her foray into the movies, via “Nakagapos Na Puso” in 1986 where she debuted as a child star and cast together with her idol, Sharon Cuneta, made it easier to enable her to break through a more favored avenue— singing and recording.
Only a year after the release of “Easy to Love,” her self-titled maiden full-length recording in 1995, Vina was cited by Awit Awards as the Best Female Recording Artist of the Year which was followed by another equally most coveted citation in 2001 when the same award-giving body honored her with the Best Album of the Year for her 1999 album,“No Limits.”
Taking advantage of her prevailing popularity and bankable status, the summer of 2001 sent her touring the US with ASAP’s The Hunks (composed of Piolo Pascual, Carlos Agassi, Diether Ocampo, Jericho Rosales, and Bernard Palanca). Vina’s six-year US multi-concert tour (2002-2007) facilitated a wide range of exposure not only having had showcased her singing capability but simultaneously proved that Filipino talents are world-class.
While a great number of celebrities failed in their business ventures there are still several among them who were able to defy the odds and became not only notable entrepreneurs but titans in their league.
Female celebs in Hollywood are wise investors: Grammy’s multi-awardee Beyonce has launched her vegan meal products complete with delivery service; Jessica Alba of TV’s Dark Angel is co-founder of The Honest Company which sells non-toxic body care products; Tyra Banks of America’s Next Top Model runs her own Bankable Productions and founded Tyra Cosmetic Line; Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and The City ended up developing her own fragrance, and not to forget the late Hollywood goddess Elizabeth Taylor of Cleopatra fame had her White Diamonds perfume.
Vina Morales is never far from being in the same confederacy ‘though across the miles. Equipped with a keen business acumen and ingeniously entrepreneurial knowlegeability, the Visayan singer-actress is totally aware that her showbiz status couldn’t guarantee (her) a lifetime stability so she struck the iron while it was hot and ventured where ROI (return on investment) is certain and its services constantly in demand—a beauty parlor she named Ystilo Salon.
Currently, Ystilo Salon, after constant endorsements and plugging by, not only her and sister Shaina, but also showbiz peers and regular patrons, as well, has established a good number of branches and franchise locations despite stiff competition.
After her concert tours overseas, Vina went back to television in 2007. Not choosy with what she’s offered, Vina delineated the main character’s mother role in ABS-CBN’s primetime drama series, “Maria Flordeluna” while simultaneously digging another mine field…preparing to represent the Philippines in an international singing competition.
Her painstaking vocal training paid off. On August 12, 2007, she garnered the first ever IKON Asean Awards, a regional musical showcase that recognized talents from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and neighboring Asian countries.
Then a foreseeable career-derailing personal affair came that (almost) hindered the luxuriant status she was enjoying. It was quite preposterous that her intelligence was overruled by what her heart dictated but isn’t it true that love undoubtedly conquers all? She was enslaved by the euphoric high and an intensified obsessive-compulsiveness outside of her comfort zone. Only she knew what it was all about and any fatal blow was never an option.
Once more Vina fell in love again…this time with Filipino-Chinese businessman Cedric Lee. On April 25, 2009, their lovechild was born and christened Ceana Lee. Motherhood temporarily took her away from the limelight but Vina had no regrets knowing that taking seriously this more demanding role could eventually be more of an asset to her career when it calls to portraying more mature parts. When Ceana’s father got recently involved in a scandal that went viral, tongues kept wagging non-stop but Vina remained impervious and unaffected for she had long been without any association with her former lover and dragging her name into indignity was farfetched.
Her brief showbiz hiatus was punctuated by her return to what she loves doing best aside from singing—acting. In 2010, she did “Agua Bendita” and the following year, “Nasaan Ka, Elisa?” where she portrayed an antagonistic role for the first time.
There comes a time in life when a tempting talent fee isn’t all that matters. Vina politely turned down a script of another soap in favor of the Sherrie Christian role in the Broadway musical, “Rock of Ages.” She has long dreamt to do live theater and when the opportunity knocked she readily accepted it sans neither premeditation nor second thought… and not to mention her role as a stripper that challenged her to no end.
Her early training from That’s Entertainment, a youth-oriented afternoon variety show during the 80s, gave her an advantage for the role plus her concrete experiences after having had worked with seasoned choreographers like Geleen Eugenio, the Bayanihan, Douglas Nieras’ Power Dance, G4, and the numerous production numbers she has done in ASAP.
A whole season with “Rock of Ages” was more than enough to “kill” her curiosity with overwhelming fulfillment. For her, it was worth all the time and effort she devoted to the musical play.
Taping and shooting filled her 2013 schedules: there was “May Isang Pangarap” which was closely followed by the Philippine television remake of the Mexican telenovela, “Maria Mercedes.”
Last year, 2014, she made a comeback movie with former “Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum” leading man, Robin Padilla, in “Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo.”
And now, Cupid keeps tapping again at her chamber door which makes Vina effervescent looking and high spirited. But this time, it seems after learning from the past, she remains tightlipped about the true identity of the new guy who inspires her. All she would say was: “I want to know him more…discover our priorities and concrete plans for the future. God will make it happen if he’s really the right guy for me. I don’t want to make another wrong move.”
Vina Morales continues to entertain her fans be it on television, wide screen, or on live stage. Be part of her audience on Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, when she leads celebrity entertainers Maxene Magalona and Edgar Allan Guzman in gracing the 17th Fiesta in America indoor event at the Meadowlands Expo Center at 355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094.
Take an early glimpse of celebrity guests Vina Morales, Maxene Magalona and Edgar Allan Guzman on Friday, August 14, at Double Tree by Hilton along 128 Frontage Road, Newark, NJ (07114) when they grace the 7th People’s Ball. To attend, reserve tickets, or for more information about the People’s Ball, please call: 212-682-6610, 201-300-5234, or 201-993-8815.
Incidentally, 2015 Fiesta in America, a 501-(c) 3non-for-profit corporation, showcases the best of everything Filipino: Trade Exhibitions, Business to Business Networking, International and Local Entertainers, Cultural and Food Festival, and the rare opportunity to meet and bond with friends, old and new. Being the largest indoor gathering of Filipino businesses in the Northeast, Fiesta in America’s 17 years of leadership in event planning guarantees a whole world of satisfaction and approval among its regular and first time fiesta-goers.
To sponsor, exhibit, or attend the 2015 Fiesta in America, call: 212-682-6610. Email:[email protected] or get updates by visiting www.fiestainamerica.com
For comments and suggestions, please email to: [email protected]
