Vina’s staying power

MANILA, Philippines – Vina Morales remains calm and collected even when she has to deal with several complaints filed against her in three different places — Caloocan City, Parañaque and Nueva Ecija — by Cedric Lee’s camp. She is leaving everything in the hands of her lawyers whom she trusts so much.

“My lawyer Lucille Sering is the one handling all my cases and another lawyer Bembol Castillo helps me in the complaint (filed) in Nueva Ecija because instead of dwelling on the problem, I’d rather concentrate on my work,” says Vina. “A lot of blessings are coming my way. Tinatawanan ko na lang ang problema probably because my family’s all-out support is keeping me strong and also my daughter Ceana.

“What I’ve gone through recently was not a joke, napakahirap ’yun para i-absorb lahat ng pressure and it’s still ongoing and when it comes to my daughter, medyo napaka-sensitive na bagay yun na talagang ipaglalaban ko ‘yan at di ako uurong dito so I let my lawyers do the thing.”

Vina never denies there are nights when she can’t help but cry. However, she is optimistic that everything will come to pass; that this is just one of her trying times. “Alam ko hindi N’ya ako pababayaan at alam ko na wala akong inaagrabyadong tao. I have never wronged anyone.” She hopes that “these crazy things” will be soon be over.

What remains smooth-sailing for Vina is her status in showbiz. This year marks her 30th in the industry where she literally has matured as a person.

“Thirty years in any business is already a long time and I don’t know where to start in thanking everyone for all the support all these years and I’m looking forward to more years to come.”

Vina was nine years old when she competed and won at the Cebu Pop Music Festival. Her winning piece Paglaom (Visayan word for hope) made everyone noticed her vocal talent and it led to her discovery as a singer. She didn’t hesitate transferring to Manila with her family to start her singing career.

“I already knew that time, that I came to Manila to work that’s why I missed a big part of my childhood days. But I have no regrets since I was able to realize my dream of becoming a singer and at the same time help my family kasi malaking change of lifestyle para sa amin yun.”

Apart from singing, Vina also ventured into acting and hosting. “I did movies with Ate Sharon (Cuneta) in Viva, and then I became part of the OctoArts family, GMA 7 and ABC 5. Now I’m with ABS-CBN so I’m really thankful that I got to do many things; wala akong naging problema with the people I’ve worked with.”

Thus, it is only fitting for the singer-actress to celebrate her 30 years in showbiz with an anniversary concert dubbed Vina@Thirty which will happen on Oct. 14 at the Kia Theater. 

“I’ll be working with people who are very special to me like Pops Fernandez, director Johnny Manahan, Georcelle Dapat-Sy and the G-Force, musical director Mark Lopez. My guests are Gary Valenciano, Shaina Magdayao, my daughter Ceana, Ogie Alcasid, Daniel Padilla and Robin Padilla, who finally confirmed that he’s coming,” relates Vina.

The one-and-half-hour concert will see her performing and dancing to 14 songs and one special number with her daughter. There will be videos showing the different phases of her career from past to the present.

Asked what she considers as the five highlights of her career, Vina said that she can’t thank God enough for allowing her to do all that she wanted. “I was able to do a lot of movies and TV shows, I starred in soaps, I did albums and I’ll be releasing a new one, Vina30, under Star Records in October and I was also able to do theater with Rock of Ages.”

Does she think there’s still a void that she needs to fill in her life?

“Career or personal? I cannot think of any at this point. I have Ceana that completes me as a woman. I just do not know if there will be another one to come (laughs) because I always say no one knows what will happen in our life. I just play it by ear where my present relationship (with Marc Lambert) would lead me to. But I am praying hard na sana ito na because it’s a serious relationship yet ending up together, it’s God’s will and in God’s time.”

Asked about her advice to newcomers for them to stay long in the biz like her, Vina said that it is a must to have a good attitude and to take their craft seriously “because if you take your work for granted at pa-diva ka, there will be lots who are willing to take your place. So one should be professional all the time.”

(Vina@Thirty is presented by PLDT Home, San Miguel Corp., BusinessWorld, Nice Day Coffee, Sta. Elena Construction, Bench, Seven Seven Corporate Group, Splash Corp., Uni Magna Phl., Inc., Aficionado, Ideal Vision, Energy 106.7, Crossover 105.1, Meyer sound, Ystilo Salon, Chivz Lounge Bar and Philip Dizon Photography. Tickets are available at Ticketnet (911-5555) and DSL Events and Production House office (0918-563781 or 659-3474.)