Being praised for one’s versatility and dedication is a badge of honor in the entertainment industry. For Vina Morales, this acknowledgement is a reflection of her time in the spotlight. When Luis Manzano asked in his vlog how it feels to be called ‘multi-talented’, Vina responded, “I’m thankful for that. Nakakatuwa lang na nasasabi ‘yun ng mga tao. I’m thankful that I’m still here in this business.”
At the young age of eight, Vina began her singing journey, and at nine, she started to try acting. The journey from a singer to a critically acclaimed actor demonstrates Vina’s commitment to the industry and an openness to taking on challenges. Luis then asked between acting, singing, and dancing which one she loved the most, Vina answered, “Singing. That’s my first love, eh. Diyan ako nadiscover.” Vina affirmed her love for singing, highlighting her strong ties to the musical industry.
For Vina, her journey took an uplifting turn when Lea Salonga asked her to be part of the musical Here Lies Love. Vina debuted on Broadway, succeeding Lea in the role of Aurora Aquino. Vina recalled that, “I only had a few days to rehearse,” highlighting the intensity and thrill of the entire experience. She recalled having to audition through tape, and Lea calling her to let her know she got the role. She said when she arrived, she watched Lea do the show, shadow her the next day, and get on stage the following day.
With Vina being a singer, an actor, and most importantly, a mom, she was asked how she manages everything. She said, “[It’s the] Balance of life, you have to know your priorities at that moment. My first priority is my daughter.” Vina shared that as much as she wanted to take her daughter to New York with her, she couldn’t because she had school, and she wanted her daughter to prioritize school.
Luis asked how Ceana (Vina’s daughter) feels about having a celebrity mom, and Vina answered that “[she’s] proud. Proud siya na mommy niya ako,” and Vina added that her daughter is very shy, so she doesn’t like being in the spotlight. “My life is different from hers, iba ang buhay na kinalakihan ko, sa buhay na kinalakihan niya.” As any parent would also hope, Vina hoped that her daughter would finish her studies first.
On being a single mom, Vina shared that “everyday is a blessing and a challenge.” Despite the challenges of raising a child alone, Vina was grateful that she has her family, who has always been there. “Kapag may trabaho ako, hindi ko kayang hatiin yung katawan ko. I think for me, mahirap man pero nagagawan ng paraan. Kapag mahal mo naman yung tao di ba, gagawa at gagawa ka ng paraan.” She said that she’s been dealing with it, and she believes that she’s doing a good job at being a good mom to Ceana, “I’m happy kung ano yung mga nagawa ko para sa anak ko at para sa pamilya ko.”
Additionally, Vina opened up about Ceana’s father, who lately has been supportive, and now they’re co-parenting. Addressing the past, Vina said, “After the pandemic, yung naging realization ko was sayang naman yung oras. Nag-aaway kayo for nothing, ang importante naman is yung anak niyo, minahal natin yung anak natin. You just have to forgive.” Vina also added that, “everyone has to go through hardships to become a better person.”
When asked about her love life, Vina answered that she isn’t really open about her personal life. She was dating but she would never put it out on social media. She added, “I realized, kapag hindi ka pa naman sure, wag mo muna ipost. Respect also, respeto ko rin for him.”
