Vina Morales: A Cebuana and Proud of it!

Singer-actress Sharon Magdayao-more popularly known as Vina Morales-wonders to this

day why allegations that she has renounced her Cebuano roots refuse to go away.

"I really don't know why. Naa siguro mga tawo na dili malipay sa akong na-achieve," the 29-year-old star told The Freeman in a backstage interview after a mini-show at the SM City Cebu Entertainment Plaza last Saturday to promote her new album, "Nobody Does It Better" under Star Records. "I guess you can't please everybody."

As far as Vina remembers, the rumors hounded her since the time she embarked on a singing career in Manila. The latest of which was the Cebu Popular Music Festival controversy in January this year wherein she reportedly demanded for a steep talent fee in exchange for a guesting. Several quarters perceived this as ingratitude to the contest credited for opening the doors of showbiz to the Bogo native.

"I really felt bad because I never denied I am a Cebuano. Lain kaayo paminawon. Unya maayo unta kung diri ra sa Cebu pero niabot pa gyud sa Manila," lamented Vina, whose previous appearance in Cebu was for a benefit concert in her hometown of Bogo.

When Vina emerged on stage, she was met with an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd, prompting her to exclaim: "I'm so happy to be back in Cebu. The last time I was here was in May, and during that time, init pa kaayo tung storya na dili kuno ko proud na Cebuano."

Even with the lighthearted banter with the audience, it was apparent that she was stung by such rumors, as she repeatedly expressed, in between song numbers, how their persistence had broken her heart. "Na-sakitan sad gyud ko," said Vina, who converses in fluent Cebuano.

In a question and answer portion with fans, she was asked by Jay-R Roble, a member of the Vina Morales Fans Club of Talisay City if she would be willing to perform at the Cebu Pop next year. "I don't know my schedules yet. I still have to check with my manager (Joji Dingcong), but if I am free, why not? But siyempre noh...they started it, kung ako ba, I felt so bad because I wasn't informed and yet ila giingon na dili kuno ko moangkon na Bisaya ko," she expressed. "I can always come back to Cebu and it doesn't have to be Cebu Pop," assured the health-conscious Vina, who will be back anytime soon to promote Enerva, the energy drink she's endorsing.

She admitted that the rumors originated from Cebu, but when prodded for specifics as to who did she refer as "they," she said, "I don't want to pinpoint anybody, but whoever this person was, konsensya na lang na niya. I can't do anything about it."

Songs from "Nobody Does It Better" bring to mind a more serene and relaxed Vina, whom people for sometime now have been used to seeing as a dancing diva with her high-energy song-and-dance performances in television shows and concerts here and abroad. The album, which she dubbed as a "dream project," features remakes of singles of her favorite artists from Carly Simon, Carpenters to Side A-"Hello Love," "Make It With You," "Don't Throw It Away" (carrier single), "Nobody Does It Better," "Love Me For What I Am," "Come What May" which is a duet with Erik Santos, "Out Of Reach," "First Time I Ever Saw Your Face," "May Pag-ibig Pa Kaya" with Jay Durias and "Set You Free."

A regular at ABS-CBN's "ASAP '05," wherein Cebuano belters like Sheryn Regis and Anna Fegi are also part of, she said that she is "very, very proud" to have fellow artists from Cebu breaking into the entertainment capital. "It only shows that we are very talented." - NMT