Vina Morales - biography

Vina Morales (born Sharon Garcia Magdayao on October 17, 1975 in Bogo, Cebu City, Philippines) is a Filipina singer, actress and model. At age nine, Morales started singing with her church choir at the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Bogo. This lead her to a music career. Father Fritz T. Malinao, a priest and a songwriter in his church community discovered Morales' talent and asked her to sing one of his compositions as an entry in the Cebu Pop Music Festival. The song, "Paglaum", which means "hope" in Cebuano language, won the Grand Prize and earned the Best Interpreter Award for young talents in the Philippines. Representatives from Viva Films saw her performance and offered her a singing and acting contract. She and her family moved to Manila where she auditioned for a film career in the Philippine film industry. She changed her birth name from Sharon Garcia Magdayao to Vina Morales. Morales' first film debut was "Nakagapos na Puso" where she co-starred with Sharon Cuneta. In her late teen years, Morales appeared in "Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum" and in "Anghel Na Walang Langit". She also appeared in "The Sarah Balabagan Story". Morales recorded albums and performed in live concerts in the Philippines, including 2004's Mamahalin Ka Niya. She co-wrote the lyrics of a song titled Paano Kaya Magtatagpo?, along with Filipino model, actor and musician, Piolo Pascual. The music was composed by Arnel de Pano. Later, Morales and Pascual recorded the song as a duet. Other songs on the album include "Yakapin Mo Ako", Pangako and Saan Darating ang Umaga. In 2003, she held a multi-city US tour titled Vina Revealed and Vina's Hot.