How Vina Morales clinched Aurora Aquino role in ‘Here Lies Love’

Vina Morales —PHOTO BY CARLO ISIDORO

My “sis” Vina Morales and I have this running joke that it’s either “ang ganda namin walang nakikinabang or may inaabangan.” So, when her Broadway debut in “Here Lies Love” (HLL) hit the headlines, I told Vina, “Sis, ang ganda mo ang aabangan.” For sure, there will be a queue in your show and hahaba din ang pila ng suitors mo.”

As Vina lives her Broadway dream, she will definitely make the audience fall in line and fall in love with her.

Here’s my chat with Vina:

How are you preparing for your Broadway debut?

I am more excited than nervous. My foray into theater when I did “Rak of Aegis” prepared me for this somehow. So I already know the discipline and focus required. I will give my 100-percent best in every performance eight times weekly from Sept. 22 to Oct. 22.

How did you land the part?

My good friends, Lea Salonga and Bobby Garcia, asked me if I was interested to play Aurora Aquino (mom of Ninoy). It’s the role that Lea portrayed. They sent me a song as my audition piece.

When I sent the video of my rendition, they told me to make minor corrections. Coach Lea guided me throughout the process. Her kindness and support helped me clinch it.

Why should Pinoys watch “Here Lies Love”?

To celebrate Pinoy pride … because it’s the first Broadway play with an all-Filipino cast. It has a different kind of concept that converts the stage into a disco, so everybody is welcome to dance.

How can you relate to your character, Aurora?

Just like her, I’m a strong woman and a good mother.

Tug of war between past and present

The “hurtfelt” tandem of Bela Padilla and JC Santos is at it again. In their fifth movie together, Viva Films’ “Wish You Were the One”—which is now showing in cinemas—Bela and JC will hit your heart bull’s-eye. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s a tug of war between the past and the present.

JC Santos (left) and Bela Padilla

After watching the well-crafted romance drama (with a tinge of comedy), it made me realize that the one we have loved longer is not always the one we love the most. Fate can suddenly make us cross paths with someone we have instant chemistry with. And that person can outdo the one we have history with.

The unusual love story of Astrud (Bela) and Ellis (JC) shows us that sometimes, it’s the “ripe one”—instead of the “right one”—who can take us to our “happy-ever-after.”

Dark, daring material for Mercedes Cabral

Are you willing to be a substitute? That’s the dilemma of the main character in “Kahalili,” who gamely accepts to be a surrogate mother. The sexy drama thriller, which is streaming on Vivamax (VM), stars Stephanie Raz, Millen Gal, Sid Lucero, Victor Relosa and Mercedes Cabral.

Megged by Bobby Bonifacio Jr., it deals with the dangers of surrogacy. After nine months of infanticipation, how can a mom be mum to her baby?

Here are quotes from Mercedes (M), Stephanie (S), Victor (V) and Bobby (B):

M: Dark and daring material always attracts me. That’s why I agreed to do this film. My role is pivotal in the plot twist.

S: My Tita Lara (Morena) asked me if I’d be willing to be a surrogate mom to her and Paolo Bediones’ baby someday, but I declined. I would rather have my own.

V: I don’t want to be a second option in a relationship. But I don’t mind not being the first choice for a role as long as I end up playing the part.

B: I’m fascinated by pregnancy, so I used it as a horror device. Our film is à la “Rosemary’s Baby.”

M: Direk Bobby made us feel that even if he’s the captain, hindi lang siya parati ang masusunod. We also had a say as actors.

S: My takeaway from the character I played is not to let my emotions cloud my perspective.

V: I am not aiming to be the next Vivamax King. I’ve been auditioning since I was 8. I finally got a project after 18 years. It’s all hard work, not luck. INQ