Why Vina Morales feels ‘complete’—with or without love life

VinaMorales (right)with boyfriendAndrewKovalcin—INSTAGRAM

There’s no telling, Vina Morales said, if her current relationship will end up being her last. But one thing’s for certain: She doesn’t need one to feel whole.

“Who knows? Hindi naman natin alam kung magiging kami talaga. So I think I would leave it that way,” she said of her American boyfriend Andrew Kovalcin, whom she has been dating since 2022. “With or without a relationship, I’m complete because I have my daughter, Ceana, my family and career. So I’m happy.”

Vina first met Andrew 23 years ago in Hawaii. Little did she know that they would cross paths again in 2022 in Miami, one of the stops of her US concert tour then. However, it wasn’t until November 2023 that she made their relationship “Instagram official.”

“I’ve been quiet. I think it’s better that way because he’s not from show biz …

“But lately, I opened up about my relationship. May mga kinilig because I hadn’t really been open about it. Na-excite din ako,” Vina told select reporters at a press conference for Viva Films’ local adaptation of the hit South Korean film “Sunny.”

Keeping things low-key

Realizing she’s better off keeping things low-key, Vina later decided to take down her Instagram post. For now, she just wants to enjoy the journey.

“Mas maganda ’yung private lang. There are ups and downs. There’s no assurance. So, wherever God takes me, whoever I end up with, I’m just enjoying my journey now,” she said.

Gone are the days, Vina pointed out, of her forcing the issue.

“Kapag para sa ’yo, swak … Hindi ko na ipinipilit ang hindi dapat ipilit. Because back in my younger days, even if there were red flags, deadma, because I was in love. I’m like, ‘We will work it out,’” she said. “But I have learned from those mistakes. I wouldn’t be as strong, I wouldn’t be who I am now if it weren’t for those.”

Asked if Andrew is one of the reasons for her application for a US green card (permanent residence card), the singer-actress said she and her sister, Shaina Magdayao, have been working on it for the past few years now.

“My mom is an American citizen, so she petitioned us. My sister Sheryl is already a citizen because she lived in the US. Shaina and I were late in taking care of our papers, because we weren’t sure if we still had it in us to work over there,” said Vina, who has already received emails from the US Embassy for an interview.

For her daughter’s future

As such, she will have to live in the United States while the process is ongoing, she said. “Now I’m thinking about the future of my child. It’s good for her future, so I guess I have to live in the US while getting my green card.”

Ceana, who turns 15 on April 25, has shown interest in show biz, but hasn’t made up her mind about it.

“She loves Korean films. She also sings. It’s what she grew up seeing. She watched me and Shaina. But she will have to do workshops first if she really wants it. She’s still not sure about what she wants to do. I don’t want to push her,” she said of her daughter with ex-partner Cedric Lee.

“I, on the other hand, was already determined to enter show biz from a very young age. I knew I wanted to be a singer and an actress. I joined contests and was determined,” she added.

Of course, Vina would love to see Ceana finish her studies first—something that the 48-year-old artist was unable to do. But whatever her daughter’s decision is, Vina said she will make sure to support her.

“That’s what I missed. I didn’t finish college. So as much as possible, I want her to finish school first. But if there’s an opportunity, I will give my full support … I want to support her dreams,” she said. INQ