Singer-actress Vina Morales is back in Manila following her successful stint on Broadway for the first all-Filipino production of "Here Lies Love" on Broadway from Sept. 22 to Oct. 22.

During a media conference with the entertainment press in Quezon City on Nov. 29, Vina shared that her debut on Broadway provided her with inspiration both in her professional and personal life.

"All these years, I've always been career-driven when it comes to work kasi hindi naman ako magtatagal dito kung hindi naman ako driven or if I'm not professional. Kasi kahit na gaano ka-talento ang isang singer or actor kung may attitude problem, walang magtatagal. For me it's always the right attitude and maybe this time I am more inspired.

"I am inspired to do more projects na alam ko na it's good for myself or for my craft and my skills. I never stopped learning. Kung ano pa ang puwede kong alamin or malaman, I am open to that. I am open to everything.

"So for me, I just want to improve as an actor or as a singer. Katulad nga ng sinabi ko parang refreshed course ko ito. Parang nagkaroon muli ng buhay yung puso ko to do more and to be a better actor and a singer," said Vina.

Broadway experience

Vina recalled her daily routine during her month-long stay on Broadway.

"For the first time I was away from my family for one month. Usually when I do tours, I have companions. But for this one, walang plus one. I was living alone in my apartment for one month in New York.

"It was an experience I will never forget because ikaw ang gumagawa ng lahat. Aside from doing the show, eight times a week, our free day is Monday, that's why all of us are looking forward for Mondays.

"Pero paano ka naman mag-lo-look forward kasi maglalaba ka rin lang naman. You will do the laundry, clean the apartment. Wala naman kasing maglilinis. Kung meron man once a week lang.

"So lahat, ako talaga ang gumagawa. Good thing I have friends in New York because I don't cook well. They send me food and that's what I eat for the whole week. 

"Then I just walk to the theater. From my apartment, it's just a few blocks away to the theater. That's everyday. Ako I always arrive early, especially during my first few weeks because I just want to focus.

"I also do everything like makeup. May assistant kami for the hair but for changing the costumes, kami lahat ang gumagawa. So the preparation takes a while. Every scene na ginagawa namin, we have notes from the production. So if you commit a simple mistake like in the blocking, mag-iiba talaga yung lighting. 

"Nakapa-distinct nila sa mga dapat gawin. They are perfectionists. So wala ka talagang assistant doon but for me it was a good experience because I appreciate everything.

"I enjoyed pero nilamig talaga ako. Hindi ako sanay sa weather nila. I hardly go out because kinakabahan ako baka mawalan ako ng boses. So I was really careful in doing things aside from 'Here Lies Love,' " said Vina.

Following good reviews for playing the role of Aurora Aquino, Vina admitted plans to go to auditions for other theatrical productions in New York.

"At the back of my mind, nasa plan ko yun. Kaya lang there was no opportunity na mangyari yun because I was there for one month. And after one month, I need to go back here.

"Maybe when the time that my green card is already 'happening,' kasi interview na lang ang kulang sa amin ni Shaina (Magdayao), kasi mommy namin American citizen, and my other sister is already in the US, American citizen na siya. It's just me, Shaina, and my older sister. Pero yung interviews namin, malapit-lapit na kasi two years na 'yun. We get emails from the embassy for interviews. So me and Shaina have to live there for a few months and then we go back and forth. Maybe when that time comes, I plan to audition. Nandun na rin ako eh. So ma-a-audition na rin ako," said Vina.

Vina's inspiration

The Broadway star also opened up about her love life after she went Instagram official with her new boyfriend Andrew Kovalcin.

"Hindi mo talaga masabi ang buhay natin kasi I've met him in Hawaii during one of my concerts there 22 years ago. And then I met him again in South or North Carolina. 

"After that nawalan na kami ng communication. He would email me pero hindi ko minsan nababasa. Then nagkaroon na kami ng kanya-kanyang buhay, relationships. Nagkaroon na ako ng Ceana. Wala pa akong Ceana noon 22 years ago.

"During Covid-19, I was just checking mga by-requests ko. I was checking sino yung mga friend requests ko at para ma-accept ko naman. Nandoon siya. He's been liking my messages. He's been messaging me. Sabi ko, 'I'm sorry, I just read all your messages.'

"And then he knew that I was going to the US last year for my show with Jim Brickman. Sabi niya 'Can we see each other? Sabi ko, 'Of course we can see each other.' So noong nagkaroon ako ng break from my concert sa Miami, pumunta siya roon. So we spent days in Miami. And then bumalik na yung spark.

"Pumunta na rin siya rito sa Philippines. Nagbakasyon siya and he met my family. Si mommy at daddy na meet na niya noon sa Hawaii pa lang. Twenty-years ago rin. So noong pumunta siya sa Pilipinas, there was this time na hindi kami magkaintindihan. He got busy, I got busy. And when he found out may Broadway ako, he went to watch me. Doon na rekindle yung spark kasi parang nawala rin after last year.

"So ngayon he's my constant. He's been so supportive all these years. He's been in touch with me. Never siyang nawala sa buhay ko," Vina said.

Vina said Andrew is non-showbiz. "He's a lobbyist and he's from Washington, DC. He has his own company, so he's doing good."

For now, they never talked about settling down, she said.

"No! Medyo bago-bago pa. I've spoken to his family and mabait naman ang kanyang pamilya especially during Thanksgiving at nag video-call silang lahat. Wala pa. Naku, baka pag mabasa niya ito, sabihin niya, 'Ano ito?' Parang pressure naman sa kanya, Siguro one at a time. I really don't know where this would take us? Sino mag-aakala na after 22 years magkaroon ulit kami ng relationship and now I have Ceana in my life," she said. "Hindi mo talaga masabi ang buhay at hindi ko alam kung hanggang saan ito. Basta ako I'm open to anything. He's a good person, he's a good guy and I'm hoping for the best for us," she added.

When asked about the theme song of her life, Vina said: "I guess it's (I Had) The Time of My Life."

As she summarized the year 2023, Vina sounded content and grateful.

"Complete. Almost complete. Almost perfect. Like I said, it was also magical. It was full of love, kindness, and opportunities. It's almost perfect. With my family, everyone's healthy. I thank God for that. When it comes to business, Ystilo is doing well again after the Covid. Sa personal life, may constant. Masaya ako and grateful sa mga taong naging parte ng buhay ko."