WALEY: Nalungkot kami sa balitang nasa early stages ng Alzheimer’s ang aming mahal at hinahangaang The Vamp na si Verni Varga.
Sa likod ng persona ni Verni, kilala namin siya bilang si Ignacia Mabugat na bukod sa mahusay na singer-performer na nakasama ko nang personal sa maraming corporate shows (hanggang sa Hong Kong) at she became a part-time actress, known for Paikot-ikot (1990), Blue Jeans Gang (1992) at Palabra de Honor (1983).
Tinatawag din siyang ultimate jazz diva dahil sa kanyang awesome vocal improvisations on her iconic cover of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five na tumatak sa kanya.
Isa pang gustung-gustong title ni Verni ay Queen of Corporate Shows dahil sabi niya, nandu’n ang kita.
Professionally, gusto niya lang matawag na singer: plain and simple.
Pinaka-proud siya with the fact that she is, first and foremost, a Christian; secondly, a wife to her husband, and a mother to her three children.
Verni consciously decided to put her career on the backburner and traded the life sa limelight as a “diva” for the quiet bliss of married life — the one thing that she has always prayed for.
“It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Don’t get me wrong. I love my career as it has given me so much.
“I still regularly do corporate shows and special concerts every now and then, as singing and performing will forever be part of my life. But my priorities have changed over the years: God, family, and career — in that order.”
Kahit sa kanyang appearance, hindi mo masasabing nagpabaya si Verni. Hindi siya nalosyang.
Verni has aged so gracefully and has successfully maintained her drop-dead gorgeous physique. Kapag nakakausap ko siya, hilig niyang mag-golf.
“I now use the talent that God blessed me with to glorify Him and to inspire others,” sabi niya.
“It’s actually still me that you see onstage. I’m still bubbly and fun and energetic minus the cleavage and the provocative slits in my gowns.
“I sing and perform for the Lord now.”
Sa kabila ng kanyang hectic wife/mommy duties, naglalaan din si Verni ng oras para magbasa ng mga libro.
Ito ang pinakamabisang panlaban niya sa Alzheimer’s.
“I love cookbooks, coffee table books on home décor, and self-help books,” sabi ng The Vamp.
Laking gulat ko nang mapabalita na meron na siyang Alzheimer’s.
May mga pagkakataon na nakakalimot na siya ng lyrics at spiels pero Verni always gets away with it.
Kapag kumanta na siya ay nababawi niya ito. In fact, in denial pa rin kami ni Chuck Gomez nang mapabalita na may Alzheimer’s disease at hindi na ito sumipot sa isang gig na produced by Jobert Sucaldito dahil nakalimutan niya ito.
Meron pa kaming nasimulang project na hindi pa natatapos — isang album ng inspirational songs.
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