'DOTA O Ako' singer Vanessa Blanca passes away at 30
Former Sugarpop member Vanessa Blanca has passed away. She was 30.
The DOTA O Ako singer's cousin, Ivy Ann Salaum Jubelag, confirmed her passing in a Facebook post.
"With deep sorrow, we share that our beloved Vanessa Blanca Quillo Rangadhol passed away on Aug. 19, 2026, following an accidental fall that caused a severe traumatic brain injury and internal brain hemorrhage," Ivy wrote.
Her cousin detailed that the performer slipped and fell while getting dressed in the bathroom. The impact resulted in severe internal bleeding in her brain.
Ivy added that they called for an ambulance immediately after the accident. After 15 minutes of waiting, however, the ambulance had yet to arrive; so Vanessa's companions "made every effort" to bring her to the nearest hospital in a wheelchair. The singer sadly passed away.
Her public viewing will be held on Aug. 21 at Loyola Memorial Chapels along Commonwealth in Quezon City.
The family has asked for prayers and privacy amid the loss.
Julie Anne San Jose, who was with Vanessa in Sugarpop, has expressed her sympathies in an Instagram story.
"Wani," she began, referring to Vanessa. "Still can't believe it. Plano pa naman natin mag-reunion. Sugarpop will never be the same without you."
Rita Daniela, who was also part of the group, shared their song You Lift Me Up on her Instagram stories.
For his part, ex-Sugarpop member Cholo Bismonte shared a voice note of the first Filipino song they sang together.
"Mahal na mahal ka namin, Wani. Ang sakit-sakit pa rin," he said.
Fellow former member Enzo Almario also mourned Vanessa. "Gone too soon, my Sagittarius and co-bunso sister," he said.
Vanessa, Julie Anne, Rita, Cholo, and Enzo were formed as Sugarpop in 2006 through the show Popstar Kids and performed on SOP.
