‘DOTA O Ako’ Singer and Former Sugarpop Member Vanessa Blanca Dies at 30
Vanessa Blanca, the singer remembered for her vocals on the Filipino hit “DOTA O Ako” and for her early years with Sugarpop, died on August 19 following an accident in Manila, her family said.
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino singer Vanessa Blanca, known for her vocals on the popular song “DOTA O Ako” and as a former member of the youth group Sugarpop, died on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. She was 30.
Her cousin, Ivy Ann Salaum Jubelag, announced the death in a public Facebook post and asked for prayers and privacy for Blanca’s immediate family.
What the family disclosed
In a subsequent statement reported by GMA News and ABS-CBN, the family said Blanca sustained a serious head injury following an accidental fall at the condominium where she was staying in Manila. She was taken for medical care but did not survive.
This report limits medical details out of respect for Blanca and her family. It does not include graphic descriptions or images and does not speculate beyond the account publicly attributed to her relatives.
Remembered for ‘DOTA O Ako’
Blanca provided the female vocals on “DOTA O Ako,” a song performed with rapper Aikee. The track portrays a humorous conflict between a relationship and a player’s enthusiasm for the online game DOTA.
The song became widely associated with Philippine computer-shop and online-gaming culture and remained familiar to listeners years after its release.
Early career with Sugarpop
Before her association with the hit song, Blanca performed as a member of Sugarpop. GMA News identified her fellow members as Julie Anne San Jose, Rita Daniela, Enzo Almario and Cholo Bismonte.
Former colleagues and listeners shared tributes following the announcement, remembering Blanca’s voice and her contribution to a song that became part of an era of Filipino popular culture.
Respecting the family’s privacy
Public interest in an artist’s death should not override the family’s request for privacy. Readers are encouraged to rely on identified family statements and established news organizations rather than circulate unverified claims or distressing material.
Connect TV Channel will update this article if Blanca’s family or an authorized representative releases material new information.
Sources, verification and image disclosure
The death announcement, age, family account and career information were checked against reports that identified the family statement. All links below are clickable and open in a new tab.
- GMA News — family statement and career details
- ABS-CBN — initial report on Blanca’s death
- ABS-CBN — follow-up report attributing medical information to the family
- Facebook — publisher-supplied visual reference
Editorial note: The article contains no graphic account or imagery, avoids unsupported medical claims and respects the family’s request for privacy. The featured visual is disclosed as an AI-assisted illustration rather than a documentary photograph. Connect TV Channel does not claim ownership of the linked Facebook post.