Vanessa Blanca Quillo Rangadhol, the former Sugarpop member and singer associated with the hit “DOTA O Ako,” has died at 30 following an accidental fall in Manila.
The Philippine entertainment industry is mourning the sudden passing of Vanessa Blanca Quillo Rangadhol, a former member of the child singing group Sugarpop, who died on August 19, 2026, at the age of 30.
Vanessa’s death was first announced by her cousin, Ivy Ann Salaum Jubelag, through social media. The family later provided details about the accident while asking the public to respect their privacy as they grieve.
According to the family, Vanessa was getting dressed in the bathroom of the condominium where she was staying in Manila when she accidentally tripped and fell, striking her face and head on the floor. She sustained a severe traumatic brain injury that resulted in an internal brain hemorrhage.
The family said emergency assistance was immediately requested and an ambulance was called. However, after about 15 minutes without an ambulance arriving, Vanessa’s companions brought her to the nearest hospital using a wheelchair because she required urgent medical attention. She ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
Vanessa Rangadhol’s sudden death
Philstar.com initially reported that Vanessa died following an accident at the condominium where she was staying in Manila. Her cousin described Vanessa as not only a beloved family member but also someone she considered a younger sister.
The family appealed to relatives, friends and fans to give Vanessa’s mother and loved ones the time and privacy they need to mourn.
The circumstances surrounding her death were also reported by GMA News, ABS-CBN, The Manila Times and other news organizations, which cited the family’s account of the accident.
From ‘Pop Star Kids’ to Sugarpop
Vanessa first became known to Filipino audiences through QTV11’s “Pop Star Kids”, a singing competition that produced several young performers who would later become prominent names in Philippine entertainment.
She subsequently became part of Sugarpop, the pre-teen singing group formed from finalists of the competition.
The original group included Vanessa, Julie Anne San Jose, Rita Daniela, Pocholo “Cholo” Bismonte and Renzo “Enzo” Almario.
The group became part of the Philippine television and music scene during the late 2000s, giving its young members an early platform in show business. Contemporary coverage of Sugarpop also identified Vanessa as one of the group’s members during its early years.
Remembered for ‘DOTA O Ako’
Beyond Sugarpop, Vanessa was also recognized for her work on “DOTA O Ako,” a song with Aikee that became particularly familiar to Filipino listeners.
The song centers on a humorous dilemma involving a man’s girlfriend and his love for the popular computer game Dota, and Vanessa provided the female vocal associated with the track. GMA News and The Manila Times both highlighted her connection to the song in reports about her death.
That connection has prompted an outpouring of nostalgia online, with many fans remembering Vanessa not only as a former Sugarpop member but also as the voice behind a song that became part of Filipino pop-culture memory.
Sugarpop members mourn Vanessa
News of Vanessa’s death hit her former Sugarpop colleagues particularly hard.
Julie Anne San Jose shared a throwback photo with Vanessa and expressed disbelief over her passing, recalling that they had planned to reunite. She wrote that Sugarpop would never be the same without her.
Rita Daniela, Renzo Almario and Cholo Bismonte also shared tributes or posts related to Vanessa’s passing.
Cholo additionally posted footage from a Sugarpop reunion, while other former members used social media to remember their former bandmate.
The reactions underline how deeply Vanessa remained connected to the people she grew up performing with—even years after their early television days.
A life remembered beyond the headlines
Vanessa was born on December 6, 1995, making her 30 years old at the time of her death.
Her passing is especially heartbreaking because it came unexpectedly and at a relatively young age. Rather than focusing only on the tragic circumstances, those close to Vanessa have been remembering the performer she was, the friendships she formed through Sugarpop and the music that introduced her to Filipino audiences.
For many fans, her name will remain connected to the youthful energy of Sugarpop and the nostalgic sound of “DOTA O Ako.”
Vanessa Rangadhol’s death leaves behind grieving family members, former bandmates, friends and fans who watched her grow from a young talent into a performer remembered by an entire generation.
Rest in peace, Vanessa.
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