20.8.2026
Vanessa Blanca, the singer behind the viral hip-hop hit “DOTA O Ako,” has died at 30.
She died Wednesday in Manila, Philippines after she fell and hit her head on the sink while taking her bath in her apartment.
Blanca, a former member of the pre-teen singing group Sugarpop, became widely known for lending her voice to “DOTA O Ako,” a hip-hop track built around a man’s dilemma over choosing between his girlfriend and his favorite game, DOTA. DOTA.
The song, recorded with rapper and songwriter Aikee, became a fixture among Filipino listeners well beyond its release.
A decade later, Blanca and Aikee reunited for a sequel, “DOTA At Ako,” produced in partnership with Netflix Philippines in 2021 and tied to Netflix’s DOTA: Dragon’s Blood series, which appeared in the sequel’s music video. At the time, Blanca said she was excited to work with Aikee again after their original collaboration a decade earlier.
Aikee shared “DOTA O Ako” in tribute to his longtime collaborator following the news. Singer-actress Julie Anne San Jose, a former Sugarpop groupmate, said she couldn’t believe the news, recalling plans the group had for a reunion.
Fans and former colleagues have continued sharing tributes to Blanca online since her family’s announcement. GameDaily reports