Ched Rick Gatchalian

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OPM icon Pilita Corrales dies at 85

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744423400684Screenshot 2025-04-12 100256.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Pilita Corrales. Instagram/@janinegutierrez "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pilita Corrales.<em> Instagram/@janinegutierrez </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2ND UPDATE)</strong> — &quot;Asia&#x27;s Queen of Songs&quot; Pilita Corrales, an all-around entertainer who gave life to songs and recordings like &quot;Come Closer To Me&quot; and Mike Velarde’s &quot;Dahil Sa ‘Yo&quot; has passed away, her family confirmed Saturday.</p><p>She was 87.</p><p>&quot;It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved mami and mamita, Pilita Corrales,&quot; her daughter Jackielou Blanco announced on Instagram.<br style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);--darkreader-inline-color:var(--darkreader-text-000000, #e8e6e3)" id="isPasted" data-darkreader-inline-color=""/><br style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);--darkreader-inline-color:var(--darkreader-text-000000, #e8e6e3)" data-darkreader-inline-color=""/>&quot;Pilita touched the lives of many, not only with her songs but also with her kindness and generosity. She will be remembered for her contributions to the entertainment industry, but most of all for her love of life and family,&quot; she added.</p><p>In her over seven decades as a singer and entertainer, Corrales spent drew big crowds while performing on local and foreign stages.</p><p>&quot;Asia’s Queen of Songs&quot; was the eminent title christened to Pilita Corrales, who started bringing honors to the country as early as the 1960s.</p><p>However, Pilar Garrido Corrales, her real name, was not just a singer. Eventually, she also made a name for herself as an actress, comedian, TV host and even a songwriter.</p><p>Born on August 22, 1937 in Lahug, Cebu City to Jose Corrales and Maria Garrido, Corrales was only 18 when she completed her education at Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion in Cebu City.</p><p>Then, she went to Spain to attend a finishing school, Colegio Mayor de Padre Poveda.</p><p>She didn’t return to the Philippines right away. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/8/27/jericho-rosales-attends-birthday-party-of-janine-gutierrez-s-grandma-pilita-corrales-1304">Jericho Rosales attends birthday party of Janine Gutierrez&#x27;s grandma Pilita Corrales<br/></a></div><div><strong>A STAR IN AUSTRALIA, AMERICA</strong></div><p>Instead, she tried her luck in Australia and ventured into the recording industry. She became the first Filipino and the first woman to land in the Australian pop charts with her original song, “Come Closer To Me,” that made her a star of the Victorian Television circuit.</p><p>Long before the likes of big name Australian artists such as Olivia Newton-John, Helen Reddy and even Kylie Minogue made it to the music charts, Corrales already conquered the territory.</p><p>She also recorded an album, “Pilita With Arthur Young: I’ll Take Romance,” “This Is Pilita” and “Pilita Tells the Story of Love.”</p><p>She also became a pioneer in Australia’s early years on television. She apparently made it big in Australia that’s why a street in Victoria was named after her.</p><p>It was in 1963 when Corrales returned to Manila and started to make a name for herself in the local entertainment industry.</p><p>She tried radio hosting and anchored a program, “La Taverna,” on DZPI.</p><p>She entertained her listeners by rendering Spanish songs and playing the guitar at the same time. She became a regular name in stage shows and also performed at the Manila Grand Opera House.</p><p>The same year, Corrales tied the knot with Spanish business executive Gonzalo Blanco, the father of veteran actress Jackielou Blanco. </p><p>Corrales also made a name for herself as an entertainer, sharing the stage with big name international artists such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Hope, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews and Pat Boone. She blazed onstage at the Manila Grand Opera House, where she performed regularly.</p><p>Upon the invitation of Davis, Jr., Corrales graced the stage of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.</p><p>That made her the first Filipino to perform in the venue. She sang her Spanish, English, Tagalog and even Cebuano songs — much to the delight of the audience — all arranged by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab.</p><p>Next came her recording career. In the early 1960s, Corrales lorded it over the charts not only with English and Tagalog songs, but also with Spanish and Cebuano ditties under Vicor Music Corporation.</p><p>From 1965 to 1972, she was seen on TV in “An Evening With Pilita,” that became one of the benchmarks in Philippine broadcasting industry.</p><p>In the 1970s, Aquarius Record Philippines bankrolled a compilation of Corrales’ Spanish songs. In the album were tracks like “Noche de Ronda” and “Vaya Con Dios.” She later recorded other popular tunes in Spanish – “Viajar” and “Abrazame.”</p><p>Meanwhile, Corrales’ signature song, “A Million Thanks To You,” was originally by Alice Doria-Gamilla, a pianist-teacher. The song was later translated into seven languages and was inevitably associated with Corrales.</p><p>Corrales’ recording career showed no let-up in her early years. Under Vicor Records, she released several Filipino classics and catered them to the young audiences. The songs were written by George Canseco, Willy Cruz, Ryan Cayabyab and Danny Halmsen.</p><p>From “Rosas Pandan” to “Ang Pipit,” Corrales even made Visayan songs like “Matud Nila” and “Usahay” familiar to common Filipino.</p><p>Her classics were “Kapantay ay Langit,” “Dahil sa ‘Yo,” “Sapagka’t Kami ay Tao Lamang,” “Buhat,” “Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi,” “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” “Hindi Kita Malilimutan,” “Carinosa” and “Dalagang Pilipina.” She charted close to a hundred albums.</p><p>In 1971, Corrales’ romance with actor Eddie Gutierrez, produced a son, Ramon Christopher, born in 1971. The latter was married to actress Lotlot de Leon but eventually also separated.</p><p>Gutierrez later married Annabelle Rama, with whom he has six children. Corrales and Rama never became at odds against each other. In fact, they even became good friends. Rama was producing shows and every time, she would get Corrales to perform onstage and be part of the line-up.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/3/16/exclusive-diego-gutierrez-shares-special-advice-from-family-as-he-enters-showbiz-1653">EXCLUSIVE: Diego Gutierrez shares special advice from family as he enters showbiz<br/></a></div><p>They proved that the present wife and the past girlfriend could harmoniously exist, although not under one roof. They could even work together professionally. The former as singer-talent and the latter as concert producer. That happened a number of times.</p><p>In May 2001, Corrales tied the knot with Paraguayan-Australian businessman Carlos Lopez.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L-NTMPLs8eo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><strong>FROM STAGE TO SCREEN</strong></div><p>Corrales started her acting career back in 1962 with Tony Camonte’s “Trigger Squad.” In 1966, she played the title role in Efren Reyes’ “The Jukebox Queen.” That same year, she appeared in another Reyes’ directorial project, the adventure-romance, “Zamboanga,” starring Fernando Poe, Jr. and Susan Roces.</p><p>The year 1966 was somewhat a banner year for Corrales’ acting career. Aside from playing the title role in “The Jukebox Queeen,” she completed a total of ten films — from comedy to musical to drama and action.</p><p>She won the FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. In 2014, Corrales appeared in three of her last few big screen credits – Mae Czarina Cruz’s “Bride for Rent,” starring Kim Chiu and Xian Lim; Tony Y. Reyes’ “My Illegal Wife,” with Pokwang and Zanjoe Marudo; and Topel Lee’s “Basement,” topbilled by Aljur Abrenica and Ellen Adarna.</p><p>In 2012, Corrales was a judge in “X Factor Philippines” that aired on ABS-CBN. It was the first franchise to be adapted in Southeast Asia. Hosted by KC Concepcion, the show had Martin Nievera, Charice Pempengco and Gary Valenciano in the judging panel. KZ Tandingan was named winner.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/5/16/docu-on-pilita-corrales-2119">Docu on Pilita Corrales in early stages of production</a></div><p>In May 2024, award-winning documentary maker Baby Ruth Villarama said she was working on a documentary production about Corrales&#x27; life for Cannes Producer’s Network and Spotlight Asia. </p><p>Villarama said the OPM legend&#x27;s granddaughter Janine approached her along with Raymond Ang to pitch the story.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ftJZ_ECxg_0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>"Asia's Queen of Songs" Pilita Corrales, an all-around entertainer who gave life to songs and recordings like "Come Closer To Me" and Mike Velarde’s "Dahil Sa ‘Yo" has passed away, her family confirmed Saturday.</p>

"Asia's Queen of Songs" Pilita Corrales, an all-around entertainer who gave life to songs and recordings like "Come Closer To Me" and Mike Velarde’s "Dahil Sa ‘Yo" has passed away, her family confirmed Saturday.

'Asia's Queen of Songs' Pilita Corrales dies at 87

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'Asia's Queen of Songs' Pilita Corrales dies at 87

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News,

Leah Salterio

Published April 12, 2025 12:21 PM PHT

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Updated April 12, 2025 09:12 PM PHT

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