Anna Marie Lukban

Take a look at the bond Janine Gutierrez shared with grandmothers Pilita Corrales and Nora Aunor

Article (news)

Stephanie Rose Manhit

Push Team

<p>Kapamilya actress Janine Gutierrez is considered “showbiz royalty”, coming from strong showbiz roots on both sides of the family. Her dad is Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, son of Pilita Corrales with Eddie Gutierrez. Her grandmother Pilita was hailed as “Asia’s Queen of Songs” and made her mark here and abroad for her wide range of songs.</p><p>Meanwhile, Janine&#x27;s mom is Lotlot de Leon, daughter of Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon. Janine’s maternal grandmother, Nora, has been given the title “Superstar” and honored as a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts. Her body of work as a singer and actress spanned decades, and inspired a loyal following. </p><p>These past days have been heavy for Janine, having lost both of her grandmothers in a matter of days. </p><p>On April 16, 2025, Nora passed away at the age of 71. </p><p>“With sorrowful hearts, we share the passing of our grandmother, Mama Guy. A treasure to our family but truly always more the people’s than ours. She had a life of giving her immeasurable love to everyone she touched whether on screen, through music, or in person,” posted Janine. “We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support. Please keep our family in your prayers, especially Mama, Uncle Ian, Ate Matet, Kuya Kiko, and Ken, as we say goodbye. We find comfort in knowing she, the one and only Superstar, will be forever loved.”</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIiZhHXz55Z/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3024151.2999999523%2C%22ls%22%3A3023683.5%2C%22le%22%3A3023686.7999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="567" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Janine and Nora lost touch for around eight years, from grade school to when she was just starting in showbiz. Nevertheless, Janine felt Nora’s support of her the moment they reconnected. </p><p>“Kinumusta po niya ako tungkol sa pagtatrabaho. Sabi niya, &#x27;O, balita ko artista ka na!&#x27; ganun po, &#x27;yon,” Janine recalled of when they touched base again in an interview in 2011. &quot;I think she&#x27;s very happy for me.&quot;</p><p>Following in her Mama Guy’s footsteps, Janine ventured into acting as well. In 2015, Janine had the rare opportunity of sharing the screen with both Lotlot and Nora in a drama anthology for the Kapuso network. </p><p>“That would be a dream come true po, di ba? Para naman sa kahit sinong nandito sa industriya na makatrabaho po siya, di ba?” said Janine in a previous interview about working with her Mama Guy. </p><p>On August 2021, Janine was given the Rising Star Award at the New York Asian Film Festival. In an interview then, she shared how much she admired her Mama Guy as an actress.</p><p>“When you say her name, it&#x27;s connected to her eyes. Even if she doesn&#x27;t have lines, you can feel her emotions just by the way she looks at you,” she shared of her grandmother. “Gusto kong maging ganun—kahit wala kang sinasabi, walang dialogue, ang lakas ng dating mo. So that&#x27;s really something that I really tried to copy from her, although she is on another level.”</p><p>In a shoot with photographer BJ Pascual for Preview back in 2021, Janine recreated Nora’s look for the iconic movie <em>Himala.</em> </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744948129589bj-musings-janine-nm.jfif" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><em><span>Photo credits to Preview</span></em></div><div><br/></div><p>Friends and netizens reached out to condole with Janine, noting how difficult it must be to lose both her grandmothers in one week. After all, it was just a few days earlier on April 12, 2025, that Janine’s paternal grandmother Pilita also passed away at the age of 87. </p><p>“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved mami and mamita, Pilita Corrales,” posted Janine on her Instagram account. “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.”</p><p>Janine shared a close bond with her “mamita”. Back in May 2024, Janine shared that they were working on a documentary about Pilita. </p><p>“I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to help preserve Mamita’s amazing legacy and I hope this project becomes another way for younger generations to learn about her story — not just as a legendary performer, but as a woman who defied expectations and truly paved the way,” she wrote. </p><p>Janine is the producer of the documentary, and she is determined to give honor to her Mamita. </p><p>“We want to show how she was a singer, a mother and lola, how she was behind the scenes. What many people don’t really know,” she said. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C68puTIPrF3/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A3024162.399999976%2C%22ls%22%3A3023683.5%2C%22le%22%3A3023686.7999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>She also shared a video clip of a young Pilita during her successful career in Australia. According to Carlo Orosa, Pilita is “considered as one of the ‘Great Dames of Victorian Radio and Television’ and still has a street named after her in Melbourne”.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CS4YaZihVg3/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A3024172.699999988%2C%22ls%22%3A3023683.5%2C%22le%22%3A3023686.7999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="747" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>“I count my lucky stars every day that you are in my life. my north star. the greatest,” wrote Janine in a birthday message to Pilita. “I love you so much, mamita. and that is an understatement.”</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CS4TyILlAeL/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A3025383.5999999642%2C%22ls%22%3A3023683.5%2C%22le%22%3A3023686.7999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="642" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>The glamorous grandmother-granddaughter duo often shared candid banter, proof of their genuine affection and tight bond with each other. In fact, Pilita was a favorite guest on Janine’s vlog. One vlog had them doing a “Truth or Dare” game. Another was a Q&amp;A session. Yet another crowd favorite was a closet raid, with Janine trying on her mamita’s vintage outfits.</p><p>“You asked for it so here it is! Mamita is back on my vlog! But this time I’m doing a closet raid! Kasya kaya ako sa mga damit ni Pilita Corrales? What was her waistline before? What are her personal style tips?!! Watch and find out!”</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RTgWaAiuOgQ" title="Raiding &amp; Trying On Mamita&#x27;s Closet | Style Tips from Pilita Corrales" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>A photo shoot with a fashion magazine Preview also featured Janine literally stepping into Pilita’s clothes. </p><p>“my fashion icon, my everything,” she captioned the post. “thank you for making my dream shoot come true. wearing all of mamita’s vintage gowns”</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxxB1unnAVm/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A3025440.7999999523%2C%22ls%22%3A3023683.5%2C%22le%22%3A3023686.7999999523%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Janine looked back on the moment she realized her grandmothers weren’t just ordinary people. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Noong bata pa po kasi ako, ang title nila Mamita at Mama Guy para sa akin ay walang iba kundi &#x27;lola’,” she admitted in an interview with PEP back in 2011. “Naaalala ko nung Grade 2 po ako, nagulat ako dahil sa school... Sa Sibika, sa mga libro tungkol sa sining, nandun pala yung mga pictures nila. Doon ko na po na-realize na bukod sa pagiging lola, Superstar at Asia&#x27;s Queen of Songs pala sila!”</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;I&#x27;m very proud of them po dahil talaga namang maipagmamalaki sila,” she added. “Napakasuwerte ko po dahil alam kong nandiyan sila para sa akin. Nakaka-pressure din po dahil hindi maiwasan na much is expected of me, pero very comforting po to know na sinusuportahan nila ako. I&#x27;m very lucky to have them on my side.&quot;</p>

<p><i>Look back at the bond Janine Gutierrez had with paternal grandmother Pilita Corrales and maternal grandmother Nora Aunor, who both passed away. </i></p>

Look back at the bond Janine Gutierrez had with paternal grandmother Pilita Corrales and maternal grandmother Nora Aunor, who both passed away.