Flonique Guimary

Here are five facts you should know about Freddie Aguilar

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Clarence Roi Gillego

Push Team

<p>The Philippine music industry has lost another legend. Freddie Aguilar, the man behind the hit songs “Anak” and “Bayan Ko” that deeply resonated with the masses, has passed away Tuesday, May 27.  </p><div> </div><p>Josephine Quiepo, mother of the late singer-songwriter&#x27;s daughter Maegan, confirmed his passing to ABS-CBN News after reports came out in the media.  </p><div> </div><p>While the local music industry mourns his loss, here are some of the facts you should know about the music legend’s life.  </p><div> </div><div><strong>1. Freddie&#x27;s </strong><strong>“</strong><strong>Anak” was an apology tribute to his father </strong></div><div> </div><p>In 2017, Freddie revealed in an interview with<em> Philippine Star </em>that his hit song “Anak” was originally written as an apology song dedicated to his father for his “disobedience&quot; back in his teenage years.</p><div> </div><p>“Salbahe (bad boy) ako when I was a teenager,” he told <em>Philippine Star.</em> “I disobeyed my parents. I never listened to my father (Gregorio Aguilar). He wanted me to be a lawyer, but I wanted to be something else. So, I left home.” </p><div> </div><p>“&#x27;Anak&#x27; was my way of atoning for my sins. It was my way of saying sorry to my father and my mother (Salud Pascual). I let my father read the lyrics and he turned teary-eyed. He put his arm around me and said, ‘Now you understand what life is,” he added.  </p><div> </div><p>“Anak,” a finalist at the pilot edition of <em>Metropop Song Festival</em> in 1978, became internationally recognized and was translated into several languages.  </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>2. Freddie </strong><strong>struggled recording “Bayan Ko” </strong></div><div> </div><p>Freddie’s song “Bayan Ko” will always be remembered for its legacy in igniting the Filipino people’s fire to fight for the country&#x27;s democracy. </p><div><br/></div><p>It became one of the hymns during the Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986 — the movement that put an end to the dictatorial regime of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.</p><div> </div><p>In an interview with Philippine Star in 2017, the music legend recounted his struggles in recording the said song. </p><div> </div><p>“I passed through a lot of hardship before I could record &#x27;Bayan Ko,&#x27;” he confessed. “That was in 1980, and the song was considered by then Pres. Marcos as ‘subversive’ and it was banned.” </p><div> </div><p>Still, it served its purpose, along with his other socially relevant songs like “Magdalena” and “Higit sa Lahat ng Tao.” </p><div> </div><div><strong>3. Senate honored Freddie&#x27;s music legacy</strong></div><div> </div><p>The 17th Congress of the Senate recognized Freddie’s “lifetime outstanding contributions” to the country’s culture and arts in 2018. </p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2018/3/14/fresh-scoops/freddie-aguilar-receives-lifetime-recognition-from-45141" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Freddie Aguilar receives lifetime recognition from the Senate</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>“Aguilar is the only singer and composer who broke into the western market and gained massive global recognition, bringing pride and honor to our country. His unceasing nationalistic contribution to Philippine music and culture warrants recognition,” Senator Vincente Sotto III, who introduced the resolution, said.  </p><div> </div><p>The Senate particularly paid tribute to his global hit “Anak” which painted an inspiring picture of parents’ unconditional love. The recognition coincided with the song’s 40th anniversary.  </p><div> </div><div><strong>4. Freddie&#x27;s marriage with a minor sparked controversy</strong></div><div> </div><p>In 2013, then 60-year-old Freddie admitted to the public that he was dating a minor — his wife Jovi Albao who was then 16 years old.  </p><div> </div><p>Freddie’s revelation of their affair had caused public outrage due to their huge age gap, with several netizens expressing their dismay on social media.  </p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2013/10/20/fresh-scoops/freddie-aguilar-takes-a-swipe-at-bashers-calling-h-16350" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Freddie Aguilar takes a swipe at bashers calling him a &#x27;cradle snatcher&#x27;</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>Freddie converted to Muslim and married his then 16-year-old girlfriend in Maguindanao in the same year.  </p><div> </div><p>Their marriage was still met with controversy as the country’s laws prohibit marrying a minor. However, it was still conducted under the Islam faith allowed it. </p><div> </div><div><strong>5. Freddie and daughter Maegan found reconciliation after estrangement</strong></div><div> </div><p>In 2014, Maegan spoke about the conflict she had with her father in an interview with Boy Abunda, claiming that the system in their house changed when his father married his wife.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Why? I don’t need her in my life. I don’t care as long as she made my father happy, I did not care anymore,&quot; she said in the interview. </p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2014/5/22/fresh-scoops/maegan-aguilar-on-her-father-freddie-aguilars-wife-17593" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Maegan Aguilar on her father Freddie Aguilar’s wife: ‘Bakit ko siya gugustuhin?’</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>In 2015, Maegan patched things up with her father and made a public apology on national television. </p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/01/23/23/anak-ni-freddie-aguilar-nanawagan-na-magkaayos-na" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Maegan, nanawagan sa amang si Freddie Aguilar na magkaayos na</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>“Lahat may rason. Lahat may purpose. Pero siyempre, ‘yung pagkakagulo, ayaw ko pong patagalin pa, kasi hindi mabuti para sa amin. Malungkot din kami na nahiwalay kami sa inyo. Siyempre gusto kong makita ni Tatay na lumaki sila [her children],” Maegan said.  </p><div> </div><p>In a guest appearance on a show in 2023, Maegan once again opened up about the status of their father-daughter relationship. She wanted to appeal for her father’s help as she was suffering from hyperthyroidism. </p><div> </div><p>&quot;Hindi po ako makalapit kay Tatay. Hindi ko po ma-explain &#x27;yung dahilan kasi he has his reasons why he&#x27;s not helping me,” she revealed. </p><div> </div><p>The show reached out to Freddie, but he declined to make any comment. However, he assured the show that he loves his daughter.  </p><div> </div><p>In November 2023, Maegan finally reconciled with her father and shared their reunion on social media.</p><div> </div><p>“Sa wakas, nayakap ko na ulit ang tatay ko. I love you Tay, salamat po sa pagtanggap ninyo sa amin at sa akin,” she captioned her post. </p><div><br/></div><p>“I missed you so much tay, and looking forward to spending more quality time with you and the kids and the rest of our family. May God bless us always,” she added.  </p><div><br/></div><p>Although Freddie&#x27;s life was met with controversies, his vital contributions to the country&#x27;s music landscape were enough to prove that he had served a life with purpose. </p>

Here are five facts you should know about Freddie Aguilar

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Here are five facts you should know about Freddie Aguilar

Clarence Gillego,

Push Team,

Published May 28, 2025 04:57 PM PHT

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Bayan Ko

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