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Carlo Orosa - The Philippine Star
April 13, 2025 | 12:00am
What struck me most, working with her, was how present she was — whether in rehearsals or onstage. She didn’t coast on legacy. She worked hard, she listened, she gave everything. That’s who Pilita was: a consummate artist, and a beautiful soul.
A nation mourns the loss of a legend. Pilita Corrales — the woman we all called “Asia’s Queen of Songs” — has taken her final bow, leaving behind a legacy that shaped generations of Filipino music and brought our culture to the global stage.
Born in Cebu, Pilita’s journey was extraordinary. In the 1950s, she became the first Filipina to top the Australian pop charts, a groundbreaking achievement that earned her the title “Australia’s Dame of Music, Radio & Television.”
Long before global recognition was common for Filipino artists, Pilita was already performing in international circuits, appearing on Australian television, and becoming a beloved voice overseas.
Her ability to perform in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Visayan — and to shift from pop to bolero to jazz to kundiman with ease — made her not only versatile but iconic.
She wasn’t just a singer. She was the voice of a generation, then another, and another. With her signature grace and unique vocal timbre, she breathed soul into every song, every lyric, every note.
Returning to the Philippines, Pilita built a towering presence in entertainment. For decades, her music filled living rooms, concert halls, and airwaves. Her presence on variety shows, her duets with legends, and her signature curtsy after each performance became hallmarks of an era that will never be forgotten. Her elegance never faded. Her joy in performing never waned.
And through all her success, she remained grounded — a woman who valued family deeply, who nurtured relationships, and who carried herself with dignity and warmth.
As Janine Gutierrez, her granddaughter, said so beautifully in the family statement on her mamita’s passing, Pilita will be remembered not only for her immense contributions to the entertainment industry, but for her love of life and family.
In 2017, I had the honor of directing her concert “An Evening with Pilita” at Solaire. It was a tribute to her life’s work — a celebration of timeless music, delivered with her signature wit, elegance and authenticity. She was sharp, hilarious, warm, and in full command of the room. I’ll never forget the thunderous ovation at the end of the show — not just applause for a performance well done, but a standing salute to a woman whose artistry has spanned decades and touched countless lives.
What struck me most, working with her, was how present she was — whether in rehearsals or onstage. She didn’t coast on legacy. She worked hard, she listened, she gave everything. That’s who Pilita was: a consummate artist, and a beautiful soul.
Pilita Corrales was the soundtrack to many of our lives — the music of courtship, of nostalgia, of love. She sang with a voice that was unmistakable, and she carried herself with grace that was unmatched. She was a bridge across generations, inspiring both her peers and young performers who followed her path. And she did it all while staying true to her identity as a proud Filipino woman.
Her passing leaves a deep void in the cultural fabric of our country, but her voice will live on — in her recordings, in the artists she mentored, in the memories of audiences who adored her. As we remember her, we also celebrate a life fully lived, and a career that defined excellence.
To her family — Jacqui Lou Blanco, Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, especially to her granddaughter Janine, who carries her legacy with poise and strength — we offer our love and deepest sympathies. Thank you for sharing her with the world.
Rest well, Tita Pilita. Thank you for the music, the laughter and the elegance. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
