Asia’s Queen of Songs has sung her final encore, and we say with full hearts, “A Million Thanks to You,” Pilita Corrales.
Born María del Pilar Garrido Corrales just before the outbreak of World War II in Cebu, she was far more than a lovely voice. She was a songwriter, a comedienne, a movie actress, and a beloved television host whose grace and talent lit up every stage she stepped on.
Corrales blazed a trail few dared to follow. In the late 1950s, she became one of the first female artists to top the Australian pop charts. She made history again in 1972 as the first Filipino to win an international music festival—the inaugural Tokyo Music Festival. Her star rose even higher when she became the first Filipino to perform at the iconic Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
To generations of fans, she was a fixture on television: the elegant host of “An Evening with Pilita,” and the warm, witty co-host of “Ang Bagong Kampeon” alongside Bert “Tawa” Marcelo—a partnership they revived in “Tanghalan ng mga Kampeon.” In the 2000s, she was embraced by a new audience as “Mamita” in the hit sitcom “Lagot Ka… Isusumbong Kita!”, which ran for four years after its 2003 premiere.
Pilita Corrales leaves behind a legacy that shaped the Filipino music and entertainment landscape. She is survived by her daughter, Jackie Lou Blanco; her son, Ramon Christopher Gutierrez; and several grandchildren, including actress Janine Gutierrez.
The curtain has fallen for the 85-year-old superstar—but her song, her laughter, and her legend will echo through the ages. A grateful nation bids her a heartfelt farewell, expressing a love and admiration that truly is “Kapantay ay Langit.”
