Pilita Corrales, Asia’s Queen of Song and an enduring icon in the Philippines’ Tin Pan Alley, has bid us adieu at the age of 85. 

The “heavy heart” with which Pilita’s granddaughter Janine Gutierrez announced her passing on April 12 is ours, too. The mourning is deep for the Filipino Spanish María del Pilar Garrido Corrales, who was born and raised in Cebu City, and who was the mother of Jackie Lou Blanco and Ramon Christopher Gutierrez.

I have many memories of Pilita and the “beautiful life” that, as Janine Gutierrez noted, was marked by her kindness and generosity, contributions to the entertainment industry, and love of life and family.  

In Quezon City in the late 1960s, after I stowed away from home, I made the old ABS-CBN building on Bohol Avenue my refuge during the day and the bus hub Pantranco (now Fisher Mall), my hotel at night. But no amount of exhaustion could prevent me from meeting and shaking hands with, or even just watching, the stars coming in and out of Channel 3 (the former free-TV tuner of Channel 2).

Every day I queued to get into any show that was open to the public.

I first saw Pilita at a morning show in one of ABS-CBN’s studios. I was seated in the gallery and she looked so pretty even from a distance. Even then she was swaying her hips as she sang—a trademark style that eventually included her famous “backbend,” a leaning backward that, it turned out, she used to reach certain high notes.

The next times I saw Pilita face to face was during my early years in movie reporting, when I would go to her house in New Manila in Quezon City to interview her. She was very gracious and accommodating to a newbie like me. 

I also visited her at the Broadcast Plaza on Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City, the hub of TV stations—Banahaw Broadcasting Co. Channel 2, the congressional franchise of VHF (very high frequency) after it was taken over by Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s administration from the Lopezes upon the imposition of martial law; Radio Philippines Network Channel 9; and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. iChannel 13. She was then hosting an amateur singing contest, “Ang Bagong Kampeon,” with the comedian Bert “Tawa” Marcelo, now deceased. 

After work in the print media, I was privileged to get her on cam for the “Star News” segment of ABS-CBN’s primetime news show, “TV Patrol,” whenever she had a new record or an upcoming show, or news to air or issues to clarify. 

Film, radio, TV

Aside from TV acting and hosting, Pilita was into occasional movies.

In 1988, I interviewed her on cam on the set of Seiko Films’ “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall,” a drama-fantasy directed by Emmanuel H. Borlaza on the transformation of elderly ladies into young girls. Still, she was friendly.   

But according to one online account, Pilita started out in entertainment, not in the Philippines, but in Victoria, Australia, where she had a television show that showcased her singing talent. Her stint led to her being named one of “the Grand Dames in Victorian Radio and TV.” 

Here, her “An Evening with Pilita” on ABS-CBN was popular and long-lasting. It was in the show that she made her signature song, “A Million Thanks to You,” composed by Alice Doria-Gamilla, a hit.  

She waxed a variety of songs ranging from Filipino ballads like “Kapantay ay Langit” to Visayan ditties to Spanish songs. 

‘Golden Divas’

Pilita had a formidable career in the local music industry, which she held dear, and where she established business ties and deep friendships with colleagues she treasured, such as the “master showman” German Moreno (aka Kuya Germs), and fellow singer Carmen Pateña. 

Among the “Golden Divas”—Pilita, Carmen Soriano, and Carmen Pateña—it is now only Carmen Soriano who remains. It was Vic del Rosario, Viva Entertainment’s “Boss Vic,” who christened the three chanteuses thus. 

At the time, Viva was producing concerts for veteran performers, giving them a revitalized appeal, and promoting them as new groupings, such as the “Jukebox Queens” (Imelda Papin, Claire de la Fuente and Eva Eugenio) and the “Hitmakers” (Rey Valera, Hajji Alejandro, Rico J. Puno and Marco Sison). 

“It was 16 years ago,” recalled the fashion designer Albert Figueras, who has returned from New York where he flew to seek greener pastures, to care for his ailing mother.

Figueras and Pateña met at a party in New York. They broke the ice in pleasantries; soon they were breaking bread together.   

Pateña had received a message from Viva that it was planning a show featuring Pilita, the other Carmen and herself.  When she later met up with Boss Vic for initial talks at his office in Manila, she brought Figueras along. 

“I was asked to submit my designs for the Golden Divas, and Boss Vic approved them,” Figueras said, adding that he was eventually commissioned by Viva to do the women’s wardrobe.

The first time he spoke with Pilita, “I found her friendly even if she didn’t talk a lot at the time,” Figueras said. “But when our relationship as designer and model went on, we became friends.” 

When his mother passed, Pilita and Carmen Pateña came to the wake to pay their respects, he said, beaming proudly.

According to Figueras, he and his assistant and protégé Erick Valena delivered Pilita’s wardrobe to her house. “She treated me like family,” he said. 

And, he said, the Golden Divas’ shows were always a hit.

In time Figueras became Pilita’s favorite fashion designer. “She gave me the freedom to design clothes for her, except for the choice of colors,” he said, adding that her favorites were red and black.

When Pilita moved to her Jackielou Ville in Parañaque City, Figueras entrusted her to Valena, whose style she also liked.  

“Oh, she was so kind, unlike other personalities who don’t give a hoot about the people around them. She was very attentive to our welfare,” said Valena. He designed many of Pilita’s clothes, including, sadly, a red blazer-and-pants outfit that she never got to use during her ultimate bout with illness.

‘Sing with the angels’

Here are some of the posted tributes to this legendary woman:

KC Concepcion in response to Janine Gutierrez’s IG post on her grandma: “So sorry for your loss, Janine. I had the chance to work with her for months on the ‘XFactor PH’—Tita Pilita was so loving, kind, spunky, and just wonderful. Deep condolences from my family to yours.”  

Cathy Sanchez-Babao: “Rest and sing now with the angels, Tita Pilita. A million thanks to you. Your music and memory live on.”

Dave Rojo: “‘My Faithful Love’ is one of my favorites among Pilita’s recorded songs. She was one of Blackgold Records’ early contract artists where I worked for some years as a public relations officer before I moved to the US. …I thought she would live forever. Rest in peace, Pilita.” 

Pennie Azarcon de la Cruz (in a mix of English and Filipino): “When I was still in Blackgold I usually had to attend back-to-back dinner concerts at Gonzalo’s Roxas Blvd. to meet with showbiz press…My father would fetch me later, almost midnight. When my mother learned that Pilita would perform, for the first time, she tagged along with my father. Luckily, Pilita was gracious enough to meet her after the show, calling her Nanay (mother) as they exchanged small talk, and giving her an autograph. No airs at all kahit sikat sya (even if she was famous). Rest in peace, Pilita.” 

Dulce (in a mix of English and Bisaya): “This precious woman paved the way for Cebuano performing artists like me, and blazed the trail for me to follow. I love you and honor you, Inday Pilita, you have my utmost respect. I appreciate all you did for me, for defending me all through the years. Your loving and caring nature is like no other. I looked up to you as my superstar idol from when I was just starting in the music industry, when your brother Rafael Corrales brought you to the bar restaurant in Makati where I was singing regularly at 14 years old, he introduced me to you. You are so loved by millions of people around the world but as for me and my children we are so blessed that we have you as a very dear friend and more than that, you accepted us into your life as family. I will keep and treasure everything you taught me and gave me and all the things you are to me. A million thanks is never enough…I love you so much my forever beloved Inday…Ms. Pilita Corrales. Rejoice In Paradise, and see you when I get there.”

Frank G. Rivera: “A Legend even then. Exquisite. The quintessential star. She was so much fun to be with. Beautiful inside and out. And so much bigger than life itself, she was and her music. Eternal. Forever. A MILLION THANKS TO YOU…”

Pilita Corrales’ remains lie at the Heritage Park in Taguig City up to April 16, Wednesday.