MANILA, Philippines — Singer, TV personality and actress Pilita Corrales, who died on Saturday at the age of 85, is not only an icon among her fellow singers in the music industry but a pioneer
Singer, TV personality and actress Pilita Corrales, who died on Saturday at the age of 85, is not only an icon among her fellow singers in the music industry but a pioneer who conquered the world stage as a Filipino artist, showing her versatility in interpreting various songs in different languages.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved mami and mamita, Pilita Corrales,” her granddaughter, actress Janine Gutierrez, said on Instagram. “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.”
Born Pilar Garrido Corrales on Aug. 22, 1939, in Lahug, Cebu City, Corrales studied in Cebu and Spain and returned to the Philippines when her father, José Corrales de Zaragoza, died of a heart attack.
“My mom (María Garrido Manzano) moved the family to Manila because there were too many sad memories in Cebu,” she told the Inquirer in an interview.
In 1959, Corrales was aboard the yacht Sea Fox with Hollywood actor-magician John Calvert and a chimpanzee named Jimmy when the boat got lost in the Timor Sea.
According to The Canberra Times, the Navy came to the rescue, towing the yacht to Elcho Island.
That incident made the headlines. But soon, Corrales was making headlines of her own, not because of the shipwreck but because of her talent.
She became a regular on Australian television and was the first female artist to top the Australian pop music charts with a local recording—the song “Come Closer to Me,” a cover of “Acércate Más,” which was produced by Astor Records in Australia.
She would record two albums in Australia, where the newspapers and magazines called her “The Soul of the Philippines” and “a singing sensation,” and further described her as “sultry,” “bewitching,” “polished,” “ultra-photogenic” and “the girl who sings love songs straight from the heart.”
One article read, “Pilita has individuality and charm. Her voice is cool and even, with a pleasantly caressing quality all too rare these days.
