Pilita Corrales, PH music icon; 85
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.
Stardom in Australia
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 magazomes 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. She has a warm personality, together with engaging vitality and never strains for obvious effects.”
She became so big in Australia that a street was named after her—Pilita Street in Forest Hill, Victoria.
Distinctive backbend
She returned to the Philippines and from 1964 to 1972, starred in the variety show “Your Evening with Pilita.”
Her long career on television also includes cohosting the talent show “Ang Bagong Kampeon” with Bert Marcelo, being a judge on “The X-Factor Philippines” and guest judge on “Tawag ng Tanghalan.”
She starred in a number of movies as well and at one point was a radio DJ for an all-Spanish show.
It was during her radio work that radio personality Eddie Ilarde and stage performer Bayani Casimiro persuaded her to sing at the Manila Grand Opera House, as Corrales recalled in an interview with the Inquirer.
She recorded many albums—in Australia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan—throughout a stellar career that lasted over six decades.
“Ay, ’susmarya, I’ve recorded around 135 albums!” she told the Inquirer.
Her many hits include “A Million Thanks to You,” “Kapantay ay Langit,” “Matud Nila,” “Ang Pipit” and “Dahil Sa’yo.”
She was praised for her beautiful voice—sweet, smooth, with a soft controlled vibrato—and her ability to switch genres and sing in multiple languages: English, Spanish, Cebuano and Filipino.
Corrales was a consummate performer—known for her distinctive backbend or that “liyad” move she does during the climactic parts of the songs she’s performing.
She said to the Inquirer: “I can’t just stand still while singing. Bending helps me hit high notes. It helps my lungs expand.”
‘International caliber’
In 1966, she was one of the Filipino artists who opened for the Beatles in Manila.
She was the first Filipino to perform at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and she did it on the main stage with Sammy Davis Jr., singing two shows a night for three weeks.
“Pilita is a dynamite and I would like to state that Las Vegas has a new star,” Davis had said.
She performed with the other great singers—among them, Ray Charles and Julio Iglesias—and earned their admiration.
“Pilita is very, very good. She has that international caliber,” said English singer Matt Monro.
English-born American comedian and actor Bob Hope said, “Pilita is one of the best voices I heard in show business.”
She also performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center.
Age didn’t stop the consummate performer. Corrales even went on concert tours.
In 2022, she performed alongside K-pop acts at the benefit concert “Be You 2.”
The accolades kept coming even very late in her career. Last year, she was the first recipient of the Billboard Philippines Women in Music Icon Award.
Actress Jackie Lou Blanco, one of Corrales’ two children (the other being Ramon Christopher Gutierrez), accepted the award for her, saying, “We’re very proud because my mom has paved the way for so many of our performers … opened the doors for many Filipinos to make it here and abroad.”
Tributes
With the news of her death, tributes poured in from the many people whose lives Corrales touched, including some of the country’s best singers.
Zsa Zsa Padilla wrote: “Dearest Tita Pilita, It’s hard to imagine a world without you. I can still vividly hear your voice, see your beautiful face, and feel your warmth, charm, and unmatched humor. You were truly one of a kind … You were always so candid, so funny, so full of life … Thank you for your greatness. Thank you for your songs, which will forever live in my heart.”
Singer Martin Nievera shared a short video of what he described as his last duet with Corrales and wrote: “Thank you for giving me my first pair of wings. Because of you I could fly into my dreams. Now I ask the entire showbiz industry to bend the ‘Pilita bend’ with me in honor of a legend, an icon … A million thanks to you, Tita Mamita.”
Singer Dulce wrote, “This precious woman paved the way for Cebuano performing artists like me, and blazed the trail for me to follow. I love you Inday Pilits… I will treasure everything you taught me and gave me and all the things you are to me. A million thanks is never enough … Rest in paradise … I’ll see you when I get there.”
Filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama (“Sunday Beauty Queen”) has been working on a documentary about Corrales’ life, with Janine Gutierrez as producer.
In an Instagram post last year about the documentary, Gutierrez said: “I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to help preserve Mamita’s amazing legacy and I hope this project becomes another way for younger generations to learn about her story—not just as a legendary performer but as a woman who defied expectations and truly paved the way.” —WITH INQUIRER RESEARCH
