MANILA, Philippines– Filipino singer and actress Pilita Corrales, known for her contributions to the music industry, passed away at the age of 85.
She was born as Pilar Garrido Corrales on August 22, 1939, in Lahug, Cebu City, to a Spanish-Filipino businessman father and a Spanish immigrant mother. Corrales began her career in music with a radio program called “La Taverna” on DZPI, where she sang Spanish songs and played the guitar.
Corrales achieved international fame as the first Filipino artist to top the Australian pop charts. She gained further recognition by winning at the Tokyo Music Festival in 1972. Dubbed “Asia’s Queen of Songs,” Corrales recorded 135 albums in her six-decade career.
Corrales received multiple awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry. Her style was often noted for her trademark backbend pose, bouffant hairdo, and sparkly outfits.
Throughout her career, Corrales touched the lives of audiences and celebrities alike with her artistic performances. Her legacy in the Philippine entertainment industry remains celebrated by both old and new generations.