1 day Ago
There are a million reasons to thank Asia’s Queen of Songs, Pilita Corrales, who highlighted the grit and excellence of a Cebuano artist, both here in the country and abroad, in her seven-decade music career. She was a pioneer artist and performer from Cebu who broke certain stereotypes in the entertainment industry about women-singers from the province. Pilita would often highlight the challenges in the early years of her singing career in Manila when she struggled to speak in Filipino with a Cebuano accent, hard and abrupt, almost always bereft of smoother intonation.
Pilita, or Maria del Pilar Garrido Corrales, born in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City on August 22, 1939, rose to become a revered Filipino pop singer and a television and movie icon whose signature backbend has underscored the distinctiveness of the Cebuano persona. She had emphasized in many of her interviews that the signature backbend to the left allowed her to hit a note higher. The technique reflects her intelligence in her craft, able to develop a unique style.
Pilita, in those many interviews, mentioned that she started with a comfortable life and an opportunity to attend a school exclusively for girls in Cebu City. She spent time in Spain as a young girl for her finishing studies. However, when her father died, she had to work as early as 16 years old.
She pursued singing to be able to help her mother who survived on measly pension, she said. Her resilience mirrors the Cebuano's strong sense of family, and sense of coherence or the ability to find meaning in challenges and difficult situations. Her opportunity to work for a magic show on board a cruise line opened a prolific recording career for her in Australia where she was hailed a superstar.
Early in her career in the late 1950s, Pilita is the first Filipino to have sold over 100,000 records worldwide. A street on Forrest Hill, State of Victoria in Australia was named after her, a proof of the respect she was accorded as an international artist and performer. Further, Pilita is the first Filipino to sing in Caesar’s Palace, a luxury hotel and casino in Nevada, United States with American singer-dancer-musician of the Vaudeville era, Sammy Davis, Jr.
Pilita's ability to sing in Spanish, English, Filipino, and Cebuano gave her tons of opportunities to establish her colossal, excellent contribution to the music industry in the Philippines and abroad. She performed with international music artists deemed "goats" (greatest of all time) - The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews, Matt Monroe, to name some. She performed in the Manila Grand Opera House, and the famous Clover Theater where several other Philippine showbiz greats in the 1950s performed, such as King of Comedy Dolphy, and Master Showman German Moreno.
Upon her return to the Philippines in 1963, she continued to entertain millions with a voice to warm and delight people’s hearts. Pilita established herself as one of the most beloved artists, TV and movie personalities in the Philippines of all time. She is considered by most singers in the country as a trailblazer, one who paved the way for so many Filipino crooners and nightingales here and abroad.
Pilita had mentioned that one of her joys, aside from respect, accolades, and great love accorded by award-giving bodies, and legions of admirers, is for other Filipino music genres and artists to be continually supported and celebrated. This strong sense of community is distinct among Cebuanos who have demonstrated time and time again a supportive environment to fellow Cebuanos who excel in various fields of endeavor. In her countless interviews, Pilita would often call out for support to other music artists, as a parting message to her fans, and a gentle reminder to fellow music artists that "whatever they have chosen to accomplish and wherever they are in their journey, they must make every step and opportunities count and live up to the highest standards.
" —Eleanor Valeros, GMA Regional TV News.
