1 week Ago By Jewil Anne M. Tabiolo
Before algorithms and playlists decided what made a hit, there was a voice that needed no numbers. Graceful and powerful in its own right, “Asia’s Queen of Songs” Pilita Corrales could croon in Spanish, sway in Visayan and soar through English ballads. On April 12, 2025, Janine Gutierrez took to Instagram to announce the passing of her beloved “Mamita” with a tribute filled with love and grief.
Pilita, the legendary singer known for her unmistakable mid-song backbend, passed at 85. Born in 1939 in Lahug, Cebu, Pilita studied in Spain and began her music career in Australia. Over the decades, she released 135 albums and carved out a legacy that turned being Filipina and Cebuana — into something to be celebrated onstage and on-air.
For Cebuana singer-songwriter and longtime music producer Cattski Espina, Pilita was a symbol of Cebuano pride. “She never lost her Cebuana identity, even when she had already made it big nationally,” Cattski shared. One song that stayed with her through the years was Pilita’s “Usahay,” a Visayan classic that felt both tender and powerful.
“I remember seeing her on TV as a kid,” she added. Viva artists That same sense of pride resonates with a new generation of Cebuano artists under Viva Records. Many of them first heard Pilita’s voice playing in the background at home, long before they began writing songs of their own.
Now as Gen Z artists exploring everything from pop and R&B to indie, jazz and hip-hop, they carry her spirit in different ways. Styles may vary, but the pride and reverence for Pilita’s legacy remain the same. Here’s how they carry her legacy forward: Meyoumae, a pop-jazz singer-songwriter, grew up with Pilita’s voice filling their home.
“My mom would always encourage me to listen to her because of her deep love for OPM,” she said. “Her music became a part of my childhood.” Songs like “Dahil Sa Iyo,” “Rosas Pandan,” “Usahay” and “Bakit Ako Mahihiya” became Meyoumae’s go-to songs for performances at contests and events.
“Her timeless voice and heartfelt delivery inspired me to appreciate the richness of Filipino music and helped shape my passion as a local performer.” For music producer and songwriter Ron Cabalhug, the legend came alive through family memories and classic recordings. “My primary encounters with her music were through my grandparents’ old CDs,” he said.
“I especially remember ‘Matud Nila’ — my lola’s favorite.” He recalled how many tried to copy the way Pilita sang it, from her vocal phrasing to the way the strings swelled behind her. “That mix of her distinctive voice and those jazz-influenced arrangements applied to Cebuano songs—it’s a treasure.
She inspired me and so many others in Cebu.” The influence of Pilita’s music reaches even younger artists like Jacques Steven, a 19-year-old retro-pop artist. “I was around 13, strolling the streets of Looc when I heard “Kapantay Ay Langit” playing from a junk shop radio — literally finding treasure among actual trash,” he said.
That moment marked a turning point for the young artist. “It made me seek out her music more. My favorites became ‘Kahit Sino Ka Man’ and ‘Kapalaran.
’” For Jacques, artists like Pilita represent something rare: “Their songs make you nostalgic for a time you weren’t even alive for. That’s the power of music strong enough to evoke sonder. Her death is unexpected and devastating, but artists like her live beyond their physical lives — they live on through their music.
” And even for aspiring artists like Ryle Jhon Monacar, who first saw Pilita as a judge on “The X Factor Philippines” in 2012, her impact hit close to home. “I was surprised to learn she was Cebuana,” he said. “She really contributed so much to OPM and Visayan songs.
‘Usahay’ and ‘Dahil Sa Iyo’ are timeless.” Her passing, he added, was heartbreaking. “She was one of the pillars of classic OPM music.
Even though she’s gone, her songs and her craft will always live in our hearts.”.
