Pilita Corrales

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Garrido and the surname or paternal family name is Corrales.

Pilita Corrales
Corrales in 2017
Background information
Birth name	María del Pilar Corrales y Garrido
Born	(1939-08-22)August 22, 1939 Lahug, Cebu, Philippines
Died	April 12, 2025(2025-04-12) (aged 85) Metro Manila, Philippines
Genres	Pop soul Visayan pop Manila sound OPM
Occupations	Singer actress comedian television presenter
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1957–2024
Labels	Vicor Music Corporation Aquarius Records

María del Pilar Garrido Corrales (August 22, 1939 – April 12, 2025), better known as Pilita Corrales, was a Filipino singer, actress and comedian. She was best-known for her distinctive backbend when singing and was popularly referred to as the "Asia's Queen of Songs" for her vocal style and longevity.

Hailed as the "Greatest singer in the Philippines" by the media and critics, Corrales recorded 135 albums throughout her six-decade career. Her recordings have mainly been in English and Filipino, while on occasion she recorded songs in Spanish and Cebuano. Her success would later extend to film and television, where her show An Evening with Pilita is considered as one of the standards in Philippine broadcasting history. She was a recipient of the prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for introducing Filipino musical artistry to a global audience.

Lauded for her sweet voice and iconic singing style, Corrales was one of the first superstars in Philippines and became one of the first female artists to reach the top of the Australian pop charts. In 1963, her single "A Million Thanks to You" became one of the few songs by local artists to reach number one on the Philippine chart in the 1960s. She was also the first Filipino to win an international music festival at the first Tokyo Music Festival in 1972. She was recognized as one of the 'Great Dames of Victorian Radio and Television' and has a street named after her in Melbourne, Australia. She was also honored with an honorary Doctorate in Music degree by the University of the Visayas for her contribution to the Philippine music industry. In a career spanning over six decades, Corrales released a string of signature hits including "Kapantay ay Langit" and "A Million Thanks to You", which have since become standards.

Life and career

Early life

Pilar Corrales was born in Cebu City on August 22, 1939, to José Corrales de Zaragoza and María Garrido Manzano.

Her cousin, Annie Corrales, was Miss Philippines in 1957 and married businessman Eddie Woolbright. After completing her studies at Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción in Cebu, she attended Colegio Mayor de Padre Poveda, a finishing school in Spain.

Career

In 1957, Corrales began her recording career after arriving in Australia for a brief period. She became a star of the Victoria Television circuit and her first hit, "Come Closer to Me", became part of a collection on which she was billed as one of the "Grand Dames of Victorian Radio and Television". She also recorded at least three LPs in the late 1950s and early 1960s: Pilita with Arthur Young: Pilita Tells the Story of Love, I'll Take Romance and This Is Pilita under Astor Records. Being one of the pioneers of Australia's early television years, a street was named after her in Victoria. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) featured Corrales and several pioneering female artists in Australia in the 2nd episode of the highly acclaimed TV special, Love is in the Air. Corrales returned to Manila in 1963 to pursue a career in the Philippine music industry. Her Philippine career began when she hosted a radio program La Taverna over DZPI where she sang Spanish songs and played the guitar. She performed regularly in stage shows at the Manila Grand Opera House. She also appeared in movies, most of them musicals. Her film debut was a lead role in the 1968 film Miss Wawaw and was followed by 11 films for the next two years. Corrales later recorded songs in Spanish in the early 1960s as well as songs in English, Tagalog and Cebuano during the 1970s under Vicor Music Corporation.

Corrales frequently performed for Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino on IBC-Channel 13 after the martial law years where she demonstrated her range as a gifted performer of Spanish, English, Cebuano and Tagalog music. Aquarius Records Philippines produced a compilation of Pilita's Spanish songs on CDs like Noche de Ronda and Vaya Con Dios. Her signature song A Million Thanks to You by Alice Doria-Gamilla was translated into seven languages. She eventually recorded songs composed by Filipino composers like Danny Holmsen, George Canseco, Willy Cruz, Ryan Cayabyab and several others. Under Vicor Records, Corrales interpreted numerous Filipino classics and introduced them to younger audiences. Corrales first met Canseco in Your Evening with Pilita (aired on pre-Martial Law ABS-CBN) as a guest in the composers' portion of the show". For the show Canseco brought with him You're All I Love. Canseco later wrote Filipino lyrics for the song, which became Kapantay ay Langit, the first song Canseco sold to a record label in 1966. The song was first recorded by Maria Cabase – also known as Amapola – for the movie theme of Kapantay ay Langit starring Marlene Dauden and Eddie Rodríguez. The song won for George Canseco and Cabase the Manila Film Festival award for best song of the year. However, the song did not fare well commercially, because Cabase had left the country for her concert tours in the United States which meant that the song was not promoted properly, according to Canseco during a later interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer. But when Corrales made a cover of the song, it turned into a classic and defied trends and time. "The song," Corrales said, "was included in my album Philippine Love Songs Vol. 1, which was released in the early 1970s."

Through the personal invitation of Sammy Davis Jr., Corrales became the first Filipino to sing at Caesars Palace in the late 1970s, during which she sang Spanish, English, Cebuano, and Tagalog songs, all conducted and arranged by Ryan Cayabyab. After receiving a 1965 Philippine Citizen's Award for TV as Best TV Female Performer, Corrales went on to receive Cecil, Aliw, Tinig and Awit and several other awards for her performances and lifetime achievement. In 1990, she received a Merit Award from the FAMAS Awards. In 1991, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for bringing Filipino musical artistry to an international audience. She was the first Filipino to win at an international music festival by bagging the Best Performer Award during the 1st Tokyo Music Festival (1972) where she bested numerous international artists, including Olivia Newton-John. She operated a restaurant bar in Greenhills named Pilita's. In 2006, Corrales was selected by Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC Channel 5, now TV5, formerly The 5 Network) and FremantleMedia to be one of the celebrity judges for the first-ever nationwide search for the Philippine Idol together with Ryan Cayabyab and rapper Francis Magalona. She was a judge in the first Asian Idol held in Indonesia, representing Philippine Idol.

Personal life

Corrales had two children, Jackie Lou Blanco and Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, who also became actors. Corrales was married in 1963 to the Spanish executive businessman Gonzalo Blanco and separated while Jackie Lou was still a child. Gonzalo died in 1981.

Corrales gave birth to her second child, Ramón Christopher Gutierrez, in 1971, known to be the father of Janine Gutierrez. Ramón Christopher's father is Filipino actor Eddie Gutierrez. Corrales also had an adopted son, VJ. On May 22, 2001, Corrales married Paraguayan/Australian businessman Carlos López.

Death

Corrales died on April 12, 2025, at the age of 85.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Production company
N/A	Port of Escape		Shot in 1960; unfinished	Tas-American Television Corp.
1988	Mirror, Mirror on the Wall	Caring / Caridad		Seiko Films
1994	Mars Ravelo's Darna! Ang Pagbabalik	Valentina		Viva Family Entertainment
2014	Bride for Rent	Avelina "Lala" Corazon		Star Cinema
	Basement	Lola Meding		Coffee House Productions Reality Entertainment Springboard Film Productions GMA Pictures
	My Illegal Wife	Lala		Star Cinema Skylight Films
2016	Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers			OctoArts Films M-Zet Productions APT Entertainment GMA Pictures

Television

Year	Title	Role	Network
1964–1972	Your Evening with Pilita	Host	ABS-CBN
	Dance O Rama		ABC
	Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino		IBC
	Awitawanan		IBC
1985–1988	Ang Bagong Kampeon	Host, together with Bert Marcelo	RPN
	Tanghalan Ng Kampeon		GMA Network
1988, 1993	Ryan Ryan Musikahan	Guest Performer	ABS-CBN
1990–1993	Mag-Asawa'y Di Biro		RPN
	Awitanghalan		ABS-CBN Regional Network Group
2003–2007	Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita	Rosa/Mamita	GMA Network
2006	Philippine Idol	Judge	ABC
2007	Love Spell Presents: Cindy-rella		ABS-CBN
2007	Celebrity Duets Season 1	Duet partner for Frederick Peralta	GMA Network
2008	Celebrity Duets Season 2	Duet partner for Bayani Fernando	GMA Network
	Talentadong Pinoy	Judge	TV5
	Show Me Da Manny		GMA Network
2009–2010	Full House	Anita Lazatin	GMA Network
2010–2011	My Driver Sweet Lover	Maximilliana "Abuela Maxi" Barrinuevo	TV5
	Toda Max	Lola Momsie	ABS-CBN
2012	The X Factor Philippines	Judge	ABS-CBN
2013–2016	Vampire Ang Daddy Ko	Sonya Ventura	GMA Network
February 28, 2015	Maynila: YOLO si LOLA		GMA Network
February 25, 2016	Eat Bulaga!: Just Duet	Performer	GMA Network
March 12, 2016	Maynila: My Classmate		GMA Network
September 11, 2016	Hay, Bahay!	Amelia	GMA Network
2018	Sana Dalawa ang Puso	Leonora Chavez (guest cast)	ABS-CBN
2019, 2023	Bravo Executive Lounge	Guest Performer	RJDigiTV
2020	Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 4	Judge	ABS-CBN
2020–2021	Kesayasaya	Mommy G	NET 25

Discography

Albums

Australia

• Come Closer to Me
• Pilita with Arthur Young: I'll Take Romance
• This Is Pilita
• Pilita Tells the Story of Love

Philippines (including albums released internationally)

• Pilita, Live at the Riviera (recorded in Hong Kong in 1976)
• Pilita, Live at the Riviera Vol. 2 (recorded in Hong Kong in 1976)
• Pilita, Live at the Riviera Vol. 3 (recorded in Hong Kong in 1977)
• Pilita, Now
• Pilita Sings
• Para Ti Mama
• Love
• Pilita in Motion
• Pilita Corrales: Greatest Hits
• Pilita: Greatest Hits Vol. 2
• Matud Nila (Cebuano)
• Philippine Love Songs
• Philippine Love Songs Vol. 2
• Kapantay Ay Langit
• A Song for You
• Sampaguita
• Best of Philippine Pop Songs
• Sa Tanang Panahon (mostly Cebuano versions of Tagalog songs)
• Minamahal, Sinasamba
• Oh La La! (1971)
• For Love's Sake Only (1971)
• Pilita in Tokyo (1972)
• Filipiniana (1972)
• Pilita: The Queen of Songs (Ang Mutya ng Awit)
• Pilita, Christmas Special
• Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan?
• The Best of Philippine Music
• Salakot
• Pagsapit ng Pasko
• Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi
• Pilita: Visayan Love Songs Vol. 1 (Cebuano)
• Pilita Sings George (If I Had My Life to Live Again)
• Pilita: Great Songs from Filipino Movies
• Sa Aking Pag-iisa
• Walang Pagmamaliw
• Pilita Sings...Love Themes from Viva Films
• Pilita y Amado en Español
• Pilita Y Amado en Español, Vol. 2
• Pilita Goes Pop (OctoArts now PolyEast Records, 1990)
• Ang Nag-iisang si Pilita (Viva Records, 1994)
• Together at Last (with Elmo Makuil) (Quantum Music Corporation, 1996)
• When My Eyes Are Filled with Tears (Dyna Records)
• The Best of Love Duets (Viva Collection Forever) (Viva Records, 1998)
• Pilita Corrales Sings Visayan Songs (Cebuano) (Villar)
• If You Go Away
• Hoy
• Pilita y los mensajeros del Paraguay
• Viajar ("Travel")
• Abrázame ("Embrace Me")
• Yukbo sa Bisayanhong Awit (Cebuano and Ilonggo duet album with Susan Fuentes)
• A Million Thanks to You

Recorded songs

• "A Million Thanks to You" (1963)
• Ako Raw Ay Makasalanan
• Ampingan Mo ba
• Ang Dalaga Noon at Ngayon
• Ang Diwa ng Pasko
• Ang Kawayan
• Ang Pag-ibig
• Ang Pag-ibig ay Mahiwaga
• Ang Pipit (true)
• Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig
• Apat na Dahilan
• Awit ng Labandera
• Awit ng Mananahi
• Ay Pag-ibig
• Ay, Ay, Ay Pag-ibig
• Ayaw nang Magmahal
• Bakas ng Lumipas
• Bakasin Mo sa Gunita
• Bakit Kita Inibig
• Balud sa Kalimot
• Balut
• Baryo Fiesta
• Basta't Magkasama Tayo
• Basta't Mahal Kita
• Bisan sa Damgo Lang
• Buhat
• Bulak Akong Bukidnon
• Cariñosa
• Come Close and Love Me
• Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak
• Dahil sa Iyo
• Dalagang Pilipina
• Dalagang Pilipinhon
• Dalawang Filipina
• Di Ko Kasalanan
• Di na Iibig
• Dili na Mausab
• Gipangita Ko Ikaw
• Goodbye
• Had I Known It
• Hanggang Langit Mahal Kita
• Hinahanap Kita
• Hinugpong nga Mga Awit
• Hiwaga ng Pag-ibig
• Huling Halakhak
• Ibong Kakanta-kanta
• If I Had My Life to Live Again
• Iibigin Ka
• Ikaw ang Mahal Ko
• Ikaw Na Lamang
• Iniibig Kita
• Ipagdarasal Kita
• Irog Ako ay Mahalin
• Isumbong Ko Ikaw sa Langit
• Iyong-iyo Kailan pa Man
• Kahit Sino Ka Man
• Kamingaw Gayud
• Kapantay ay Langit (Original by Amapola in 1970; later covered in 1972; Sharon Cuneta for the film of the same title in 1994 with her co-star Richard Gomez; Re-recorded feat. King of Soul Janno Gibbs in Janno's 2002 Album by VIVA Records).
• Kataka-taka
• Katulog na Inday
• Kay Hirap ng Umibig
• Kay Langit Ko ang Gugma Mo
• Kung Batid Mo Lamang
• Kung Kita'y Kapiling
• Kung Nagsasayaw Kita
• Lahat ng Araw
• Lahat ng Gabi Bawat Araw
• Lahat ng Oras
• Lamok
• Landas sa Pag-ibig
• Larawan ng Pag-ibig
• Let's Forget The Time
• Lihim na Damdamin
• Lonely Nights
• Luluha Ka Rin
• Maalaala Mo Kaya
• Magandang Gabi Po
• Mahal Kita Hanggang Langit
• Mahal Mo Ba Ako?
• Mahiwaga
• Mamang Tsuper
• Mangga
• Mano Po Ninong
• Matagal na Rin
• Matud Nila (Visayan)
• May Ibong Kakanta Kanta
• Minamahal Kita
• Minamahal Ko Siya
• Minsan Ay Nakasama Kita
• Nahigwa-os
• No Puede Ser (Spanish Version of "Minamahal Kita")
• O Maliwanag na Buwan
• Paano
• Pag-ibig Ikaw ang Dahilan
• Pagka't Kapiling Ka
• Pagkadali
• Pasko sa Nayon
• Patatawarin Kita
• Pilipinas
• Pobreng Alindahaw
• Porbida
• Puto Kutsinta
• Rosas Pandan
• Sa Araw ng Pasko (Ikaw Lang ang Siyang Kailangan)
• Sa Bawat Sandali
• Sa Libis ng Nayon
• Saan Ka Man Naroroon
• Salakot
• Salamat sa Alaala
• Sampaguita

• Sana Kahit Minsan (original by Ariel Rivera)
• Sapagkat Ikaw ay Akin
• Sapagkat Kami ay Tao lamang (Because We Are Only Human)
• Sapagkat Malapit na
• Sayaw sa Ilaw
• Sayo sa Kabuntagon
• Sinumpa Ko sa Diyos
• Sumpang Walang Hanggan
• Tama Na
• The Shadow of Your Smile [Live in Toronto]
• Titibok-Tibok
• Together
• Together at Last (duet with Elmo Makil)
• Tugoti Kami
• Tunay na Tunay
• Ulilang Puso
• Walang Kapantay
• When Eyes Are Filled with Tears
• Yesterday I Heard the Rain
• Noche de Ronda
• Vaya con Dios (Farewell)
• Historia de un amor (Story of a Love)
• Abrázame (Embrace Me)
• Obsesión
• Gracias amigo (Thanks my Friend)
• Solamente una vez (Just Once)
• Espérame en el cielo (Wait for Me in Heaven)
• La foto (The Picture)
• Hasta el fin de mi existir (Til the End of My Existence)
• Con estas manos (With These Hands)
• Filipinas
• Tema del padrino (Theme of the Godfather)
• Grande, Grande, Grande
• A flor de piel
• Quisiera saber (I'd Like to Know)
• Desde que tú has ido (Since You've Been Gone)
• Tu sonrisa (Your Smile)
• Concierto de un otoño
• Perfidia
• Aldila
• Angustia
• Río rebelde
• Voy (I Go)
• Amor (Love)
• Waray-Waray
• Nganong Mipakita Ka
• Sayri Ako
• Ngano Ba Gugma
• Ampinging mga Bulak
• Ilingaw-Lingaw Lang
• Mao Ba Kini ang Gugma
• Hain Ka na Pinangga
• Uhaw sa Gugma

External links

• Astor Records, Australia
• Pilita Corrales at IMDb
• Pilita Corrales discography at Discogs
• She's leaving home (Love is in the air, ABC TV-Australia)
• Vicor Music Corporation
• Cebu’s divas
• Even Canseco was rejected, Pilita remembers by Nini Valera
• Olivia Newton-John at the 1st Tokyo Music Festival
• Kinks sa‘PI' auditions, areglado na
• Beyond Birit
• RP Idol's First Yield
• Toronto Canada Pilita Corrales Special International Guest 2011 & 2014 Hosted by Radio & Television Producer Joel Recla.