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Pilita CoralesThe Story of Pilita CoralesPilita Corrales is a famous Filipina actress, a singer and a songwriter. She is a folk musical recording artist all the way from Cebu. She is widely known as Asia’s Queen of Songs having produced more than 135 albums during her singing career. Pilita Corales was born on August 22, 1939 in Cebu City, Philippines. Her father is Spanish and her mother is native Cebuana. She is a multi-lingual,able to speak several languages as Spanish, English, Tagalod and Cebuano fluently. She was able to finish her studies in Colegio de la Immaculada Conception in Cebu and went to Spain to enroll in a finishing school in music. In 1963, Corales was married to Gonzalo Blanco and born Lourdes Jacqueline Blanco. She later separated with him and Blanco died in 1981. Her second child Ramon Christopher Gutierrez was born on 1971 with an actor Eddie Gutierrez. Both two children of Pilita are also well-known in Philippine Film Industry. Pilita Corales was married to Carlos Lopez, Paraguayan businessman on May 22, 2001. Pilita began recording songs in 1958. She became the first woman who was able to penetrate Australian pop charts with her local recording, “Come Closer To Me” and became a star of the Melbourne TV circuit. Her first hit Come Closer To Me became a part of collection on which she is considered as one of the Grand Dames of Melbourne Radio and Television. From 1950- 1960’s, Pilita recorded three LPs Pilita with Arthur Young :Pilita tells The Story of Love, I'll Take Romance and This is Pilita under Astor Records. ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) featured Pilita together with other female artists in the second episode of Love Is In The Air, a highly acclaimed TV special in Australia. On mid 1960’s, she retuned to her homeland and pursued a singing career in the Philippines. She hosted La Taverna, a radio program over DZPI where she played the guitar and sang Spanish songs. She is a regular performer in stage at the Manila Grand Opera House. Her notability as an international artist grew as she performed with international stars like Sammy Davis Jr., The Beatles, Bob Hope, Pat Boone, Frank Sinatra and Julie Andrews. She also appeared in movies often musical ones. She played the lead role of her debut film entitled Miss Wawaw in 1968 and followed by many more movies for the next two years. Pilita also recorded numerous albums of Tagalog, English, Spanish and Cebuano during 1970’s under the label of Vicor Music Corporation. Her TV program An Evening with Pilita, is a multi-awarded one and is considered as one of the benchmarks in the history of Philippine broadcasting. Pilita played with Joe Quirino in Seeing Stars in IBC-Channel 13. A compilation of her songs in Spanish like Noche de Ronda and Vaya Con Dios were produced in CD by Aquarius Record Philippines. Her very own single, “A Million Thanks To You” was translated into seven languages. She then recorded several songs composed by some well-known composers like Danny Holmsen, George Canseco, Willy Cruz and Ryan Cayabyab and interpreted numerous Filipino classics under Vicor Records. Canseco was introduced to Pilita during the program An Evening With Pilita. The said composer wrote song “Kapantay Ay Langit” which was first sung by Amapola as for the movie of the same title. But the song, did not fare well because it was not promoted enough due to Amapola’s departure for her concert tours in the U.S. when Pilita revived the song, it turned into classic and defied trends and time. Through Sammy Davis Jr., she became the first Filipino performer to sing in Caesars Palace in concert during late 70’s. Ryan Cayabyab organized and arranged all the song Pilta sang in Spanish, Cebuano and Tagalog during the concert. Aside from singing, she is also a highly-acclaimed host and a good comedy actress in the Philippine television. She was visible in the comedy program of GMA Network, Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita. Not only in the Philippines she appeared but also in Asia, the Middle East, Australia and North America. With her 135 album to her credit, she still boast the tiled as singing icon and living legend. On 2006, she was chosen by ABC (Associated Broadcasting Company) and FreemantleMedia to be one of the judge for Philippine Idol, the first ever nationwide seardh together with Ryan Cayabyab and Francis Magalona. She represent Philippine Idol in the first Asian Idol as a judge held in Indonesia. Albums
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