A Million Thanks to You, Pilita Corrales: Remembering Asia’s Queen of Songs (1939–2025)
April 12, 2025 – Manila.
The Philippines has lost a legend. The world has lost a voice.
Pilar Garrido Corrales, known to millions as Pilita Corrales, passed away on April 12, 2025, at the age of 85. Her death was confirmed by her granddaughter, actress Janine Gutierrez, through a heartfelt post thanking everyone for their prayers and love.
As we remember her, we also celebrate the unmatched legacy she left behind: a six-decade career that shaped generations of Filipino artists and gave voice to the soul of a nation.
🎙️ Asia’s Queen of Songs: A Life of Music and Legacy
Born on August 22, 1939, in Lahug, Cebu City, Pilita Corrales was the daughter of José Corrales de Zaragoza and María Garrido Manzano, both distinguished Hispano-Filipinos. Her musical journey began early, studying at Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción in Cebu and later attending the Colegio Mayor de Padre Poveda in Spain.
In 1957, she arrived in Australia where her career took off. Her hit song “Come Closer to Me” gained popularity and earned her the title of one of the Grand Dames of Victorian Radio and Television. A street in Melbourne, Australia, was later named in her honor. She was even featured in ABC’s Love is in the Air, recognizing her as a pioneer in Australian TV history.
Returning to the Philippines in the early ’60s, Pilita hosted the iconic radio show La Taverna, sang Spanish classics, and performed at the Manila Grand Opera House. She then launched a television career that cemented her as a household name with “An Evening with Pilita”, a landmark show in Philippine broadcasting.
🎶 135 Albums, Global Recognition, and a Song in Every Heart
Pilita Corrales recorded over 135 albums in English, Filipino, Spanish, and Cebuano. She was the first Filipino artist to top the Australian pop charts and won the first Tokyo Music Festival in 1972.
Her rendition of “A Million Thanks to You” became a timeless anthem and was translated into seven languages. Other signature songs include “Kapantay ay Langit,” “Dahil sa ‘Yo,” and “Sa Kabukiran.”
She was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) and an honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of the Visayas—solidifying her place in Philippine music history.
🎥 Actress, TV Host, and Cultural Icon
Pilita also starred in over a dozen films and countless variety shows. Her presence was a fixture in the post-Martial Law entertainment landscape, often appearing in “Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino” on IBC-13.
She remained an active performer well into her 70s, recording albums, doing stage shows, and mentoring young artists—living proof that true artistry never fades.
👪 A Mother, Grandmother, and Pillar of Filipino Heritage
Pilita was a mother to Jacqueline Lourdes Corrales Blanco and Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, both of whom found success in the entertainment industry. Through her son Ramon, she became the grandmother of award-winning actress Janine Gutierrez.
She also had an adopted son, VJ, and later in life married Carlos López, a Paraguayan-Australian businessman, in 2001.
Her personal life was filled with both grace and grit, a testament to her strength as a Filipina navigating fame, family, and faith.
🌺 A Voice That Lives On
Pilita Corrales passed away on April 12, 2025, due to unspecified causes. Yet her voice—soft, powerful, unforgettable—will never fade.
As we say goodbye, we echo the song that made her immortal:
“A Million Thanks to You.”
For every note, every backbend, every performance that brought us pride—maraming salamat, Pilita.
📖 Sources:
Philstar – Jackie Lou Blanco: 10 things you didn’t know about Pilita CorralesPhilstar
Wikipedia – Pilita Corrales
Philstar – Pilita Corrales and her lifetime of musicPhilstar
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia – Come Closer to Me by Pilita Corralesnfsa.gov.au
