Remembering Mommy Kate

And here, as I promised, is another "lumang album" item courtesy of Balikbayan beauty impresario Ferdy Villar (now based in San Francisco where he continues his star/celebrity-watching hobby/habit). Ferdy was also Funfare’s source of the beautiful spread (Here They Are Now, Dec. 11 issue) on what’s up among Pinoy stars now living in the US.

Today’s topic is Katy "Mommy Kate" dela Cruz who died at 97 last Nov. 10 at a hospital in San Francisco. Mommy Kate’s remains were cremated and a Mass/tribute was held for her last Nov. 21 at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Colma, California.

"The day she died," said Ferdy, "Rey Satori, Daly City Planning Commissioner, declared a Katy dela Cruz Day. Mommy Kate was a long-time resident of Daly City where several other Pinoy stars are now residing. The San Mateo Country Status For Women gave Mommy Kate a posthumous award."

Ferdy submitted several photos to Funfare, one taken two years ago on Mommy Kate’s 95th birthday, the last one she ever celebrated.

"Not long after that," recalled Ferdy, "she was bedridden."

Following is a clipping of an article Ferdy enclosed with the photos, author not mentioned and neither was the paper where the story appeared:

Catalina dela Cruz, known professionally as Katy dela Cruz, passed away at 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 10. She was 97. She was known to all as the Philippines’ "Queen of Jazz, Stage, Radio, Movies and Television." As a true legend in her time, Katy’s career began when she was barely seven years old. A precocious child, she was the least bit shy about singing at any given situation, oftentimes even "offering" to perform without being asked.

From that simple beginning, Katy’s life was filled with episodes that were made memorable by her inimitable way of singing the songs she made famous, notably St. Louis Blues that became her signature song. Although she never went beyond first grade in school, Katy somehow managed to master the English language with the help of her older sibling, Maxima.

From the early ’20s to the late ’80s, Katy’s career spanned stints on the stage, radio, movies and television. She travelled extensively around the world and had performed in various countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Hawaii and the US (in San Francisco where she enjoyed top billing at Claire Low’s Forbidden City).

In 1987, she returned in great triumph to her beloved stage in the Philippines where her life story, entitled Katy!, was done as a musical. She felt gratified when the public requested for a repeat which was done not just once but thrice. (It was Celeste Legaspi who produced the musical, with Mitch Valdes in the title role. – RFL)

It was a fitting end to a fantastic career. Right after her last performance, Katy fell ill and lost her ability to sing. But her indomitable spirit served her well until the end of her life.

Katy is survived by her children Elena Figueroa, Veronica Teator, Angela Yoingco (who was known as The Wing Duo with Nikki Ross) and Reynaldo Yoingco; as well as her grandchildren James Figueroa, Mary Anne and John Raymond, John and Shannen Figueroa, Kathy and Ron Aviles, Teresa and Mats Janson, Toni Teator and Jeffrey Teator. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Terese and Davin Tanabe; Chelsea Raymond; Kaithlyn and Alexander Figueroa; Joseph and Brandon Figueroa; Taylor, Alexander and Lauren Aviles; Annika and Emma Janson; Samantha and Keilani Tanimura; Michael, Timothy, Mark, Kelly and Patrick Jonathan Yoingco.

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