Yesterday saw the passing of a musical legend, Asia's Queen of songs Pilar Garrido Corrales, more popularly known as Pilita, at the age of 85.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved mami and mamita, Pilita Corrales,” Pilita’s granddaughter, actress Janine Gutierrez, wrote in a Facebook post.
Born in Lahug, Cebu City, in August 22, 1939, Pilita quickly became famous as a singer, actress, and comedienne, becoming a familiar face on TV and the silverscreen.
She rose to the height of fame in the '80's with her co-hosting of the popular TV singing show "Tanghalan ng Kampeon" with Bert "Tawa" Marcelo, and was known for her witty remarks, many of them said in her native Visayan, which Marcelo didn't understand.
But more than this, people will remember her for her songs, including "Kapantay ay Langit", "Dahil sa Iyo," "Ang Pipit", "Ikaw na Lamang", and "Buhat".
But perhaps her most enduring song is "Usahay", which has become a timeless Visayan love song.
So popular and ageless is the appeal of the song that even those of the younger generations are familiar with it. It is even known among those who aren't totally familiar with the Visayan language.
She herself became a symbol of Cebuano talent and what "provincianos" can achieve in an industry dominated by those from the capital regions. She was never one to deny her roots, even as most of her songs were now in Tagalog.
Hopefully, we won't run out of Cebuanos with her talent, a talent that wasn't just known only in Cebu but also beyond.
Like her song implies, people of her talent don't come along so often. We can say panagsa or usahay ra ni.