CEBU, Philippines – Star performer Pilita Corrales is a true Cebuana. Born Pilar Garrido Corrales on August 22, 1939 in Lahug, Cebu City, the multi-talented singer-songwriter, actress, comedian, and television host has always taken pride of her Cebu roots in her television appearances and live concerts. She habitually interjects Cebuano words and phrases in her media guesting.
Her parents - María Garrido and José Corrales - were both Spanish. She went to school at Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion. Then she went to finishing school in Spain. Next, Pilita began a recording career in Australia, where she left her mark as the first woman to make the Australian pop charts. She also became a television star there; in fact, a street was named after her in Victoria.
She is dubbed as "Asia's Queen of Songs." While it is for her rendition of the Tagalog "Kapantay ay Langit" that she earned wide popularity in the Philippines, she has also brought Cebuano songs like "Matud Nila" and "Rosas Pandan," among many others, to national acclaim. Her signature song "A Million Thanks to You" has been translated in seven languages. Pilita is undoubtedly one of the country's musical treasures to this day.
Tomorrow, October 16, the University of the Visayas confers an honorary degree of Doctor of Music to Pilita Corrales, the reason for which is obvious. There is perhaps no better way of saying "A Million Thanks to You" to such an illustrious performer for making Cebu really proud.