Pilita Corrales in Australia 1958 Video

 Pilita Corrales, from Cebu, Philippines, moved to Australia in the 1950s and made history as the first woman to chart with a recording on the Australian music charts.

Ms. Corrales became a star there thanks to her amazing vocal range and beauty.

Pilita Corrales 'I Say A Little Prayer'

Pilita Corrales, legendary Filipina singer and actress, sings her cover of 'I Say A Little Prayer' from her hit album 'This is Pilita'. For those of us under the age of 30, this was the popular song they were singing at the restaurant in the movie 'My Best Friend's Wedding' starring Julia Roberts.

Thanks to Roy Royce.

Eat Bulaga's Daiana Menezes hosts TV5's Ogags

Daiana Menezes and Ariana Barouk will host a new show on TV5 called Ogags, every Weds. at 9:30 pm. Daiana is the beautiful Brazilian TV host and crowd-favorite of Eat Bulaga, famous for singing her interpretation of Isang Linggong Pag-ibig by Imelda Papin. If you're not familiar with Daiana, then watch this clip of her singing on Eat Bulaga, and I promise you will fall in love with her like the rest of the country has:

Ariana is a Cuban-American model, Miss Cuba-Earth 2007, a former cast member of Eat Bulaga, and former TV host of Caliente in the US on Univision, which I watched religiously every Saturday here in LA. My God, I loved that show. She also appeared on 'Shall We Dance.'Download FREE Daiana Menezes WallpapersThank you TV5 for that, because I love these girls, they're so down to earth and humble, and they have a lot of charisma, and they're funny and smart too and great TV hosts, listen to Daiana and Ariana's jokes in the videos below, they're so funny, they're just great, and I'm sure Filipinos would love to watch them in whatever they do.

Daiana and Ariana on Nuts Entertainment 1

Daiana and Ariana on Nuts Entertainment 2

Daiana and Ariana on All Star K
with Ms. Pilita Corrales
Paolo Contis, who recently won Best Actor at the Star Awards, Iya Villania, Ryan Agoncillo, and Lucy Torres of Shall We Dance are also signed on for shows on TV5.
Sam Milby and Anne Curtis have done a promo for a new daily entertainment program called 'Juicy'.

Pilita Corrales, ¡Bravo Filipino!

Pilita Corrales and Celeste Legaspi performed at the ¡Bravo Filipino! Music Celebration for the Filipinas Heritage Library last week. Ms. Corrales sang her hit songs 'Kapantay ng Langit' and 'Minsan Minahal'. Also singing with the divas were Rachel Alejandro, Gian Magdangal, Jan Nieto, and Frenchie Dy.

During this video where they were honoring world famous musicians and artists of Filipino descent, they left out quite a few world famous artists: Enrique Iglesias, Junior and his daughter Shaila Durcal, also a singer, Mig Ayesa, Lalaine, Miranda Cosgrove of iCarly, and Kirk Hammett of Metallica.
And Vanessa Hudgens especially, pictured here with her mom and sister.

Dennis Trillo Sexy

GMA-7 presents its latest Sine Novela offering, Pablo Gomez's Magdusa Ka, starring Dennis Trillo, Iwa Moto, Jackie Lou Blanco, Emilio Garcia, Gabby Eigenmann, and Katrina Halili in a very different role. Magdusa Ka will start airing on May 12.

Full Photo Gallery

Magdusa Ka is one of the most notable movies in the '80s that garnered numerous awards from various film organizations. The movie was directed by Eddie Garcia and starred Dina Bonnevie, Christopher de Leon, the late Dindo Fernando, and the late Nida Blanca. Now, GMA-7 is recreating this masterpiece for the small screen with Maryo J. de los Reyes at the helm.

Pilita Corrales-Lot Lot de Leon feud

Lotlot de Leon, after divorce from Ramon Christopher, opens up on feud with ex-mother-in-law Pilita Corrales.

Finally done with her marriage to co-actor Ramon Christopher, Lotlot de Leon addressed her parents, Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon, on the sad turnout of her marriage. "I never wanted to be a disappointment to my parents and they know that I tried," said Lotlot to The Buzz host Boy Abunda when she sat as studio guest yesterday, May 4.

MAKING PEACE WITH MAMITA. Si Lotlot naman ay muling nagpahayag ng kanyang saloobin regarding sa hatol ng korte. Naiintindihan din daw niya kung sakali mang maging malungkot ang mga anak nila ni Monching ngayong pormal na ang kanilang hiwalayan.

"Siyempre mahirap 'yan para sa mga bata kasi nga ako ilang taon akong, kahit noong medyo teenager na ko, nag-i-expect pa rin ako na sana maging maayos na ‘yong daddy [Christopher de Leon] ko at mommy [Nora Aunor] ko pero you come to realize na they're better off apart and they deserve so much more," paliwanag ni Lotlot kay Boy Abunda ng The Buzz.

Bagama't pinilit ni Lotlot na hindi umiyak ay bumigay din ito ng tanungin ni Boy kung may kinikimkim ba itong sama ng loob kay Pilita.

"Hindi po ko galit sa kanya," sagot ng aktress kasabay ng pagbagsak ng luha nito.

"Nasaktan lang talaga ko kasi umalis ako ng bahay na walang dala. Umalis ako limang daan ang pera ko, P500, I rented a house, ang kasama ko si Matet. Nangutang ako kay Tita Angge and para sabihin na, siyempre, I practically grew up with Mamita [Pilita Corrales's nickname] and I know that whatever she says is because she loves Monching very much and that I respect. Sino ba ang hindi magmamahal na ina sa anak?" patuloy nito.

Inamin ni Lotlot na labis siyang nasaktan sa mga binitawang salita ng dating biyenan at sa mga pag-aakusa diumano nito sa kanya noong kasagsagan ng separation nila ni Monching.

"I was expecting, since I was married to Monching for 13 years, kahit papaano kilala niya ako bilang tao at para marinig ko from her na nanlalaki ako o gusto kong mag-asawa ng mayaman, masakit para sa akin ‘yon," kumpisal ni Lotlot.

"But you know I have learned to move on, I have learned to accept the fact na mahal na mahal lang talaga niya si Mon. And because of that and because of the love that she gives my children, okay na sa kin ‘yon, ‘di bale na ako, okay lang ako, kaya ko naman e, okay lang."

Nilinaw ni Lotlot na wala siyang balak na pumasok ulit sa intriga lalong-lalo na ang kalabanin si Pilita in public, "It's just that para lang din siguro maintindihan ninyo why it pains me na naging ganoon ‘yong relasyon ko with Mamita.

Pero naniniwala pa rin si Lotlot na maaayos din ang lahat sa kanila ni Pilita. May panahon naman daw para sa lahat, 'ika nga ng aktres, "In God's good time."

Lotlot de Leon Divorce

Lotlot de Leon, the accomplished and beautiful naturally green-eyed actress from the #1 rating TV show in the country 'Dyesebel', talks with mixed emotions about annulment of her marriage to Ramon Christopher, son of Asia's Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales.

"Kami ni Mon, hindi kami proud with what happened. Nobody enters a marriage thinking na one day maghihiwalay din kayo. We tried our best to keep the marriage working, not only for us, but most specially for the kids," says Lotlot de Leon about the annulment of her marriage to Ramon Christopher.

Last Thursday, May 1, the Quezon City court annulled the marriage of Lotlot de Leon and Ramon Christopher because both were underage when they got married on March 27, 1989, at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.



Lotlot had filed for annulment one year ago. When she heard about the court's decision, mixed emotions came over her.



"Nung nakuha ko yung tawag from my lawyer, siyempre ang unang inisip ko, e, gulat," she said in a taped interview with StarTalk earlier this afternoon, May 3. "But there is a misconception that people na dumaan sa kagaya ko na situwasyon, e, iniisip na sobrang saya at sobrang ligaya... Mixed emotions talaga.



"Kasi unang-una, may mga anak kami and we're not proud... God only knows. I know Monching [Ramon Christopher's nickname] and I really tried to make the marriage work but hindi talaga, e. But what's good about this is I know that Mon and I learned so much from the relationship, na 19 years na pinagsamahan namin. I just hope na maging leksiyon sa mga kagaya ko, na desidido sila't gusto nila yung gagawin nila."



One of the good things about her current relationship with Monching, according to Lotlot, is the respect she and Monching still have for one another. As parents, they continue to guide their children. Lotlot hopes that they will eventually understand the situation and learn from it.



"Wala naman kasi kaming itinatago sa mga bata," Lotlot said. "Alam mo, hindi naman talaga madali ‘yan, e. But I have faith in my kids that someday, maiintindihan nila kung ano man naging pagkakamali ko at pagkakamali ng tatay nila, e, matuto din ang mga anak namin."



Lotlot also expressed her admiration and respect for her mother-in-law, Pilita Corales.



"I have so much respect for her," Lotlot said. "The love that she gives my children, I'm very thankful dahil mahal niya mga anak ko. Enough na ‘yon sa akin kahit na may mga nangyari na before in the past, may mga nasabi, ang dami na nasabi, marami na nasaktan... Ang sa akin, ang importante, ang focus ko kung ano mararamdaman lagi ng mga anak ko."



Lotlot also has this message to Monching: "To Mon, I would like to say thank you kasi mabuting ama si Monching sa mga anak namin at hindi naman niya pinapabayaan. Sana magpatuloy ang maganda naming relationship with regards to raising our children."



Now that Lotlot's free and single, would she entertain suitors and a real marriage?



"Hindi ko na iniisip ‘yan, e." Lotlot said. "Kung may dadating, may dadating. Sa akin lang, itong nakuha namin na decision sa korte, is a way that Mon can move on with his life, ako din ganoon."



LIVE INTERVIEW. After her taped interview, Lotlot talked more about the marriage annulment with StarTalk hosts Joey de Leon and Lolit Solis.



Joey asked Lotlot if she talked to Monching when she found out about the court's decision.



"Actually, I have filed for the nullity last year pa po," Lotlot explained. "But the decision came out last Friday. So, nagte-taping po ako and hindi ko alam how to break the news to my children and to Mon.



"Pero unang ko nakausap, e, daddy ko [Christopher de Leon]. Sabi ko, ‘Dad, hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin sa mga bata.' Sabi ng daddy, ‘Go about it casually. Matatalino naman mga anak mo and they'll understand.' Of course, the day after, I called up Monching and I told him and I told my kids... We all knew it was going happen one of these days."



Lotlot added, "If there's one thing that's very good about my relationship with Monching is that, sabi ko nga, we may be living separately, and hindi kami magkasama sa bahay, but when it comes to raising the kids, iisa pa rin kami doon. At yun, hindi na magbabago yun."



How did the kids take it, especially the eldest, Janine?



"Matatalino sila," Lotlot answered. "Kami ni Mon, hindi kami proud with what happened. Nobody enters a marriage thinking na one day maghihiwalay din kayo. We tried our best to keep the marriage working, not only for us, but most specially for the kids. Kasi karamihan, kahit nagkakagulo na mga mag-asawa, kahit minsan buwisit na buwisit ka na sa asawa mo, e, you try so hard to stay because yung mga anak mo ang una mong iniisip.



"Dumating na din ang point na inisip din namin siguro, or ako, na mas mabuti na ma-maintain na lang namin ang relationship namin as friends, may respeto kami sa isa't isa at hindi na makita ng mga anak namin ang kung ano man ang samaan namin ng loob o hidwaan namin, or kung nagkakasakitan kami na salita. I would rather na ma-spare namin ang mga bata sa ganoon kasi mahirap na nga as it is, e, na hiwalay na nga kayo mag-asawa tapos sasabayan pa ng bangayan at insultuhan. Hindi na tama ‘yan." PEP

Pilita Corrales, a Golden Diva

Pilita Corrales is holding her Golden Divas concert tonight and tomorrow, March 7 and 8th at 8pm at the Music Museum in Manila. To celebrate, here's an exclusive video of a popular song of hers in the Philippines sung in Spanish, "A Media Luz." You won't find this anywhere else on the web, it's an exclusive made by yours truly. Also, a picture of Ms. Corrales singing with American singing legend Sammy Davis, Jr. of Frank Sinatra's famous "Rat Pack", and her opening the Beatles' Manila concert during the 60s. She is legendary, this beautiful award-winning, multi-lingual talented and still sexy as ever Filipina woman. If ever there is a single woman to represent everything beautiful about our rich Filipino heritage, history, culture, our people and achievements in this world, it is Pilita Corrales. Mabuhay!

Pilita Corrales (born 22 August 1939 in Cebu City, Philippines) is a famous Filipina folk musical recording artist, who is widely referred to as Asia's Queen of Songs, having produced over 135 albums in her music career spanning over four decades.

Pilita Corrales was born in Cebu City, Cebu in 1939. Her father was a Spaniard and her mother was Cebuana. She is multi-lingual and speaks Spanish, English, Tagalog, and Cebuano fluently. After finishing her studies at Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion in her native land of Cebu, she went to Spain to enroll in a finishing school in music. In 1958, Pilita began her recording career after arriving with a shipwrecked troupe of performers in Melbourne. She left her mark by becoming the first woman to make the Australian pop charts with a local recording called 'Come Closer to Me'. She became a star of the Melbourne TV circuit and her first hit, Come Closer to Me, became part of a collection on which she’s billed as one of the Grand Dames of Melbourne Radio and Television.

Pilita holds the distinction of being the first female artist to top the Australian pop music charts long before Helen Reddy, Olivia Newton-John and Kylie Minogue. Pilita also recorded at least 3 LPs in the late 1950s-early 1960s: Pilita with Arthur Young :Pilita tells The Story of Love, I'll Take Romance and This is Pilita under Astor Records. Being one of the pioneers of Australia's early television years, a street was named after her outside Melbourne. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) recently featured Pilita and several pioneering female artists in Australia in the 2nd episode of the highly acclaimed TV special, Love is in the Air. Pilita returned to Manila during the mid 1960s to pursue a career in the Philippine music industry. Her Philippine career began when she hosted a radio program La Taverna over DZPI where she sang Spanish songs and played the guitar. She performed regularly in stage shows at the Manila Grand Opera House. Subsequently, her reputation grew and during her international stints, she has performed with internationally acclaimed artists like Sammy Davis Jr. the Beatles, Bob Hope, Pat Boone, Frank Sinatra and Julie Andrews. She also appeared in movies, most of them musicals. Her film debut was a lead role in the 1968 film Miss Wawaw, and was followed by 11 more movies for the next two years. Pilita later recorded numerous albums in Spanish in the early 60s as well as numerous long playing albums in English, Tagalog and Cebuano during the 1970s under Vicor Music Corporation. Her multiawarded TV program at ABS-CBN, An Evening with Pilita (1965-1972), is widely considered as one of the benchmarks in Philippine broadcasting history.

Pilita frequently performed for Seeing Stars with J@e Quirino in IBC-Channel 13 after the martial law years where she demonstrated her range as a gifted performer of Spanish, English, Cebuano and Tagalog music. Aquarius Record Philippines produced a compilation of Pilita's Spanish songs in CDs like Noche de Ronda, Vaya Con Dios. Her signature song A Million Thanks to You was translated in seven languages. She eventually recorded songs composed by Filipino composers like Danny Holmsen, George Canseco, Willy Cruz, Ryan Cayabyab and several others. Under Vicor Records, Pilita interpreted numerous Filipino classics and introduced them to younger audiences.

Pilita first met Canseco in Your Evening with Pilita (aired on pre-Martial Law ABS-CBN) as a guest in the composers' portion of the show". For the show Canseco brought with him You're All I Love. Canseco later wrote Filipino lyrics for the song, which became Kapantay ay Langit, the first song Canseco sold to a record label in 1966. The song was first recorded by Amapola for the movie theme of Kapantay Ay Langit starring Marlene Dauden and Eddie Rodríguez. The song won for George Canseco and Amapola the Manila Film Festival award for best song of the year. The song did not fare well commercially, because Amapola had left (for her U.S. concert tours) and the song was not promoted properly, according to Canseco during an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer. But when Pilita revived the song, it turned into a classic and defied trends and time. "The song," Pilita said, "was included in my album Philippine Love Songs Vol. 1, which was released in the early 1970s."

Through the personal invitation of Sammy Davis Jr., Pilita became the first Filipino to sing in Caesars Palace. In her concert in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas during the late 70s, Pilita sang Spanish, English, Cebuano and Tagalog songs, all conducted and arranged by Ryan Cayabyab.

After receiving a 1965 Philippine Citizen's Award for TV as Best TV Female Performer, Pilita went on to receive Cecil, Aliw, Tinig and Awit and several other awards for her performances and lifetime achievement. In 1990, she received a Merit Award from the FAMAS Awards. In 1991, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for bringing Filipino musical artistry to international audience. She also holds the distinction of being the first Filipino to win in an international music festival by bagging the Best Performer Award during the 1st Tokyo Music Festival (1972) where she bested numerous international artists including the highly-regarded Olivia Newton-John.

These days she operates Pilita, a restaurant-bar in Greenhills, one of Manila's prime commercial districts. She is also a highly-acclaimed host and comedy actress on Philippine television. With over 135 albums to her credit and an international profile with many appearances in Asia, the Middle East, Australia and North America, she still enjoys a reputation as “singing icon and living legend.”

In 2006, Pilita Corrales was handpicked by Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC Channel 5) and FremantleMedia to be one of the celebrity-judges for the first-ever nationwide search for the Philippine Idol together with composer Ryan Cayabyab and rapper Francis Magalona. She was a judge in the first Asian Idol held in Indonesia, representing Philippine Idol.

Corrales has two children, Lourdes Jacqueline Blanco (commonly known as "Jackielou" Blanco) and Ramón Christopher Gutíerrez. Both her two children are also well known celebrity figures in the Philippine Film Industry.

Corrales was married in 1963, to the late executive businessman Gonzalo Blanco and separated soon after, while her daughter "Jackielou" was still a child. Gonzalo later died in 1981.

Corrales gave birth to her second child, Ramón Christopher, in 1971. Ramón's father is actor Eddie Gutíerrez.

On May 22, 2001, Pilita married Paraguayan businessman Carlos Lopez.

Attention Aspiring Musicians!
Here's your chance at becoming famous and winning a record production contract!
Pilita Corrales' Worldwide Song Competition
has been extended until September 21, 2008, 12 midnight, Manila time.
Watch the video above for more info.
In Pilita's own words...

"PWSC, or Pilita’s World Song Competition, is an idea I owe to my fans. For nearly four decades I received thousands of original compositions sent to me for possible recording and/or promotion.

Thanks to Alborada Productions, Inc., this idea finally materialized in the form of a songwriting competition.

PWSC is the first ever World Song Competition of its kind. It seeks to find the best melodies on the web for lyrics that I have written in Spanish, English and Tagalog, with the end objective of having the songs recorded in the ultimate album of my career, 'PILITA BEYOND ETERNITY'.

Amateur or professional songwriters will be tested to the limit as we hope to find the most inspiring melodies that will be the perfect match to the eleven sets of lyrics, which I wrote with equal inspiration. We will select two winning melodies for each set of lyrics and both songs will be recorded.

PWSC will produce a double-album containing twenty-two songs. The winners will become co-authors/producers, with a 40% share in all royalties that will be derived from the album to be divided equally amongst them. PWSC reserves 60% of the said royalties for production and promotional costs.

This is my invitation to you to make your dream, and mine, come true. Together as one, we can create beautiful songs which I hope will not simply be enjoyed but will endure BEYOND ETERNITY.

- Pilita Corrales "

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Legendary Pilita Corrales Golden Divas Concert!

Pilita Corrales, Carmen Pateña and Carmen Soriano. Three legendary superstars, who recently made a guest appearance on ABS-CBN's Wheel of Fortune, gather for the first time in one grand show dubbed as Golden Divas at the Music Museum for a weekend of nostalgia as only they can deliver on March 7 and 8, 8 p.m.

Let Pilita Corrales, Carmen Pateña and Carmen Soriano take you back to the glorious ’60s and ’70s as they render the songs that made them icons and secured for them a permanent spot in the music industry.

Pilita, Asia’s Queen of Song and beloved judge of Philippine Idol, will render her unforgettable signature song, “A Million Thanks To You,” complete with that famous back-breaking stance. She will prove that she still has what it takes to capture audiences with her unique performing style.

Carmen Pateña, whose singing career, like Pilita’s, covers international venues, will make audiences remember the good old days when she was dubbed the “Shirley Bassey of the Philippines.” She is expected to bring back memories with such songs as “Wonderful Dream,” “The World’s Greatest Clown,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Ballad of a Sad Young Man” and others.

Carmen Soriano, she with the face that has romanced the screen with many a dashing leading man, will show music lovers she still has what it takes to keep them asking for more. She will render her signature songs, “Ang Tangi Kong Pag-Ibig,” “Bluebird,” “Bulung-Bulungan,” “Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak,” “Dalagang Pilipina” and others.

The golden divas will not stick to their usual formula, though. They will do something even their fans haven’t seen them do before. They will add a touch of modernity to their repertoire by spicing up their act with the Madonna and Britney Spears treatment.

The Golden Divas promises to be a blast, not just for those who remember the ’60s and ’70s, but for today’s generation, who enjoy Madonna and Britney’s moves and grooves.

The series of shows is produced by Viva Concert and Events and directed by Al Quinn.

What can you say?
Filipinos love Pilita Corrales, forever and ever and ever and forever. She is our diva, she is our "Philippine Idol", and these three women are legendary singers. Listen to these great songs by this talented, beautiful multi-lingual beauty who speaks Tagalog, Cebuano, English and Spanish fluently.

Pilita Corrales: Ampinging Mga Bulak

Pilita Corrales: Bisan Sa Damgo Lang

Pilita Corrales and Janno Gibbs
Kapantay ay Langit
Sung in English, Tagalog, and Spanish

Pilita Corrales: Uhaw Sa Gugma

Jackie Lou Blanco: "My Career In Retrospect"

Filipina actress and fitness guru Jackie Lou Blanco writes to her fans:

"How long have I been in the entertainment business? I’m 41. I started when i was 14.Wow! 27 years. Its been that long.I started as a co-host of German Moreno in the Sunday noontime show on ch.7, Germspesyal. How was it the first time? I was so nervous. I didn’t have any hosting experience then. The result was I had my back to the camera most of the time. My mom taped that episode and made me watch it after. She said, "Jacqui, when you are interviewing anyone, I want to see your face, not your back.

I practically grew up in that show. Stayed till I was 34.I had 2 children already. I got to hone my hosting, singing and dancing skills. I got to meet entertainers from all over the world. I got to interview Leif Garret, Menudo, Morris Albert, Jon Secada and Matt Monroe among others. I consider myself lucky. I’m proud to say our show was the first stop of international performers. We were no.1!

Aside from Germspesyal which eventually became GMA Supershow, I also became part of another noontime show, from Mondays thru Saturdays, Student Canteen, also on ch.7.It was already a long running show with thespian hosts, Eddie Ilarde and the late Bobby Ledesma. They needed 3 new female hosts and got me, Chiqui Hollman and Chat Silayan, and another male host, George Javier. I was elated. I was going to host with 2 seasoned hosts. How exciting was that? It was a big achievement for me.

During that time I shuffled between my school work and the show, attending morning classes bet.7:30 t0 9:30,rushing off to the salon and then had to be in the studio by 11:30.The show was 12:00 to 1:30,then back to school for my class at 2:30.Pretty hectic ha? Nevertheless I looked forward to each working day. We were like a big family. Bobby and Eddie were like fathers to us, Chiqui, Chat and George like sisters and brother. We had so much fun on and off camera that it wasn’t like work at all.

When I joined them I already had 4 years of hosting experience because of GMA Supershow and yet I still learned so much from Bobby and Eddie. I would marvel at how they knew so much. They could talk about anything and everything under the sun.

We had spiels which were prepared for us, guide questions for guests, but you cant stick to just that. As a host you need be spontaneous. Our show was live everyday, and anything can happen in a live show. You'd introduce a guest to sing and all of a sudden something goes wrong with the material. What are you to do? You can't just stand there and freeze. I learned that on television there cant be a lull, no dead moments.

So I asked Bobby and Eddie how they did it. What do I do when emergencies like that happen? This is what they taught me. Use anything and everything available to you at that moment .Could be somebody from the audience you've noticed. Talk to them. Comment on the weather, something you've read, or watched. They'd tell me, "Jacqui, talk about what you're learning in school, read the newspaper. Be updated on current events.

So even if reading the paper wasn't a habit, I forced myself to. I realized that as a host, we weren't there only to entertain but to be informative as well. It was our duty as good hosts. T.V. is a very powerful medium to get any message across, and so I realized that any contribution, big or small could always be of help to anyone watching. So I learned to be a responsible host. Thanks to Bobby, Eddie, Chiqui, Chat and George. All of them enriched me as a host.

I also got the chance to do a musical with my mom, "Pilita and Jacqui" I got to sing songs from broadway musicals and had the chance to perform with the best singers. Plus I got to sing with my mom who I looked up to so much. Lucky me.

During my stint at Student Canteen, I was also given the chance by VIVA Films bossess, Vic del Rosario and the late Mina Aragon to try the movies. They offered me to star in my first movie, My Only Love with no less than Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion. I was excited and nervous at the same time. This was the big screen. I was overwhelmed.

On my first shooting day, I approached Eddie Garcia, our director and asked for some tips on how to go about my role. He said, "Jacqui, just be natural. Acting is reacting to the situation given. Put yourself in the characters shoes and make it your own. Relax and enjoy it. Everything will just flow. Oh boy, how could I relax? My knees were shaking, my hands were clammy and I had butterflies in my stomach. I walked around waiting to be called, i prayed and took a deep breath. I said, "GOD, just be with me. "Of course HE was. I did okay and learned to relax in the next scenes.

After My Only Love I did "Friends in Love", Palabra de Honor, Kung aagawin mo ang lahat sa akin and Misis mo,Misis ko for Viva Films.

For Regal Films I did I can't stop loving you and When I fall in love.

For Seiko Films I did Di bale na lang, Lumuhod ka sa Lupa, Isusumbong kita sa Diyos with my husband, Ricky Davao and my first starring role with no less than Christopher de Leon and Ace Vergel.

Then I did "Hihintayin kita sa langit" for Reyna Films. This is the film where i got nominated for best supporting actress and it is one of my favorite films.

And my last movie was "Hanggang may hiniga" with Philip Salvador and Anjanette Abayari.

I also had my share of the music scene. Did several intimate shows at the Tavern on the square, Reverie Bar and a big one at the Araneta Coliseum.

I also recorded some duets with my mom with Octo arts and my first single under Blackgold Records, "You don’t own me". I remember not wanting to do it because it was an old song. I was only 18 then. But my boss, Vic del Rosario said, "Jacqui, trust me. This will be a hit. He was right. It was very well received. I also got the chance to record my own album, "Deep in my heart".

I loved singing but I realized soon enough that I wasn’t a great singer like my mom and I felt I could do better as an actress. So I concentrated on acting. This became my home.

My husband, Ricky started in theatre and was prodding me to try it. He said you are never complete as an actor if you don’t try the stage. It is an actors medium as they say. I was apprehensive in the beginning because on stage there were no cuts, no take 2's.If you made a mistake you had to go on, keeping your composure. You had to rely on yourself and your co-actors only. I was scared but nevertheless challenged.

Nonon Padilla of Tanghalang Pilipino offered me the role of Thomas More's daughter in the filipino version of "Man for all seasons", entitled, "Taga sa panahon" I was with theatre thespians, Mario O'hara ,actress Alicia Alonzo who played my mother and my husband, Ricky who played the king.

I had to adjust to many things. Movements on T.V. and the movies were more limited depending on the angle and shot the director wanted. In theatre you need to exaggerate your movements. You had to be larger than life. There were no close-ups and so hand and body movements had to be extended, facial expressions exaggerated. The person at the last row of the theatre needed to see and understand everything you were doing.

In the movies you were given the chance to dubb your voice. On T.V. you had microphones. On stage we also had but not individual ones. I had to learn how to project my voice use my diaphragm, to throw my voice so everyone could hear. I was taught to enunciate well. My diction had to be clear.

Little by little I got the hang of it, realizing it was truly an actor's medium. You own the stage, you own your audience. Right there you'd know if they liked your performance. Instant reaction. Very overwhelming.

One of the most beautiful experiences of doing a play is growing with your character. Performances were on weekends lasting for a month or more. I would attack some scenes differently as it went on. Some worked, some didn't, but that's how I learned. I had the opportunity to get more in depth with my character.

Ricky was right. One is never complete as an actor if they don’t try theatre.

After not making movies for a while I went back to T.V. work. This time becoming part of several soap operas.

My first soap opera was 'Esperanza' with Judy Ann Santos. Then "Saan ka man naroroon" with Claudine Barretto. Then about 3 years ago, "Ang iibigin ay ikaw". This I consider my most challenging soap. Why? I played so many characters. I was a muslim, a religious woman, a model, and a 60 year old woman. I wore a bra 5 times my cup size. I felt like Mrs.Doubtfire. They had teeth made for me. Wow! It took a while to get used to those .Had to walk slower, all my movements had to be. Took an hour to do my hair and make-up. That was such a challenge for me. I must have really gotten used to playing a 60 year old lady that I even fooled my own brother. He visited me once and didn’t recognize me. That was so funny.

That soap opera allowed me to do so much as far as acting and experimenting. Such a wide range of emotions. I consider myself so blessed to have been chosen for that role.

Right now I’m concentrating on writing for Allure of the Phil.Star. Been writing for about 3 years. My column is titled "Between you and me". I also have begun writing for "Abante".

I thank GOD for giving me all these wonderful opportunities. HE has blessed me with so much. All these are a big part of who I am today."

Pilita Corrales Spanish song

The legendary Ms. Pilita Corrales sings in Spanish, Tagalog, and English and shows off her sexy legs all in one song: her duet with Janno Gibbs. Don't we all just love her? She's our bellisima reina de canciones, and still amazingly beautiful at the age of whatever her age is right now, which is ageless, hehe.

I was really happy because I remember that during the Latin American parade last September here in Los Angeles, Philippines was part of it, and it was televised nationally in the US, Latin America, and Spain on the Spanish language TV network Univision, which most Filipinos think, ah it's a Spanish language network, it's not important, actually it is, because regardless of it being in Spanish, it gets higher ratings than most of the major English language networks, last year it was the 3rd highest ranking network in the United States, #1 is ABC, #2 NBC, #3 Univision, and Fox, the CW, and MyTV are #4-6, so a lot of people were watching when the song during the part where Philippines was walking down the parade was a Pilita Corrales song, and the announcer said, "What a beautiful dance the Filipinos have, tan cariñosa, and what a beautiful song." I'm sure Ms. Corrales would be so happy to hear the influence she's still having on the world today.

Special thanks to Mr. Francis Magalona for the nice digital photo on the left (you rock Francis as always, you the man, compadre, keep up the great work on your music and your comedy stylings on Eat Bulaga!), which I photoshopped with an old album cover of Ms. Corrales on the right in which she looks amazingly beautiful, as always.

Pilita Corrales Guiness Book of World Records

Asia's Queen of Songs and pride of the Philippines, legendary multi-talented actress, singer, dancer, producer Pilita Corrales will be one of the numerous celebrities to attempt to set a world record in dancing for the Guiness Book of World Records to bring osteoporosis awareness to the Philippines on Oct. 20, World Osteoporosis Day at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex.

Organized by Anlene, a high-calcium milk specially formulated for women, the event hopes to gather some 10,000 participants in a dance movement.

Along with Ms. Corrales, Anlene has gathered a formidable group of endorsers --actress Dina Bonnevie, award-winning fitness aficionado Jackie Lou Blanco, dance diva Becky Garcia, former Miss Universe Margie Moran, swimming champion and television personality Akiko Thomson, and pastor/ballet dancer Rosita Gomez to promote drinking milk as an effective way to prevent osteoporosis in women. We love you Pilita! Go mama! Te queremos con todo el alma, y eres una bellísima hermosísima mujer! Mabuhay!