Armida Siguion-Reyna dies at 88

BRAVE, straightforward and always speaking her mind out. That was how a lot of people remember Armida Siguion-Reyna, singer, actress, TV/film producer. Yet, she was nonetheless well-loved up to her final days.

Siguion-Reyna passed away at the Makati Medical Center on Monday afternoon at the age of 88 due to cancer, according to her sister, Irma Potenciano.

Siguion-Reyna was the daughter of Purita Liwanag, one of the early graduates of the University of the Philippines College of Music.

Siguion-Reyna was only in her late teens when she became engrossed with the cinema and the performing arts. Her aunt, pre-war pioneer female film director Carmen Concha, ignited her love for acting and the movies, as well.

When she was eight, Siguion-Reyna appeared in a film, “Yaman ng Mahirap,” directed by Concha. The film also featured then child star Tita Duran.

In the world of opera, Siguion-Reyna tackled lead roles in “Lucia de Lammermoor,” “Rigoletto,” “The Merry Widow,” “La Traviata,” “I Pagliacci” and the zarzuela, “The Mestiza.”

In 1970, Siguion-Reyna produced “Aawitan Kita,” one of the longest-running musical shows on Philippine TV that lasted for more than three decades. The program was supported by big-time clients of her husband’s law firm, so sponsors never became a major issue.

Eventually, “Aawitan Kita” paved the way for Siguion-Reyna’s other passion, acting. For “Tahan na Empoy,” she made life miserable for the young Nino Muhlach and that performance won for her the FAMAS best supporting actress trophy.

Through the years, Siguion-Reyna acted in a number of films – “Kakabakaba Ka Ba?,” “Sa Pagitan ng Dalawang Langit,” “Salome,” ”Bilanggong Birhen,” “Paradise Inn,” “Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M,” “Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin,” “Pag-ibig na Walang Dangal.”

She worked with such actresses as Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor, Alma Moreno, Maricel Soriano, Sharon Cuneta, Dawn Zulueta and Rosanna Roces.

Quijano de Manila, more widely known as Nick Joaquin, once said, “Armida may have law in her blood, but she has art in her heart.” (ABS-CBN News)