(from left) Pilita Corrales, Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, Jackie Lou Blanco, Diego Gutierrez. Photo: Jackie Lou Blanco Instagram 

MANILA, Philippines – Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales died in her sleep, according to her children Jackie Lou Blanco and Ramon Christopher “Monching” Gutierrez. 

In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Tuesday, April 14, Gutierrez and Blanco looked back at their mother’s final moments, thankful that she did not have to suffer in sickness during her last days. 

“She died in her sleep, actually, which I am very thankful for. Because hindi na nahirapan. Hindi [siya] na-hospital, hindi siya lingering illness, diba? So, parang sa akin, okay na ‘yun (She didn’t have a hard time. She wasn’t rushed to the hospital. She didn’t have a lingering illness, right? So for me, that is okay),” Blanco said. 

The 85-year-old singer did not have any “lingering illness” according to her children but always had a ‘heart problem.” 

Gutierrez also mentioned that her memory has been affected by her age but had always been healthy. 

“But we don’t know if she had an attack during her sleep. I don’t know. I mean it doesn’t matter na naman,” Blanco said. 

Blanco and Gutierrez said they were informed about their mother’s passing through a call from Corrales’ husband at 2 am on April 12 as well as from their non-showbiz half-sibling. 

At one point, Blanco burst into tears when asked of her final message to her mother. 

“I will continue to honor her by the way I work, by the way I live, by telling people how wonderful she is. And just to say thank you, thank you so much for bringing me up, [Mon and I], in the best way that she could. We will miss her so much. I will miss how wonderful she smelled. She smelled so good, no? She always smelled so good,” she said. 

Corrales is one of the most celebrated singers in the country with a career spanning over seven decades. 

She was known for the hits “Kapantay ay Langit,” “Dahil Sa’yo,” “Ikaw Ang Mahal Ko,” “Langis at Tubig” and “A Million Thanks To You,” among many others. 

She was also remembered for her movies such as “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall” (1988), “Andrew Ford Medina” (1991), “Darna” (1994) and many others.