Armida Siguion-Reyna passes away at 88

MANILA, Philippines–Singer-actress Armida Siguion-Reyna passed away on Monday. She was 88.

A source, who requested anonymity, has confirmed the sad news, despite the decision of the Siguion-Reyna family and their close friends to keep mum about her death for the meantime.

The family, however, will release a formal statement on Tuesday morning, added the source.

Also unsure, as of posting time, is her cause of death, who was also a producer, TV show host, and was a chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in the late 90s.

In an interview in May 2018, Siguion-Reyna’s granddaughter, actress Cris Villonco, said the latter felt the “loss” when her husband Leonardo passed away in 2010.

However, “the doctors have cleared her of anything, so she is very well.” Villonco added.

Villonco added that her grandmother could still recognize people, although she said: “She’ll confuse us (with someone else sometimes). She would still sing because we sing to her. At least alam natin nandoon pa rin siya.”

Armida Siguion-Reyna

Siguion-Reyna is the mother of Cris’ mom, Monique, a former magazine editor, as well as to filmmaker Carlitos. She’s the half-sister of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

On television, she produced and hosted the award-winning show “Aawitan Kita.”

On the big screen, she was last seen in the Joel Lamangan family drama “Filipinas” in 2003.

In February 2018, her biographical book titled “Armida: The Singer and the Song” was launched, in which author Nelson Navarro detailed “the life and times of an independent-minded, forthright and unstoppable artist.”

Of Siguion-Reyna, Navarro said: “She has no secrets. Fear was never in her vocabulary. Love her or hate her, she is herself.”

As a producer, Siguion-Reyna produced and starred in her own 16-mm film musicals such as “Dung-aw,” “Lakambini,” “Supremo,” “Pagpatak ng Ulan,” and “Sisa.” She had two film production companies: Pera Films and Reyna Films, which she comanaged with son Carlitos.

Siguion-Reyna recorded musical albums such as the two volumes of “Aawitan Kita,” as well as “Armida”and “Sa Lungkot at Saya… Aawitan Kita.” /atm

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