Jackie Lou Blanco turned her performance in The Foxtrot into a heartfelt tribute to her late mother, iconic singer Pilita Corrales, during a staging of the play on April 12—the same day Corrales’ passing was confirmed.
Blanco became visibly emotional during the curtain call, holding a rose close to her chest in a touching moment captured and shared by Issa Litton on Instagram Stories. “You are loved. You are a true professional… Honor your mom by being here,” Litton’s post read. Blanco reposted the video, adding her own tribute: “Mom, this is for you.”
The same day, the Corrales family—including Blanco, her half-brother Ramon Christopher, and niece Janine Gutierrez—released a statement confirming the music legend’s passing. No cause of death was disclosed.
Born Pilar Garrido Corrales in Cebu in August 1939, Pilita Corrales rose to fame as “Asia’s Queen of Songs,” known for her elegant stage presence and signature back bend. Over her illustrious career, she recorded more than 100 albums in multiple languages including Filipino, English, and Cebuano. Some of her most beloved hits include “Kapantay Ay Langit,” “Usahay,” and “Ang Pipit.”
Beyond her career, Corrales was a devoted mother to Jackie Lou and Ramon Christopher, her son with actor Eddie Gutierrez, and an affectionate grandmother to celebrity grandkids Janine Gutierrez and Arabella Davao.