Sylvia La Torre, a renowned performer known as the “Queen of Kundiman” and the First Lady of Philippine Television, passed away at 89. Her granddaughter, the actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, announced her passing on Friday, December 2.
In a statement, Anna stated that Sylvia passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 1 at 7:02 a.m. in front of her 68-year-old husband, Celso Perez de Tagle and their three children, Artie, Bernie, and Cheche.
Everyone is grieving and devastated, expressing their condolences on social media, and praying for her eternal life.
The “Queen of Kundiman” is a Filipino singer, actor, and radio personality born Sylvia La Torre on June 4, 1933, in Manila, Philippines. La Torre is the daughter of director Olive La Torre and Filipino artist Leonora Reyes.
She is the mother of the on-screen couple Bernie Pérez and Cheche. She was their early singing teacher and the grandmother of Sarita Perez de Tagle, an actress, and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, an actress and singer.
She distinguished herself in every sphere of Philippine entertainment, including theatre and film, as well as radio, television, and records. La Torre’s theatre career began when she was nine years old with her first live stage performance at the Manila Grand Opera House.
In a prior interview, she reflected on her career as an actress and singer, saying, “I enjoyed and learned so many things playing with senior actors and actresses. “We had three shows a day. This demanding schedule gave my voice greater strength and authority.
The multi-talented La Torre gained popularity for her appearances on radio and television in the 1950s and 1960s. She portrayed Ibyang in a radio programme that was eventually made into a TV series.
She also spent more than ten years hosting, performing, and singing on the popular 1960s television programme Oras ng Ligaya. The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra gave La Torre the Excellence in Music Award in 2017.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
