ARMIDA played lead singing roles in theater, hosted television programs, starred in films and co-produced movies with her son, Carlitos.

She is best known for kundiman music, going beyond recording two volumes of Aawitan Kita, to performing for her fellow Makati citizens in her later years to spread her passion for the genre.

Armida Siguion-Reyna (4 November 1930 — 11 February 2019) was a pillar in the entertainment industry. She played lead singing roles in theater, hosted television programs, starred in films and co-produced movies with her son, Carlitos. Their Reyna Films produced films like Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin.

“Her voice, whether singing kundiman or advocating free expression will be missed by many of us, so we pray for the eternal repose of her soul and may perpetual light shine upon her,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing yesterday.

Malacañang expressed its deepest sympathies to the bereaved family, friends and colleagues of the former Movie Television Review Classification Board chairperson, who passed away on Monday due to a lingering illness.

YOUNG Armida Siguion-Reyna. Photo from the Facebook page of Bibeth Orteza. “The entertainment world has lost one of its pillars,” Panelo added.

Siguion-Reyna was also a columnist of the Daily Tribune for a few years from 2000 onwards.

“She happened to be the sister of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. The Philippines, particularly the music, television and film industries, had been immense in terms of the contribution of the late Armida Siguion-Reyna,” he continued.

Panelo also extended condolences to the Enriles. The 88-year-old thespian was the half-sister of the former Senate President.

Siguion-Reyna was praised by the official for being one of the trailblazers of Philippine television, particularly with “Aawitan Kita,” a show the singer-actress hosted and produced for more than 30 years.

The Palace official lauded Siguion-Reyna for fearlessly letting her voice be heard on various social issues.

“Now if you look at her biography, specifically that biographical book, fear was not in her vocabulary, and if you have witnessed how this woman faced her detractors as well as her critics, immediately you will know that this woman was one who had an independent mind of her own and a principled citizen at that, and she had demonstrated this kind of character all throughout her career, specifically when she was the chairman of the MTRCB where she defended artistic liberties in cinema,” he stated.

Siguion-Reyna passed away at the Makati Medical Center on Monday afternoon after a long battle with cancer.

“We will be holding a memorial service at the Heritage Memorial Park from 12 February, Tuesday, to 15 February, 11 p.m. Please join us in celebrating her life. We request you to bring your throughts, prayers and fondest memories of Armida,” wrote Bibeth Orteza, wife of Carlitos and Armida’s daughter-in law.