A daughter's love, a son's peace: Jackie Lou and Monching share last moments with mom Pilita Corrales

The news arrived in the dead of night—a 2:00 AM call that instantly sparked a premonition of sorrow. For Jackie Lou Blanco and Ramon "Monching" Gutierrez, their Monday visit to their mother, the iconic Pilita Corrales, would never happen. Instead, they found themselves rushing to her side on Saturday, 12 April 2025, the day the "Asia's Queen of Songs" peacefully passed away in her sleep at the age of 87.

Speaking with gentle acceptance, Jackie Lou shared, "She died in her sleep actually, which I’m very thankful for because, you know, hindi siya nahirapan, hindi na-hospital, hindi siya in lingering illness, di ba? Para sa akin, okay na yun."

Monching echoed this sentiment, noting their mother’s declining health in recent times. "May heart problem ever since, saka lately yung memory ganyan, di ba? Pero health-wise, okay naman siya."

While the exact moment of her passing remains unknown—with Jackie Lou musing, "But we don’t know if she had an attack during that sleep. We don’t know. But I mean, it doesn’t matter… but we don’t know"—Monching offered a simple, comforting truth: "Hindi na namin inalam. Basta she was sleeping."

Despite the impending visit on Monday, the siblings admitted that end-of-life discussions were never a part of their conversations with their beloved mother. "Hindi namin napag-usapan ang tungkol sa ganito. Kami na lang ang nag-decide kung i-ke-cremate siya o ganyan, kami na lang ang nag-decide. Wala siyang ganun e," explained Monching.

However, Jackie Lou expressed a deep certainty about her mother’s spiritual readiness. "I believe she was," she affirmed. "My mom was very prayerful. In this past ano… every Sunday, pumupunta yung priest dun, and they give her Holy Communion with my stepdad. I know she was prepared. She made peace with her Maker, alam ko yun. Because my mom is very prayerful, very spiritual."

The emotional weight of their loss became palpable when Jackie Lou was asked if there were any unsaid words for her mother. With heartfelt sincerity, she replied that everything that needed to be said had been shared during their time together.

"Just to tell her how much I love her, and to thank her for everything," Jackie Lou expressed, her voice thick with emotion. "And to tell her that I will continue to honor her by the way I work, the way I live, by telling people how wonderful she is, and just to say thank you, thank you so much for bringing up me and Mond the best way she could. I will miss her so much. I will miss how wonderful she smells. She smells so good."

Jackie Lou marveled at her mother's inspiring outlook on life. "But she lived the best life, and I would give a standing ovation to her. For everything that she’s achieved in her career, in the way na she carried herself, with always so much grace despite minsan nahihirapan, minsan may mga trials. She would always say, 'Tomorrow is another day. Ang problema nandiyan, minsan nandiyan ang solusyon, minsan wala. But in the meantime... hold your head high and do the best that you can.'"

As the final day of the wake approaches on Wednesday, 16 April, the family is yet to decide on the interment, considering both Himlayang Pilipino, where Pilita's mother and brother rest, and the possibility of keeping her ashes at home for a while. "For now, hindi pa kami maka-decide sa family if they want to bring her to Himlayan... So, I think what we will do is probably bring home her ashes until we’ve made that decision for her. Parang right now, we really don’t know," Jackie Lou shared with a wistful smile.

Amidst their grief, both Jackie Lou and Monching find solace in the beautiful legacy their mother leaves behind – a legacy of kindness and warmth that touched not only her family but also countless individuals in the entertainment industry.

"Yun yung legacy na iniwan ni Mommy. Ahh, parang when people think of her, the people who have met her always has kind words to say, di ba? Walang masamang tinapay sa nanay namin, e. And that is such a gift for us," Monching reflected. "In this time na… is very difficult for us, di ba? If you need anybody that she has met, yun at yun ang sinasabi, nakaka-warm ng heart. Kahit papano, naiibsan yung nararamdaman because Mommy is not there."

Jackie Lou emphasized the powerful example her mother set for her children and grandchildren. "And I also tell the kids that this is something that… this is something that you will have to continue. You honor your Mamita by doing good, being a good person, being excellent in whatever field of work. Lalo na yung mga anak namin na nasa business, di ba? So, regalo yun and at the same time malaking responsibilidad din, because we have to honor her by continuing kung ano yung mga naiwan niya sa amin, kay Monching, sa mga apo niya."

Their final words were a heartfelt expression of gratitude. "A million thanks sa lahat. Si Mommy very generous kasi yan," said Jackie Lou. Monching added, "A million thanks din sa [mga tao] that pray for her, at saka yung mga well-wishers."

In their shared grief and cherished memories, Jackie Lou and Monching painted a poignant picture of a beloved mother, an icon who lived a full life, and whose spirit will undoubtedly continue to resonate in the hearts of those she touched.