Singer, actress, entertainer and film producer Armida Siguion-Reyna will be missed by Filipinos, Malacañang said Tuesday following her death on Monday at the age of 88.
“The entertainment world has lost one of its pillars and the Palace expresses its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Armida Siguion-Reyna,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters.
Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile mourned the passing of his half-sister who succumbed to cancer.
“My entire family, my sisters and brothers, my nephews and nieces, their children and husbands and grandchildren are all sad in announcing to the Filipino nation that my sister, who has served the country in her capacity as an entertainer and a singer, has passed away,” Enrile said.
“She is a big loss to us.”
Panelo said Siguion-Reyna, who headed the Movie and Television Review Classification Board during the Estrada administration, “immensely contributed” to the music, television and film industries.
“Her voice, whether singing kundimans 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,” Panelo said.
He recalled Siguion-Reyna’s works such as Anak Dalita and Dahil Sa’yo. He also admired Siguion-Reyna’s pluck.
“If you look at her biography, specifically that biographical book, fear was not in her vocabulary,” Panelo said.
“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 and was a principled citizen.” With Macon Ramos-Araneta