First Lady of Philippine Television Sylvia La Torre Passes Away

The "Queen of Kundiman" and the "First Lady of Philippine Television" Sylvia La Torre passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 1, 2022, her granddaughter, actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, confirms. She was 89 years old. The singer leaves behind a legacy as a trailblazer for female Filipino performers everywhere.

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>p>pAs the daughter of director Olive La Torre and artist Leonora Reyes, the singer came from a distinguished family of cultural workers, La Torre became an icon in Filipino music and entertainment. Born in 1933, she started singing at just five years old and at the age of seven, she would go on to act in Ang Maestra in 1941. La Torre made her stage debut at nine, and would find herself becoming a fixture at the Manila Grand Opera House. She would then pursue her education at the University of Santo Tomas’ Conservatory of Music. She was both a working singer and a scholar.>pALSO READ:>pA Life in Color and Refuge: Beloved Painter Betsy Westendorp Passes Away at 94>pSinger, Events Master Stephen Ku Passes Away; Tributes Pour In>pIn the following decade, she would build a prolific recording career. During the '50s, she was able to record roughly 300 songs, including folk hits like "Waray Waray" and "Mutya ng Pasig," among others. This was when she was given the moniker, "Queen of Kundiman." Meanwhile, she would achieve her "First Lady" status when she co-hosted Oras ng Ligaya back in the '60s. As an actress, she is best remembered for films like Ulila ng Bataan and Buhay Pilipino in 1952, as well as Nukso nang nukso in 1960. Her filmography spanned roughly five decades, from the '40s to the '90s.>pShe would settle in Southern California, where she would continue her singing career. In 2017, she worked with the Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra. This would earn her the Excellence in Music Award.>p"My grandmother was my first inspiration when it came to singing and acting. She was my first vocal coach and taught me all of her kundimans. Thank you for passing on your love of music to me and I will surely continue your legacy," her granddaugher wrote.>p