Wherever I am, the world comes after me. It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it. Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist. "The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver
Asia’s Queen of Song and AC’s 1st Asia Culture Awardee, Pilita Corrales passes away
Asia’s Queen of Song and AC’s 1st Asia Culture Awardee, Pilita Corrales passes away
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Asia’s Queen of Song, Ms. Pilita Corrales, passed away on 12 April 2025. Ms. Corrales was 85. During the 2023 Asia Concert: “Rasa Asia”, she was awarded the UP Asian Center’s 1st Asia Culture Award. Her daughter, Jackielou Blanco, received the award on her behalf on 26 November 2023 at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium.
PILITA CORRALES (1939-2025)
Ms. Pilita Corrales, a distinguished artist hailing from Manila and raised in Cebu, embodies the epitome of a transcultural artist. Fluent in Tagalog, Spanish, English, and Visayan, she has dynamically contributed to representing and propagating Asian culture through her extraordinary musical career. Breaking barriers early on, she secured her place in history as the first Filipino and female artist to achieve a Top Ten Hit in Australia with "Come Closer to You." After winning the top prize at the Tokyo Music Festival in 1972, she was dubbed as "Asia's Queen of Songs." Ms. Pilita Corrales has performed globally, captivating audiences in Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. Her versatility extends beyond music, as she excelled in radio, television, and film, hosting the celebrated show Evening with Pilita. Ms. Pilita Corrales has received numerous awards for her outstanding contributions, including the prestigious Philippine Association of the Record Industry Lifetime Achievement Award and the FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award. Her enduring impact as an artist is undeniable, with albums like the Philippine Love Songs Volume I and Tagalog Kundiman which solidify her legacy for bringing Filipino and Asian musical artistry on the national, regional, and global stage.
ABOUT THE ASIA CULTURE AWARD
The Asia Culture Award seeks to honor visionary artists and public intellectuals who have showcased the rich culture of the Philippines and Asia on the national, regional, and global stages. This prestigious award stands as a testament to the remarkable endeavors of those who have dedicated their craft to bridging cultures, transcending borders, and capturing the essence of their Asian heritage. By presenting this award, the Asian Center not only celebrates its decades long journey but also embarks on a renewed chapter of advancing cultural exchange and the appreciation of the connection between culture, identity, and the world.
The UP Asian Center offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. The Center offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. The Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website. For other news and upcoming events at the Asian Center, click here.
