Honoring the pillars of Philippine arts and culture

In the span of just a few months, the Philippines bid farewell to a constellation of cultural icons: Nora Aunor, Pilita Corrales, Hajji Alejandro, and Freddie Aguilar in April and May 2025, following Gloria Romero in January and Delia Razon in March. These names are not merely prominent figures in the arts — they are pillars of Philippine identity, whose voices, faces, and stories have helped shape the nation's soul across generations.

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Each of these artists defined an era.

Nora Aunor, “The Superstar,” was more than a singer and actress—she was a symbol of aspiration and resilience, breaking barriers for the marginalized and setting the gold standard for cinematic artistry. She has been recognized as a National Artist for Film and Broadcast. Pilita Corrales, Asia’s Queen of Songs, brought elegance and global recognition to Filipino music with her multilingual performances and pioneering television presence. Hajji Alejandro’s smooth ballads captured the romance and spirit of the 1970s, while Freddie Aguilar’s stirring anthems gave voice to the struggles of the common Filipino, most notably with “Anak,” a song that transcended borders and generations.