Sylvia La Torre
Band:Manila Grand Opera House
Genres:Opera, Pop
Born:06/04/1933
Died:12/01/2022
From: Manila, Philippines
Musician Speciality:Singer/Actress/Radio
Biography:
Sylvia Reyes La Torre-Perez de Tagle (June 4, 1933 – December 1, 2022) was a Filipino singer, actress, and radio star.[1]
Early life
La Torre was born on June 4, 1933[2] to director Olive La Torre and actress Leonora Reyes.[3]
Career
Singing
La Torre’s singing career started in 1938 at the age of five, when she entered a singing competition in Manila.[4] She also attended the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music under a scholarship and also became a frequent feature at the Manila Grand Opera House.[3]
She would gain the reputation of being the “Queen of Kundiman” for performing hundreds of songs such as “Mutya ng Pasig”, “Waray-Waray” and “Maalaala Mo Kaya“.[3]
She would continue to perform, even as she emigrated to the United States. In 2017, she worked with the Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra.[5]
Radio, television, and film
La Torre was a child actress, first appearing in the 1941 film Ang Maestra. She would feature in other films made by Sampaguita Pictures.[6]
In 1960, La Torre featured in the radio program Tuloy ang Ligaya of Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) with Lita Guttierez and Oscar Obligacion.[7][8] The radio program was made into a television program known as The Big Show which was hosted by La Torre and Obligacion. Due to the success of The Big Show. ABS-CBN would offer the two to host its noontime television show Oras ng Ligaya.[8] For this, she earned the title “First Lady of Philippine Television”.
La Torre’s filmography spans until the 1990s.[5] Among her noted films are Ulila ng Bataan and Buhay Pilipino in 1952 and Nukso nang nukso in 1960.[5] She would also star in the 1988 Seiko film One Two Bato, Three Four Bapor.[3]
Personal life
La Torre was married to Celso Perez de Tagle, a dentist, with whom she had three children. Her granddaughter, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, is also an actress, known for appearing in Hannah Montana and Camp Rock.[8] La Torre was also a devout Roman Catholic.[4] Her family emigrated to the United States in the 1980s where she continued performing.[8]
Death
La Torre died in her sleep on December 1, 2022.[9]