The indomitable Armida Siguion-Reyna

Growing up watching “Aawitan kita,” a show that lasted for over three decades, left an incredible imprint not only in my memory but also in the way I approached my love for art. I never really knew the iconic Armida Siguion-Reyna, but for some strange ( as some people will think and I will tell you why shortly) yet absolutely serendipitous reason, I was blessed to have in her granddaughter, Dara Siguion-Reyna Villonco, a sisterhood that has grown since we were 16 years old. Dara and I will never forget how at the height of the censorship war, she and I were terribly horrified to visit each other’s homes as I was a Morató and she was a Siguion-Reyna. If not for our beautiful mothers who loved us both like their own daughters, our friendship would not have stood the test of time.

As I mentioned earlier, I never knew Tita Mids but, in a way, I knew her because her spirit was so alive in my dear friend Dara. Armida Siguion-Reyna, as Dara always tells me, was her first teacher on tolerance. Tita Mids didn’t care about how rich or how poor you were, how straight or how gay you were, as long as you were smart, hardworking and willing to learn. Armida as Dara says, was a real professional. She never put up with silly excuses and demanded only the best out of everyone including her own grandchildren. Armida was tough. So very tough. But even in the moments where she yelled at you, Armida never failed to pull you aside and explain why she got upset. She was both genuine and professional. In an age where actors ate differently from the rest of the crew, Armida never demanded special treatment. She ate what the crew ate and if she had something special, she made sure to share it with everyone.

Dara always told me that, if there was one great thing she would share about her grandmother,  it would be her passion in preserving old Filipino classics and making it accessible to everyone. Dara, her siblings and the rest of her cousins  fondly called their grandmother “Mahal,” a name that perfectly describes exactly how grand Armida Siguion-Reyna was. She lived her life fiercely and boldly without compromise and by doing so, her very own grandchildren  developed within themselves the same vigor and standard for professionalism.

Like I said, I never really knew the legendary Armida Siguion-Reyna but, I got to know her through the eyes of my dear friend. Paalam Mahal. You live forever in the hearts of the Filipino people. The industry will never be the same without you, but your memory lives forever.