Armida Siguion-Reyna

Armida Siguion–Reyna (November 4, 1930 – February 11, 2019) was a Filipino singer, film and stage actress, producer and television show host. She was the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board during the Estrada administration from 1998 to 2001.

Armida Siguion–Reyna
Chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
In office
June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001
PresidentJoseph Estrada
Preceded byJesus C. Sison
Succeeded byNicanor Tiongson
Personal details
Born
Armida Liwanag Ponce Enrile

(1930-11-04)4 November 1930
Malabon, Rizal, Philippine Islands
Died11 February 2019(2019-02-11) (aged 88)
Makati, Philippines

Early life and education

Armida Siguion-Reyna was born as Armida Liwanag Ponce Enrile[1] on November 4, 1930[2] in Malabon,[3] the daughter of Alfonso Ponce Enrile, her Spanish mestizo father who was a lawyer and regional politician, and Purita Liwanag, her mother who was one of the early graduates of the University of the Philippines College of Music.[4][5] Siguion-Reyna spent her childhood with her parents and siblings in their house in Malabon.[5] She studied at the Far Eastern University and Philippine Women's University, which are both in Manila.[6][4] She also studied at the United States for her high school and college education.[5] She completed high school at Academy of St. Joseph in New York, although, she did not finish her college studies at the Georgian Court University in New Jersey after being broken-hearted.[4][5]

When Siguion-Reyna was 18 years of age, she and her sister, artist Irma Potenciano,[7] met their half-brother Juan Ponce Enrile who was 21 years old then.[4][5][lower-alpha 1]

Career

Theatrical roles

In the world of operas, Siguion-Reyna performed lead singing roles in "Lucia de Lammermoor," "Rigoletto," "La Traviata," "I Pagliacci," "The Merry Widow," and the zarzuela "Ang Mestiza" (The Mestiza).[6]

Television

Siguion-Reyna was the presenter for the television programmes "Cooking Atbp." ("Cooking etc.") and the award-winning "Áawitan Kita" ("I Will Sing for You").[6] "Áawitan Kita" aired for over 30 years and was one of longest-running musical television shows in the Philippines.[8][9]

Music

Siguion-Reyna recorded musical albums such as the two volumes of "Aawitan Kita" (Villar Records), "Armida" (Dyna Music), and "Sa Lungkot at Saya... Aawitan Kita" ("In Sadness and Happiness... I Will Sing For You," Viva Records).[10]

Film

In 1975, Siguion-Reyna was awarded best supporting actress during the Bacolod Film Festival for her performance in the film "Sa Pagitan ng Dalawang Langit" ("In Between Two Heavens").[11] Later on she would be well known for collaborations with big names actresses such as Alma Moreno and a kontrabida (villain) to actresses Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor in several films. She is well known for also co-producing films with her son and having Maricel Soriano and Rosanna Roces in films and Dawn Zulueta these actresses have been in two films of Siguion-Reyna.

Producer

As a producer, Siguion-Reyna produced and starred in her own 16-mm film musicals entitled "Dung-aw," "Lakambini," "Supremo" (on the life on Andrés Bonifacio), "Pagpatak ng Ulan" ("When The Rain Falls"), and "Sisa." She had two film production companies. Her Pera Films company produced the movies "Laruang Apoy" ("Playing Fire") and "Bilanggong Birhen" ("Jailed Virgin"). She managed Reyna Films Company with her son Carlitos, who was a two-time award recipient.[6]

As a public servant

During the Presidency of Joseph Estrada, Siguion-Reyna was appointed as the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in 1998.[2] She was known to be an advocate of freedom of speech and artistic liberties in film.[12][13] Even before she became the chairperson of MTRCB, she fought against censorship and together with peers like Lino Brocka, Behn Cervantes and Ishmael, they had protested the actions of Siguion-Reyna's predecessors, specifically Manuel Morato and Henrietta Mendez.[5][14]

When she was MTRCB's chair, her board members consisted of anti-censorship people.[15] They were lenient in rating films to be shown publicly in theaters.[15] Though, she was criticized for being biased on film produced by her own production outfit and by her friends.[15] She countered her critics and said that the board did not grant permits to films showing purely sexual content and thus, the films were given X-rating, which means that those films were not suitable to be shown in cinemas.[15]

Her term ended in 2001 after Estrada was ousted through the Second EDSA Revolution.[15]

Death

Siguion-Reyna died of cancer in Makati at the age of 88, on February 11, 2019.[4]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleFilm Company
2012BwakawAliciaStar Cinema
2003FilipinasFlorencia FilipinasVIVA Films
1996Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa AkinImaReyna Films
1995Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa AkinAlmedaReyna Films
1991Shake, Rattle & Roll IIIMrs. RedobladoRegal Entertainment
1991Una Kang Naging AkinDoña Margarita SorianoVIVA Films
1991Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M.Mrs. EstrellaMRN Films
1989Wanted: Pamilya BanalDoña Marissa BanalFPJ Productions
1988Hati Tayo sa MagdamagDoña Concha SevillaVIVA Films
1988Ibulong Mo sa DiyosPortia QuijanoRegal Entertainment
1986Magdusa Ka!Doña Perla DolienteVIVA Films
1986Inday, Inday sa BalitawIsabel PabustanRegal Films
1986I Love You, Mama, I Love You, PapaDoña Aurora VillenaRegal Entertainment
1985Kailan Sasabihing Mahal Kita?Señora Amelia AbelardoVIVA Films
1985PartidaDoña LucilaFPJ Productions
1984SomewhereDoña Corazon MorenaVIVA Films
1983Paano Ba ang Mangarap?Señora Francia MonteverdeVIVA Films
1977Mga Bilanggong BirhenFelipaPERA Films

Notes
  1. Based on the sources given here, it seems that Juan Ponce Enrile is three years older than Armida Siguion-Reyna but other sources say that their ages are six years apart since those other sources describe Ponce Enrile being born on 1924[lower-alpha 2] while Siguion-Reyna on 1930.[lower-alpha 3]
  2. Bueza, Michael (February 14, 2014). "10 things you may not know about JPE". Rappler. Retrieved February 13, 2019.

References
  1. TIongson, Nicanor G. (April 25, 2010). "The Many Roles of Armida". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  2. "Kundiman stalwart Armida Siguion-Reyna, 88". BusinessWorld. February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  3. Riazzoli, Mirko (2017). A Chronology of the Cinema Volume 1 From the pioneers to 1960. Youcanprint. ISBN 9788892685482.
  4. Salterio, Leah C. (February 11, 2019). "'She has art in her heart': Armida Siguion-Reyna dies at 88". ABS-CBN News.
  5. Enriquez, Marge C. (February 23, 2015). "Armida's life and times recounted in biography". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  6. "Armida Siguion-Reyna". globalpinoy.com. Cultural Heritage. 2006. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  7. Lo, Ricky (February 12, 2019). "Curtain call for Armida Siguion-Reyna". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  8. "Palace condoles with kin of late entertainment icon Armida Siguion-Reyna". ABS-CBN News. February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  9. Santiago, Ervin (February 24, 2015). "'Aawitan Kita' star Armida Siguion-Reyna launches biography". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  10. Aguilar, Krissy (February 12, 2019). "Entertainment personalities mourn passing of Armida Siguion-Reyna". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  11. Relativo, James (February 11, 2019). "Armida Siguion-Reyna yumao sa edad na 88". The Philippine Star (in Tagalog). Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  12. "'Armida': A biography". The Manila Times. February 28, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  13. Lopez, Virgil (February 12, 2019). "Palace hails life of 'principled citizen' Armida Siguion-Reyna". GMA News. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  14. Cañares-Yamsuan, Cathy (February 23, 2015). "'Aawitan Kita': In biography, Armida Siguion-Reyna faces the music". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  15. Godinez, Bong (September 21, 2007). "MTRCB heads that said "Cut!"". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
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