Sylvia La Torre
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Sylvia Reyes La Torre-Perez de Tagle (June 4, 1933 – December 1, 2022) was a Filipino singer, actress, and radio star.


Early life

La Torre was born on June 4, 1933, to director Olive La Torre and actress Leonora Reyes.


Career


Singing

La Torre's singing career started in 1938 at the age of five, when she entered a singing competition in
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
. 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 and the Clover Theater. She would gain the reputation of being the "Queen of
Kundiman Kundiman is a genre of traditional Filipino ballads, predominantly with romantic themes. The lyrics of the kundiman are written in Tagalog. The melody is characterized by a smooth, flowing and gentle rhythm with dramatic intervals. Kundima ...
" for performing hundreds of songs such as "Mutya ng Pasig", "Waray-Waray" and "
Maalaala Mo Kaya (, abbreviated as ''MMK'') is a Philippine television drama anthology series broadcast by ABS-CBN and Kapamilya Channel. Hosted by Charo Santos-Concio, its first iteration was aired from May 15, 1991 to December 10, 2022. It is the longest ...
". She also recorded "Sa Kabukiran", "Katakataka", "No Money No Honey", "Batangueña", "Alembong", "Sa Libis ng Nayon", "Basta’t Mahal Kita". Most of her recording were produced by Villar Records. She would continue to perform, even as she emigrated to the United States. In 2017, she worked with the Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra.


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 Sampaguita Pictures was a Philippine film production company. It was named for the Philippine national flower, sampaguita. Though no longer functioning, the company's Sampaguita Compound remains in Quezon City. History Sampaguita Pictures was e ...
. She appeared as Sebya in the radio series ''Sebya Mahal Kita,'' with Pugo and Rosa Aguirre. In 1960, La Torre featured in the radio program ''Tuloy ang Ligaya'' of
Manila Broadcasting Company The Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), doing business as the MBC Media Group, is a multimedia company in the Philippines. It is currently owned by the FJE Group of Companies of Fred J. Elizalde, which also operates hotels and Pasay-based amusem ...
(MBC) with Lita Guttierez and Oscar Obligacion. 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''. For this, she earned the title "First Lady of Philippine Television". She was a regular on the radio series ''Tang Tarang Tang'' and the TV sitcom of the same name, where she starred with comedians Pugo and Bentot. She also starred in the film adaptation of ''Tang Tarang Tang'' and its sequel ''My Little Kuwan.'' La Torre's filmography spans until the 1990s. Among her noted films are ''Ulila ng Bataan'' and ''Buhay Pilipino'' in 1952 and ''Nukso nang Nukso'' in 1960. She also starred in the 1988
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film '' One Two Bato, Three Four Bapor''.


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 ''Hannah Montana'' is an American teen sitcom created by Michael Poryes, Rich Correll, and Barry O'Brien that aired on Disney Channel for four seasons between March2006 and January2011. The series centers on Miley Stewart (played by Miley Cy ...
'' and ''
Camp Rock ''Camp Rock'' is a 2008 musical television film directed by Matthew Diamond from a screenplay by Karin Gist, Regina Hicks, Julie Brown, and Paul Brown. The 73rd Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), the film stars Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, ...
''. La Torre was also a devout
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
. Her family emigrated to the United States in the 1980s where she continued performing.


Death

La Torre died in her sleep on December 1, 2022.


Filmography

*1941 - ''Ang Maestra'' *1949 - ''Biro ng Tadhana'' *1952 - ''Buhay Pilipino'' *1952 - ''Ulila ng Bataan'' *1952 - ''Gorio at Tekla'' *1953 - ''Munting Koronel'' *1953 - ''Ang Asawa Kong Americana'' *1958 - ''My Little Kuwan'' *1959 - ''Puro Utos, Puro Utos'' *1959 - ''Nukso ng Nukso'' *1960 - ''Yantok Mindoro'' *1961 - ''Oh Sendang'' *1962 - ''Tang-taran-tang'' *1963 - ''Sakay and Moy'' *1974 - ''Oh Maggie Oh'' *1978 - ''Chimoy at Chimay'' *1987 - ''Jack & Jill'' as Doña Estrella "Star" Bartolome *1989 - ''M&M, the Incredible Twins'' *1989 - '' One Two Bato, Three Four Bapor'' *1993 - ''Ligaw-ligawan Kasal-kasalan Bahay-bahayan'' *1997 - ''Biyudo Si Daddy, Biyuda Si Mommy'' *2001–2002 - '' Biglang Sibol, Bayang Impasibol''


Discography

*''Akala'y Totoo (Pangarap Lang Pala)'' *''Ako Ay Iyo'' - 1959 *''Ako'y Kampupot'' - 1954 *''Ako'y Lumuluha'' *''Ako'y Nagmamahal'' - 1961 *''Alak (record)'' - 1965 *''Alembong'' - 1958 *''Alibambang'' *''Aling Kutsero'' - 1956 *''Anak ni Waray'' - 1959 *''Ano Ba'' - 1959 *''Ang Giliw Na Ibig Ko'' - 1960 *''Ang Dalagang Nayon'' *''Ang Hirap Kay' Inday'' *''Ang Kasing-Kasing ko'' *''Ang Langit Ko'y Ikaw'' *''Ang Paglalaba'' *''Ano Ba'' *''Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran'' - 1955 *'' Arimunding-Munding'' - 1953 *''Asahan Mo'' *''Atik'' *''Awat na Adyang'' - 1961 *''Ay Anong Saklap'' - 1960 *''Ay Kalisud'' - 1954 *"Babalik Ka Rin" *"Bahala Na" - 1956 *" Bahay-Kubo (Sylvia)" - 1966 *"Bakit Mo Ako Pinaluha" *"Banahaw" *"Basang Sisiw" *"Basta't Mahal Kita" - 1959 *"Batanguena" - 1954 *"Binatang Kapampangan" *"Bingwit ng Pag-ibig" *"Binibiro Lamang Kita" *"Biru-Biruan" *"
Bituing Marikit ''Bituing Marikit'' is the first full-length film produced by Sampaguita Pictures, released in 1937. It starred Elsa Oria and Rogelio de la Rosa. The kundiman ''Bituing Marikit'' composed by Nicanor Abelardo was used as the film's theme song. The ...
" - 1952 *"Buhay sa Nayon" *"Bulaklak at Paru-Paro" - 1954 *" Carinosa" *"Chimoy at Chimay" - 1973 *"Dadaldal-Daldal" *"Dahil Sa Polka" - 1965 *" Dahil sa Iyo" *"Dahil sa Polka" *"Dalaga't Binata" *"Dankasi'y Tuwis Ka ng Tuwis" (1962) *"Di Magtataksil" *"Di Mahahadlangan" *''Easy Ka Lang Padre'' - 1956 *''Etcetera...Etcetera...Etcetera...'' - 1966 *''Ewan Ko Ba'' - 1962 *''Fiesta'' - 1960 *''Galawgaw'' - 1955 *''Ginintuang Ani'' - 1954 *''Gintong Silahis'' - 1954 *''Golpe de Gulat'' - 1967 *''Granada (Sylvia)'' - 1968 *''Habang May Buhay'' - 1965 *''Halikan Mo Ako Darling'' - 1959 *''Halina't Magsaya'' *''Handang Matodas'' *''Hanee-Hanee'' *''Hanggang Langit'' *''Hanggang sa Mag-Umaga'' *''Hijo de Familia'' *''Hindi Basta-Basta'' - 1956 *''Hindi Na Nagbalik'' *''Hirap ng Umibig'' *''Huwag Ka Sanang Pikon'' - 1962 *''Ibong Sawi'' - 1953 *''Ikaw'' *''Ikaw Kasi'' - 1956 *''Ikinalulungkot Ko'' *''Ilang-Ilang'' - 1954 *''Inday Palalayasin Kita'' *''Irog Kay Sarap'' *''Irog Ko'' *''Irog ng Buhay'' *''Irogm Nasaan ang Pag-ibig'' *''Isang Aral'' - 1967 *''Iyung-Iyo'' *''Jukebox Rock'' *''Kalesa'' - 1959 *''Kasalanan Ba ang Umibig'' *''Kasing Bango ng Pagsinta'' - 1954 *'' Katakataka'' *''Katimbang ng Buhay'' *''Katuwaan'' *''Kikisay-Kisay'' *''Kulasisi'' - 1954 *''Kumare, Kumpadre'' 1952 (Sylvia La Torre & Alfred La Roza) *''Kung Akoy Iibig'' *''Kung Kita'y Kapiling'' *''Kung Nagsasayaw'' *''Laba-Laba-Laba'' *''Lalake at Lamok'' *''Larawan ng Pagsinta'' *''Lawiswis Kawayan'' - 1954 *''Lihim Kitang Iniibig'' *'' Luha'' *''Luha sa Hatinggabi'' *''Luha sa Kalipay'' - 1954 *''
Maalaala Mo Kaya (, abbreviated as ''MMK'') is a Philippine television drama anthology series broadcast by ABS-CBN and Kapamilya Channel. Hosted by Charo Santos-Concio, its first iteration was aired from May 15, 1991 to December 10, 2022. It is the longest ...
'' *''Mabuti Pa'' *''Madaling Araw'' *''Magkatuwaan'' - 1966 *''Magsaya ka't Ngumiti'' - 1967 *''Magsayawan'' *''Magtiis ka Darling'' *''Mahal na Mahal kita'' *''Malaking Hirap'' *''Maligayang Araw'' *''Mamang Kartero'' *''Manalig ka'' *''Mang Teban'' *''Masaganang Kabukiran'' - 1954 *''May Araw ka Rin'' *''Mutya ng Pasig'' - 1952 *''Nagnakaw ng Halik'' - 1959 *''Nakakabum'' - 1969 *''Naman, Naman, Naman'' - 1970 *''Nangangarap'' *''Nasaan'' *''Nasaan Ang Aking Puso'' - 1968 *''Nasaan ang Sumpa Mo'' *''Nasaan Ka Irog'' - 1952 *''No Money, No Honey'' - 1956 *''No Touch, Filipino Kostum'' *''O.A.'' *''One, Two, Three'' *''Paglingap'' - 1953 *''Paglubog ng Araw'' *''Pahiwatig'' - 1952 *''Pakiusap'' - 1952 *''Pakwan'' - 1959 *''Pamaypay ng Maynila'' - 1954 *''Pampahimbing'' - 1959 *''Pandanggo sa Pag-ibig'' *''Pandangguhan (Sylvia)'' - 1954 *''Parti-Lain (Sylvia)'' - 1961 *''Paru-Paro sa Bulaklak'' *''Peks Man'' *''Phone Pal (Sylvia)'' - 1958 *''Please Lang'' - 1960 *''Pintasan'' - 1964 *''Pook na Kaakit-akit'' *''Probinsyano (Sylvia)'' - 1959 *''Puting Teksas'' - 1961 *''Sa Bukid'' *''Sa Duyan ng Pagmamahal'' *''Sa Kabukiran'' - 1954 *''Sa Libis ng Nayon'' *''Sa Pagpatak ng Ulan'' *''Salawahan'' *''Sampaguita'' *''Singsing'' *''Sino Man ang Nagsabi'' - 1965 *''Sosayting Dukha (song)'' *''Taguan (Sylvia)'' - 1966 *''Talusaling Polka'' - 1964 *''Tampal'' - 1969 *'' Tampuhan'' *''Taradyin Pot Pot'' *''Tayo'y Mamasko'' *''Tingnan Natin'' *''Tinikling (Sylvia)'' - 1963 *''Tirana Biya'' *''Tugtugan'' - 1969 *''Tsimoy at Tsimay'' with
Bobby Gonzales Bobby Gonzales (born 15 February 1984) is a Malaysian footballer. He spent most of his career with Sabah and Sarawak where he played as a forward. He currently hold the all-time top scorer of Malaysia Premier League with 90 goals. Personal ...
*''Tunay na Ligaya'' *''Twit Twit Twit'' - 1963 *''Walang Kuarta'' *''Waray-Waray'' - 1954


References


External links


La Torre at the Internet Movie Database websiteLa Torre at Allmusic.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:La Torre, Sylvia 1933 births 2022 deaths Filipino expatriates in the United States 20th-century Filipino women singers Filipino film actresses Filipino musical theatre actresses Filipino television actresses Actresses from Manila Filipino radio presenters