Veteran actress Armida Siguion-Reyna dies from colon failure at 88

“I am so proud that she became famous. My only request of Filipinos – especially the youth – is that you do not forget her.” – Juan Ponce Enrile (File Photo: Anna Cristina Siguion-Reyna Villonco/Facebook)

The entertainment industry mourns the death of actress, singer, TV/film producer Armida Siguion-Reyna, who passed away due to a disease found in her colon at the age of 88 last Monday, February 11.

The news was first confirmed to ABS-CBN by Armida’s sister Irma, sharing that the artist passed away in the afternoon at the Makati Medical Center.

Later that evening, Armida’s brother Juan Ponce Enrile, former Senate President, also shared a statement to the public urging to never forget his sister for her contributions to Philippine entertainment. His statement read in Filipino, “I’m sad and we’re all sad that my sister has passed away. She got sick about two weeks ago. She got pneumonia. She was admitted to St. Luke’s in Bonifacio Global City. But, pneumonia wasn’t her only problem because they also found something wrong with her colon. They removed that, they operated it, but it already spread.”

He adds, “Despite all of this, I’m happy that she can now have rest. She contributed immensely to the entertainment industry, and she championed the use of our own language in her songs. I am so proud that she became famous. My only request of Filipinos – especially the youth – is that you do not forget her.”

Armida was born on November 4, 1930, to Spanish lawyer and politician Alfonso Ponce Enrile. She spent most of her childhood in Malabon and studied at the Philippine Women’s University in Manila before pursuing her acting career. In theater, she is most known for leading roles in “Lucia de Lammermoor,” “Rigoletto,” and “The Merry Widow.” In music, she recorded Filipino tracks “Aawitan Kita,” “Armida,” and “Sa Lungot at Saya… Aawitan Kita.” In films, she won Best Supporting Actress at the Bacolod Film Festival for her work in “Sa Pagitan ng Dalawang Langit.” But, besides being an actress, singer, and producer, Armida also worked under former President Joseph Estrada as the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Armida is survived by her children and grandchildren, her son Carlos Siguion-Reyna currently a director, while granddaughter Cris Villonco and grandson Rafa Siguion-Reyna are both actively working as actors in film and television.