JERRY OLEA
Ipinagluluksa ng local entertainment industry ang pagpanaw ni Sylvia La Torre, 89, sa unang araw ng Disyembre.
Read: Legendary singer-actress Sylvia La Torre passes away
Sa Facebook pa lamang ay napakarami nang pagpupugay at paggunita sa legendary multi-media star, ang Reyna ng Kundiman.
Pangako ng apo niyang si Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, “I will sing your songs forever. RIP Mama Cita. Love you.”
Ni-repost ng journalist na si Ruben Nepales ang citation niya kay Sylvia bilang Excellence in Music Awardee of the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) sa una nitong gala night noong Hunyo 17, 2017.
Aniya, “Before there was Beyoncé, before there was Madonna, even way before Barbra Streisand… We had Sylvia La Torre.
“Our beloved Queen of Kundiman pioneered and conquered them all – the stage, radio, television, recording and film. She is the first Filipino talent to enjoy a very successful career in all those major entertainment fields in the Philippines.
“Please pause and just imagine that when Sylvia was only five years old in 1938, she competed in a singing contest and won.
“At age nine, Sylvia debuted on the stage of the Manila Grand Opera House and performed in a vaudeville show not one, not two but three times a day.
“Again, just close your eyes and picture Sylvia performing alongside such veteran performers as Katy de la Cruz and Bayani Casimiro.
“At seven years old, Sylvia began her film career, when she appeared in ‘Ang Maestra.’ Some of my fondest childhood memories are of watching Sylvia in those classic black and white movies where she sometimes sang.
“Sylvia, who was a scholar at the Conservatory of Music of my alma mater, University of Santo Tomas, started making records in the 1950s. She recorded more than 300 songs, including ‘Sa Kabukiran’ and ‘Waray Waray.’ And more – beautiful kundiman like ‘Bituing Marikit,’ ‘Mutya ng Pasig’ and ‘Nasaan Ka, Irog,’ just to name a few.
“These have become classics. They are precious recordings of Sylvia’s beautiful soprano and range.
“Sylvia also successfully branched into radio and television in the 1950s and 1960s, capping her conquest of all five entertainment fields in Manila.
“She appeared as a regular talent and singer in Luz Mat Castro’s radio show. Later, she was on the ‘Edong Mapangarap’ radio show with Eddie San Jose, Pugo, Bentot and Rosa Aguirre. Ibyang was her character’s name. That show evolved into ‘Tang Tarang Tang’ which later became a TV series.
“Many of us fell in love with Ibyang and – Sylvia – in the process. We also loved her in the TV show, ‘Oras ng Ligaya.’ All of these shows made her earn the title, the First Lady of Philippine Television.
“So we at FASO were flattered when we heard that Sylvia was very impressed when she watched a FASO concert for the first time, under the baton of our maestro, Robert, or Bob, Shroder.
“We got even more excited when Sylvia agreed to perform with FASO for the first time. Needless to say, in that concert in August last year, Sylvia brought the house down and drew standing ovation and cheers. Sylvia was especially proud and glad that she got to perform with her talented granddaughter, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle.
“Next year, Sylvia will celebrate a special milestone. She will mark her outstanding 80th anniversary in show business. That’s Eight-Zero, my friends!
“When FASO announced that Sylvia will be one of our two Excellence in Music Awardees, a friend of mine commented that Sylvia should be declared a National Artist of the Philippines. It’s a long overdue recognition.
“But to me, Sylvia is already our National Artist AND Treasure in our hearts and minds. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, our Excellence in Music Awardee, Sylvia La Torre.”
Pag-alaala ni Bibeth Orteza, “My heart is broken.
“Sylvia, fondly called Ibyang by many, was the star of the first sitcom I ever wrote, in 1975, ‘Basta Mahal Kita,’ co-starring with Luis Gonzales.
“Directed by Maning Rivera, it also featured Arnold Gamboa, Che-Che Perez de Tagle (Ibyang's daughter), and Sandy ‘Atcheng’ Garcia.
“Originally written by Doro de los Ojos, I was brought in as writer by Production Unit Manager (they were first called PUMs, before they got to be known as Executive Producers) Julie Zulueta.
“I cut my teeth on the show. It was a great learning experience, and it was fun jostling with Ibyang, Palengke (Luis's nickname, following his real family name, Mercado), and with all the other members of the cast.
“Ibyang I admired from all her radio sitcoms as the daughter of Pugo and sister of Bentot. Trained for opera and also known as Queen of Kundiman, she sang movie theme songs like Galawgaw, Waray-Waray, Alembong, and No Money, No Honey to name a few.
“She showcased her own brand of ‘no touch’ comedy, holding hands with her leading man but only actually touching one end of a handkerchief while Eddie San Jose or Leroy Salvador would be holding the other end.
“Oh, Ibyang.”
Tagulaylay ng makata, aktor, at manunulat na si Frank G. Rivera:
"SYLVIA LA TORRE"
Isang Pahimakas Aming henerasyon ang pinagkalakhan
Ang iyong awitin na ‘Sa Kabukiran’
Klasikong musika, iyong tinulayan
Saka itinawid sa awiting bayan.
Sana di magwakas sa iyong pagyao
Ang tradisyon nitong gintong pamana mo
Kahit sa dayuhang musikang klasiko
Ikaw ang pupukaw sa alaala ko.
Kay SYLVIA LA TORRE ang mga awitin
Kapag inawit na kanyang inaangkin
Ang pusod ng dagat kahit anong lalim
At tayug ng langit kaya ring abutin.
Taginting ng tinig sa iyong pag-awit
Magmula sa langit, aming maririnig.
PAALAM, MANANG SYLVIA!
GORGY RULA
Pagtatapat ni Beverly Salviejo, “She influenced my singing style eversince i heard her over the radio in the 60's...
“Her song that i first learned when i was 5 yo was Sa Kabukiran…
“Rest in peace my idol, Sylvia La Torre....”
Kuwento ni Lorrie Ilustre sa FB, “LABADAMI LABANGO: Rest in peace Tita Sylvia La Torre. My condolences Artie and to the whole family.
“I last saw Tita Sylvia in December 2019 in California. I asked her if she still remembers the commercial jingle that we recorded in the late '70s and she said she still does.
“We recorded the commercial jingle Mr. Clean LABADAMI LABANGO for Ace Compton Advertising at Cinema Audio recording studio. Even when singing jingles, she still sang it like an opera.
“Good, I found an old clip of the TVC commercial online. Rest now, Tita Sylvia.”
Salaysay ng beteranong showbiz columnist na si Ed de Leon, “People like us who were born in the fifties were used to listening to radio, because television was very limited then. We love the comedy shows, and the top comedy show on radio was Tang Tarang-tang.
“The characters in the comedy written by Beer Flores were Don Mariuano Batucabeza, played by Pugo, Bitoy played by Bentot, Leroy played by Leroy Salvador the supposed to be lover to Ibyang played by Sylvia La Torre, who was the daughter of Alling Charing, played by Rosa Aguirre.
“Before Kuya Leroy joined the show, the one playing his role is Edong Mapangarap, played by Eddie San Jose.
“Then TangTarang Tang moved to television on ABS-CBN Channel 3, and was also made into a movie with the same cast. It was a top rater on television, and a big box office hit in the cinemas.
“I remember we watched the film version at Center Theater in Quiapo then, and after that we were treated to the big siopao and hot mami at Ma Mon Luk.
“All of the stars of Tang Tarang Tang have passed away. The last was Sylvia La Torre who left us last Thursday morning. Her death was was the end of an era, with no one remaining of the stars in their comedy series.”
NOEL FERRER
Natatandaan ko si Tita Sylvia sa Ok Sha na sitcom ni Sharon Cuneta noon. Voice teacher na istrikto ang role niya pero nakakatuwa.
Tapos natatandaan ko ring gumawa si Celeste Legaspi ng tribute album para sa kanya noon complete with the ibang Filipiniana look na sequined sa cover nito.
Sayang lang at hindi na siya nakilala ng henerasyon ngayon. At maging ang anak niyang si Che-Che na naging star sa pelikulang Mga Basang Sisiw (1981) kasama sina Julie Vega, Janice de Belen, at Sheryl Cruz.
Rest in peace, Tita Ibyang. Salamat sa mga naiambag mo sa musika at kulturang Pilipino.