Sylvia La Torre

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.

Singing
La Torre's singing career started in 1938 at the age of five, when she entered a singing competition in Manila. 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.

She would gain the reputation of being the "Queen of Kundiman" for performing hundreds of songs such as "Mutya ng Pasig", "Waray-Waray" and "Maalaala Mo Kaya".

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.

In 1960, La Torre featured in the radio program Tuloy ang Ligaya of Manila Broadcasting Company (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 would also star in the 1988 Seiko 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 and Camp Rock. La Torre was also a devout Roman Catholic. 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
 * 1988 - One Two Bato, Three Four Bapor
 * 1989 - M&M, the Incredible Twins
 * 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" - 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
 * 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
 * Tunay na Ligaya
 * Twit Twit Twit - 1963
 * Walang Kuarta
 * Waray-Waray - 1954