Best known for her multi-awarded musical TV show “Aawitan Kita, veteran actress-singer Armida Siguion - Reyna launched her highly anticipated biography last Tuesday (February 24) at Whitespace, Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.
Each page of "Armida" is filled with rich details of her vibrant life told by Armida heself side by side with an account penned by Nelson Navarro titled "The Singer and the Song."
The strong woman spent most of her life sharing the joys of music to her fans, Armida, is a Filipino celebrity, singer, film and stage actress, producer, television show host, and former chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board during the Estrada administration.
Her long-running musical TV show “Aawitan Kita,” has bagged numerous awards. With her lawyer-husband, she formed Reynafilms.
The unveiling of Siguion-Reyna’s biography, the book “Armida: Unfinished Memoir–The Singer And The Song,” serves as a celebration in honor of her legacy as a pillar in both show biz and public service.
Looking back at a wonderful life, a homage to this inimitable woman, “Armida: Unfinished Memoir–The Singer And The Song,” is written by journalist Nelson Navarro and edited by her daughter Monique Villonco.
“It gives readers an inside view of her private thoughts about her public and professional relationships with behind-the-scenes revelations; her one true love, her fears, her strengths. It’s her backstory,” she said. The book includes anecdotes on Armida’s childhood, her first relationship, her marriage and her family.
“It’s like a back story of her life. While I was editing the book, I saw her strengths, weaknesses and how passionate she is with her work,” Monique shared.
“My mom has always been surrounded by controversies, left and right, but she was fearless, she will always fight and stand for what she believes in. She would also always defend us and her friends no matter how unpopular they were,” Monique said.
Monique said, the book “breaks the rules of how traditional biographies are presented, just as my mom has been doing throughout her life.”
Armida’s biggest strength is her love for her children and her late husband Atty. Leonardo T. Siguion-Reyna. Monique noted how mom was driven by being “independent-minded.” “In the family, she has been the disciplinarian (but she) will always support us in all kinds of journey we want to achieve. Daddy was mom’s true champion. He would always say ‘yes’ to her requests,” Monique added.
The book launch was a reunion of the most respected names in entertainment and also in politics. Apart from family and friends, present at the event were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Manila Mayor Joesph Estrada, Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero with wife Heart, Irene Marcos- Araneta,Atty. Lorna Kapunan, Lily Monteverde, Marichu Maceda, Tony Boy Cojuangco and Gretchen Barretto.
Also spotted during the launch were celebrities Susan Roces, Robert Arevalo, Barbara Perez, Tirzo Cruz III, Ricky Davao, Bimbo Cerrudo, Pen Medina, Amy Austria, Lucy Torres and Gina Alajar.
The book will allow the public a glimpse of the real Armida. Looking back at a wonderful life, the book “Armida: Unfinished Memoir–The Singer And The Song,” is published by ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.
It is available at ABS-CBN Store and in National Bookstore branches.
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