DIDITH REYES, RIP

DIDITH REYES, RIP



Date of Birth
17 September 1948, Philippines

Birth Name
Helen Sta. Maria

Spouse
Victor Reyes (1966 - ?) (his death) 1 child

Trivia

Her Signature songs include: "Bakit Ako Mahihiya", "Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi," "Nananabik", "Hatiin Natin ang Gabi," and "Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw". The songs are very popular in the 70's and gave Didth the tag as one of the Jukebox Queens in the Philippines. Most of her songs were made into hit movies.

She claimed to be a victim of abuse. She left her live-in partner for seven years, 65-year-old Eulogio "Mang Ely" Disonglo, August of 2006 after years of experiencing maltreatment.

Started her singing career as part of Time Machine and Circus Band until she decided to go solo. She was signed up by Vicor Music Corporation which was owned then by cousins Vic del Rosario Jr. (of Viva Entertainment now) and Orly Ilacad (of OctoArts). Her first single, "Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi" became a movie.

Has a child name Arvy with first husband Victor Reyes.

Decades prior to the Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake Super Bowl XXXVIII (38) show in 2004, Didith Reyes became the talk of the town in the Philippines after one of her breast was "accidentally" exposed while singing Nananabik during the FAMAS awarding in 1977. Didith claims she never wear bra and undies during the height of her popularity.

She represented the Philippines in the Tokyo Song Festival in 1977 and romped off with a gold prize. Concert producers all over the Philippines were all after her services. She was one of the most in-demand concert stars at that time.

She was supposed to have started a movie with then mayor of San Juan Joseph Estrada (who later became a Philippine president) but this was canceled due to her very tight schedule. She was replaced with another singer Celeste Legaspi and the title of the movie was also changed to "Mamang Sorbetero" culled from Celeste's hit song.

The movie Araw-araw, gabi-gabi (1975) launched her singing career as she recorded the theme song.

She died December 10, 2008.

Here is the story:

Former jukebox queen and actress Didith Reyes is dead

December 10, 2008 7:45 pm by pna

MANILA, Dec. 10 - Singer actress Didith Reyes was found dead at the residence of a friend in Domingo village in Binan town, Laguna on Wednesday morning.

Laguna police director Senior Superintendent Manolito Labador said the body of Reyes was found around 5 a.m. at the house of Derly Antolin on No. 282 Floro Compound, Zone 5, Rosal St. Brgy. Sto. Domingo.

The death of Reyes, Helen Sta Maria in real life, 60, was reported by the village chairman, Bayani Serajose, to authorities.

Labador said that based on the statement of Antolin, Reyes went to her residence three days earlier with bruises on her body. Antolin said Reyes was apparently bumped by a vehicle.