OPM icon Freddie Aguilar passes away

“Anak” hitmaker Freddie Aguilar has passed away. He was 72 years old.

Media outlet News5 reported the passing of the iconic Filipino folk singer-songwriter on Tuesday, May 27.

Aguilar is best known for his global hit “Anak”, which has sold over 33 million copies and been translated into 51 languages.

He is also recognized for his rendition of “Bayan Ko” which became a symbol of resistance during the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Aguilar also gained international recognition, recently receiving the “Most Outstanding International Singer, Composer, Performer” at the 10TH Southeast Asian Achievement Award last May 17.

In 2019, he tried his luck for a Senate run but was unsuccessful.

In 2018, former President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him as the Presidential Adviser on Culture and the Arts, and he was also named a member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

In 2013, he sparked controversy after converting to Islam and marrying a 16-year-old named Jovie. He is survived by Jovie and their children.