Freddie Aguilar: Facts About Him You Probably Don’t Know Yet

Here are some facts about Freddie Aguilar you probably don’t know yet.

Filipino singer and songwriter Freddie Aguilar died and was laid to rest, and here are a few facts about the legendary musician.

Filipino folk songwriter and OPM icon Freddie Aguilar died on Tuesday, May 27, at the age of 72. According to his wife in a statement, Aguilar died at the Philippine Heart Center due to multiple organ failure.

Freddie Aguilar

He was already laid to rest at the Manila Islamic Cemetery on Tuesday, and the Muntinlupa City Muslim Affairs Office confirmed this. Based on Islamic faith, the dead must be buried within 24 hours of death.

Here are some facts about the late legendary musician:

His song “Anak” was an apology tribute to his father
He revealed this in 2017 during his interview with the Philippine Star. The song was his apology to his father, as he was a disobedient son during his teenage years.

He shared, “I disobeyed my parents. I never listened to my father (Gregorio Aguilar). He wanted me to be a lawyer, but I wanted to be something else. So, I left home.” 

He struggled while recording “Bayan Ko”
His rendition of this song became the country’s theme song as they fought for democracy. It was one of the hymns during the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986.

His legacy in music was honored in the Senate
In 2018, the 17th Congress of the Senate recognized Freddie’s “lifetime outstanding contributions” to the culture and arts of the country.

Senator Vincente Sotto III introduced the resolution and said, “Aguilar is the only singer and composer who broke into the western market and gained massive global recognition, bringing pride and honor to our country. His unceasing nationalistic contribution to Philippine music and culture warrants recognition.” 

Freddie’s relationship with a minor sparked widespread controversy
In 2013, he publicly revealed his relationship with Jovie, who was just 16 years old at that time. In the same year, he converted to Islam and married Jovie in Maguindanao. The country’s law prohibited it, but this was allowed in the Islamic faith.