He is Ferdinand Pascal Aguilar, more popularly known as Ka Freddy, and by his Muslim name Abdul Farid or Baludoy. He was born on February 5, 1953, in Santo Tomas, Isabela, Philippines. The genres he is known for in his singing career include FK, Manila Sound, and Original Filipino Music (OPM).

He was a musician, singer, and songwriter who used vocals, guitar, and bass guitar from 1973 until 2025. His music labels included Vicor Music, Sunshine, and RCA. Freddy’s journey began when he was born on February 5, 1953, in Santo Tomas, Isabela. He started composing his own songs at the age of 14.

Even at such a young age, he was able to do this because of his remarkable talent and intelligence in music. Freddy studied electrical engineering at the Degusman Institute of Technology but did not finish his degree. Instead, he pursued a music career and became a street musician, later performing in folk clubs and bars.

At the age of 18, Freddy left his family and dropped out of college. He began performing on stage at that age. After realizing and regretting his past decisions, five years after leaving college, he composed his most iconic song, Anak.

Freddy started singing and performing publicly in 1973, when he auditioned and was hired to play folk songs at the Hobbit House in Ermita, Manila, earning Php500 per gig—a significant amount at the time. Freddy Aguilar’s song Anak not only topped the Philippine record charts in 1979 but also hit the number one spot in Japan and gained significant popularity in other countries like Angola, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and parts of Western Europe. This proves that Ka Freddy Aguilar’s fame extended far beyond the Philippines.

What many don’t know is that his song Anak became a global hit. By some accounts, it has been recorded in as many as 100 versions across 23 languages worldwide. There are various versions of the song in different languages, but I’ve only heard it sung in Filipino or Tagalog. Billboard once reported that this song was a world hit during the 1980s. According to Billboard, Freddy Aguilar was the second best-selling recording artist in Europe in 1981.

In 2006, Anak was surpassed as the highest-selling record in Philippine music history. In terms of political activism, Freddy Aguilar’s rendition of Bayan Ko marked the start of his protest music against social injustices. In his album Magdalena, he tackled themes such as girls forced into prostitution due to poverty and the Christian-Muslim conflict in his song Mindanao.

Following that album, Ka Freddy sang about injustices suffered by the powerless, poverty, and the arrogance of global superpowers—referring to the U.S. and Russia. Five years after composing Anak, Freddy Aguilar joined protests against the Marcos regime and began writing and performing songs that criticized the government’s excesses.

Because of this, several of his songs were banned from mainstream media. These include Katarungan, Pango, Luz Biminda, and many more. On January 18, 2008, he received the Asia Star Award from the Asia Model Award Festival in South Korea. Freddy Aguilar also advocated for the creation of a new department called the Department of Culture and Arts.

During the campaign and inauguration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Aguilar sang Para sa Tunay na Pagbabago, which became one of Duterte’s campaign anthems. Freddy Aguilar was Duterte’s favorite musician. In 2019, Freddy Aguilar ran for the Senate as an independent candidate, endorsed by then-President Duterte. However, he lost the election.

In his later years, Aguilar served as the National Executive Vice President of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. Freddy Aguilar was a key figure in Pinoy Rock. He cited British and American folk rock stars like Cat Stevens and James Taylor as his musical influences. Ka Freddy’s songs strongly emphasized themes of Filipino heritage and nationalism.

In 1978, Freddy married Josephine Kiepo, and they had four children: Megan, Jonan, Isabela, and Jericho. On October 17, 2013, Ka Freddy admitted to being in a controversial relationship with a 16-year-old girl named Jovaddula Albao, whose Muslim name was City Mariam. They were planning to marry, even though he already had children. According to his partner, she was willing to have children with him.

On November 22, 2013, Freddy married his partner under Islamic rites in Buluan, Maguindanao. He had converted to Islam before these reports in order to marry his 16-year-old girlfriend. His Muslim name became Abdul Farid.

On January 3, 2018, Freddy Aguilar’s house in North Fairview, Quezon City, was destroyed by a fire. This home housed his music room where he had begun his musical journey. The total damage to his valuable property reached Php15 million, including his art collection, awards, musical instruments, records, and personal memorabilia.

At the time of the fire, Freddy was at C. Freddy’s Bar and Restaurant on Tomas Morato Avenue. His wife, son Jonan, and mother-in-law were inside the house during the fire but managed to escape safely, thanks to the help of their neighbors. No one was injured.

Freddy Aguilar won many awards throughout his career, including the 1992 Apex Golden Will Award for his song Kumusta Ka. He also won at the 1993 Awit Awards, 1994 NU Rock Awards, and in 2001 received a special citation at the Pinoy Music Awards for Anak. As a musician, Ka Freddy performed in various countries, including New York City in the USA.

With so many awards and achievements, many fans and Filipinos have wondered about the total net worth of the legendary Freddy Aguilar. According to Kami.com.ph in 2020, his estimated net worth had reached millions. According to Mamumbe, updated as of today, his net worth is about $5 million or approximately Php33 million, which he could pass on to his children and loved ones.

The true cause of Freddy Aguilar’s death yesterday was multiple organ failure. He passed away on May 27, 2025, at the age of 72, at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. Many fans, netizens, and supporters were deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden passing of our beloved rockstar.