Freddie Aguilar, the Filipino folk singer behind the global hit “Anak” and the protest anthem “Bayan Ko,” died early Tuesday. He was 72.
His death was confirmed by George Briones, lawyer of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), in a statement shared with the Manila Standard. It was later confirmed by Aguilar’s former partner, Josephine Quiepo. The two had children together, including Maegan Aguilar, who for a time pursued a music career.
Aguilar died at around 1:30 a.m. at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. He had been admitted for an angioplasty but suffered multiple organ failure, which led to his death.
Born Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar, he began performing in the early 1970s and became a central figure in Filipino folk music. Fondly called “Ka Freddie,” he gained international fame in 1978 with “Anak,” a song about a wayward child’s remorse and reconciliation with parents.
The track, written after Aguilar left home at age 17, sold more than 33 million copies worldwide and was translated into several languages. It later appeared in international films including “Gangnam Blues” and “Fatal Vacation.”
He also popularized “Bayan Ko,” which became an anthem during the 1986 People Power Revolution that ended the Marcos dictatorship. Among his other notable songs were “Magdalena” and “Bulag, Pipi, at Bingi,” which addressed themes of poverty, injustice, and social struggle.
In later years, Aguilar remained active in politics and culture. He was appointed Presidential Adviser on Culture and the Arts under former President Rodrigo Duterte and served as a commissioner at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. He also held the post of executive vice president at the PFP.
