She once dominated the airwaves with her meaningful and bold songs such as "Sierra Madre," "Lolo Jose," "O Kuya Ko," and "Oras Na."

She is none other than Coritha, one of the leading proponents of Original Pilipino Music in the 1970s and 1980s.

However, since retiring from singing in 2000, her voice has not been heard as frequently.

In 2018, she was in the news again, but not because of a new song she produced; it was when her house in Quezon City burned down.

Since then, the folk singer has faced numerous hardships.

“Natutulog lang sa folding bed tapos tent lang na ginawa ng mga kaibigan niya… Talagang may depression na kasi kinuha property mo, wala siya magawa, walang pera,” said Coritha’s partner Luisito Santos.

(“She sleeps on a folding bed and in a tent made by her friends... She has been depressed because her property was taken, she couldn't do anything, and she has no money.”)

Coritha now lives on Santos' farm in Tagaytay.

“Una nakakalakad pa siya, naglalakad pa kami doon sa kanila. Diabetic siya e, siguro dahil nga doon sa mga kinakain niya, kung ano lang, bigay ng mga kaibigan,” said Santos.

(“At first, she could still walk; we would walk around their place. She is diabetic, probably because of the food she eats, which is often just what her friends give her.”)

Before February 2024, the singer suffered a stroke, and her condition worsened.

(“Naglalakad pa siya diyan, nadulas, parang nagkaroon ng damage 'yung paa niya… Hanggang sa isang araw, isang gabi, sabi niya, ‘To, wiwi ako!’, pagkaihi, nawalan ng malay… Sabi ng doktor, marami na siyang stroke, 'di lang pinapansin,”) said Santos.

 (“She was still walking around, but she slipped and seemed to have injured her leg... Until one night, she said, 'To, I need to pee!' After urinating, she lost consciousness... The doctor said she had multiple strokes that were not addressed.”)

This saddened Coritha's colleagues, like Bayang Barrios, who called on her fellow artists to hold a concert for their friend.

 “Nakakalungkot, kasi ang galing niya e… Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanina, kahit papano, malaking tulong sa amin iyon… kahit ano dumating, hindi ko siya iiwan,” said Santos.

 Those who love Coritha hope that more people will extend help, hoping for a time when her voice will be heard again.

 Donations for Coritha can be sent through Santos' GCash account at (0966) 900 3365.

 OPM legend Coritha, kailangan ng tulong matapos ma-stroke

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