By Mario Casayuran Recalling her contributions to the nation through music and film, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday mourned the passing of his half-sister, singer-actress Armida Siguion-Reyna, who succumbed to cancer on Monday at the age of 88. “My entire family, my sisters, and brothers, my nephews and nieces, their children and husbands, and grandchildren are all sad in announcing to the Filipino nation that my sister who has served the country in her capacity as an entertainer and a singer has passed away,” Enrile said. ‘’She is a big loss to us,” he stressed. Enrile turns 95 tomorrow, Valentine’s Day. The former Senate Chief and Siguion-Reyna are children of the Spanish-mestizo lawyer and politician Alfonso Ponce Enrile. Siguion-Reyna was the daughter of aspiring soprano Purita Liwanag while Enrile is the son of Petra Furagganan, the stepdaughter of a fisherman from Cagayan. “I remember her most for being a very nice sister to me. I was very close to her. I used to escort her whenever she was out on a date when she was a teenager,” he recalled. Enrile admitted that he admired Siguion-Reyna for her contributions in the local music and art industry as a singer, actress, and producer. “She's a trained singer like my sister Irma. They embraced that as their career. I'm quite happy and very proud that they made a name in that field,” he said. Irma Potenciano is also the daughter of Liwanag and is herself a soprano. “She was famous for propagating Filipino songs through “Aawitan Kita”,” Enrile mentioned, citing the musical show broadcast on television for more than three decades and fondly remembered for its renderings of Filipino songs, traditional love songs, contemporary pop songs, and more. “I'm sure the Filipino people will remember her for what she was,” said the four-term Senator. Considered to be a film and music icon, Siguion-Reyna hosted and produced the hit show “Aawitan Kita” apart from several musical albums. She had also acted in and produced numerous critically-acclaimed films and later served as chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) under the administration of former President Joseph Estrada. The late artist’s memorial service is being held at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City until February 15.