Jovita Fuentes
Jovita Fuentes | |
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Jovita Fuentes from the Order of National Artists (NCCA) | |
Born | Jovita Flores Fuentes (1895-02-15)February 15, 1895 Capiz, Capiz, Captaincy General of the Philippines (now Roxas, Capiz, Philippines) |
Died | August 15, 1978(1978-08-15) (aged 83) Manila, Philippines |
Nationality | Filipino |
Awards | Order of National Artists of the Philippines |
Jovita Flores Fuentes (February 15, 1895 – August 7, 1978) was a Filipina soprano singer. She was known to be the first Filipina to receive recognition as a National Artist for Music in 1976 and one of the few Filipinas to receive international acclaim in the European opera scene.[1][2]
Background
Early life and education
She was born in Capiz (now Roxas City) to a well-off couple named Canuto and Dolores Fuentes. At an early age, she displayed interest in music, learning the contemporary songs at that time. This was evident when she was only five years, she was able to sing habaneras and danzas. She pursue her education by attending Colegio de Santa Isabel, and while on vacation to her studies, she would perform sarswelas and operattas to her neighbors and friends. She was also able to play the piano taught by a town organist after she moved in Manila.[2]
After her studies at the Colegio de Santa Isabel, Fuentes had a formal voice training under Salvina Fornani, an Italian singer who was then residing in Manila.[2] In 1917, she took up college at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music. In order to hone her skills further she pursued her studies abroad, going to Italy.[3]
International success
In 1925, Fuentes made her debut as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini's Madame Butterfly, at the Teatro Municipale de Piacenza, another of her notable roles were of Mimi in La bohème, Pietro Mascagni's Iris and Richard Strauss' Salome.[3]
From 1925 to 1927, she traveled to Europe including Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium, establishing herself a reputation among theatergoers in Europe. She also traveled the United States where she became the first Filipino to ever perform in the American subcontinent.[4] In 1928, Fuentes had recorded "Ay! Kalisud" for Odeon Records in Germany.[2]
She later became an instructor upon her return.
Later years
After World War II, she retired from performing but continue to teach music at the University of the Philippines and the Holy Ghost College, Santa Isabel.[4] She gave her final recital in 1945 appearing in the movie "Primadona" and gave up performing on stage entirely in 1955.[5]
Due to her political connections, she was able to lobby lawmakers to pass a law which led to the creation of foundations promoting music.[4] As a music advocate, she founded numerous music associations. These include the "Asociacion Musical de Filipinas" and the "Artists' Guild of the Philippines".[2] Under Philippine president Diosdado Macapagal, her appeal for the establishment of the Music Production Foundation was granted through Republic Act No. 3630, with an appropriated ₱900,000 a year from the government. This was made specifically to maintain a Filipino symphony orchestra.[1]
Due to her merits and contributions in her field, she was dubbed as The First Lady of Philippine Music and in 1976 she earned the title of becoming the first female national artist in music.[3][6]
Death and legacy
On August 7, 1978, two years after she received the recognition, she died at the age of 83. According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, her performance was praised to be the "most sublime" interpretation on her part. Her life story was documented in a book by Lilia H. Chung titled, "Jovita Fuentes: A Lifetime of Music (1978)", which was later translated to Filipino by Virgilio S. Almario.[7]
Awards and recognitions
- Presidential Medal of Merit (1958)
- National Artist Award (1976)
References
- ^ a b "Jovita Fuentes was born in the town of Capiz February 15, 1895". The Kahimyang Project. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ a b c d e "Filipinas Heritage Library | Featured Artist: Jovita Fuentes". www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ a b c "National Artist - Jovita Fuentes". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ a b c "128th Birthday Anniversary of Jovita Fuentes | Capiz State University". 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ Inquirer, Philippine Daily (2019-02-15). "DID YOU KNOW: 124th birth anniversary of National Artist for Music Jovita Fuentes". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ "mycapiz.com - Jovita Fuentes: Philippine's First Female National Artist in Music". mycapiz.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
- ^ "Order of National Artists: Jovita Fuentes". National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
External links
- The First Filipina National Artist Jovita Fuentes was Born | Today in History on YouTube
- Ay! Kalisud sung by Jovita Fuentes on YouTube
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- 1976 Pablo Antonio
- 1990 Leandro Locsin
- 2006 Ildefonso P. Santos Jr.
- 2014 José María Zaragoza
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- 1982 Carlos P. Romulo
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- 1997 N. V. M. Gonzalez
- 1999 Edith Tiempo
- 2001 F. Sionil José
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- 2003 Alejandro Roces
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- 2009 Lazaro Francisco
- 2014 Cirilo F. Bautista
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- 2018 Resil B. Mojares
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- 1973 Antonio Molina
- 1976 Jovita Fuentes
- 1988 Antonino Buenaventura
- 1988 Lucrecia Kasilag
- 1991 Lucio San Pedro
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- 1999 Ernani Joson Cuenco
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- 2014 Ramon Santos
- 2014 Francisco Feliciano
- 2018 Ryan Cayabyab
- 2022 Fides Cuyugan-Asensio
- 1987 Atang de la Rama
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- 1997 Rolando Tinio
- 1999 Daisy Avellana
- 2001 Severino Montano
- 2003 Salvador Bernal
- 2018 Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio
- 2022 Tony Mabesa
- 1972 Fernando Amorsolo
- 1973 Botong Francisco
- 1973 Guillermo Tolentino
- 1976 Napoleon Abueva
- 1976 Victorio Edades
- 1981 Vicente Manansala
- 1990 Cesar Legaspi
- 1991 Hernando R. Ocampo
- 1997 Arturo R. Luz
- 1999 J. Navarro Elizalde
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- 2003 José T. Joya
- 2006 Benedicto Cabrera
- 2006 Abdulmari Imao
- 2009 Federico Aguilar Alcuaz
- 2014 Francisco Coching
- 2018 Larry Alcala
- National Commission for Culture and the Arts
- Cultural Center of the Philippines