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| An autographed picture of Jovita Fuentes, signed December 27, 1925 in Bologna, Italy. |
Long before Lea Salonga conquered Broadway, our very own Jovita Fuentes achieved stellar heights as a stage legend.
Jovita Fuentes was born on February 15, 1895 in what was then the town of Capiz, now Roxas City, in the province of Capiz.
Her parents were Canuto and Dolores Fuentes. The Fuentes Family belonged to town’s landed elite. As the Fuentes Family, especially Jovita’s father, Don Canuto, delighted in music, Jovita was quick to learn popular songs of the day. One day, she heard a servant girl sing a wistful song while doing household chore. The song was so sad it struck the young Jovita. The song seared itself in her memory. The song was “Ay, Kalisod,” a Capisnon folk song, the song that immediately evokes her name whenever sung or mentioned.
Don Canuto saw his children’s potentials in music. At first, Jovita and her siblings would have piano lessons at home. When she was 8, she was sent to Santa Isabel College in Manila where, aside from learning religion and mastering the Spanish language, her musical talents were steadily honed.
In 1924, after a successful farewell concert in Manila, Jovita travelled to Milan, Italy to study voice. With the prodding of her teachers, maestros Arturo Cadore and Luigi Lucenti, she gave the European stage a try.
On April 29, 1925, she debuted as Cio Cio San in Puccini’s Madam Butterfly and she was an instant hit. It took no time before Jovita conquered the theatre circuits in different European cities. From 1925 until 1927, she crisscrossed Europe – Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and so on.
By 1929, she has established her reputation among royalty and the aristocracy. Jovita enthused Queen Marie of Romania and her court, while she endeared herself to the titled nobility of Germany.
In 1930, Jovita returned to the Philippines. She arrived in Manila on August 23. It was declared a public holiday and a rapturous welcome greeted her. She visited Iloilo and then returned home to Capiz before touring Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan. Finally, she headed to the United States. She was the first Filipina to perform in operas and recitals in the United States.
Jovita Fuentes returned to the Philippines before World War II erupted. Following the war, she embarked on fulfilling a role as a music missionary. By now, she taught music in Holy Ghost College, Santa Isabel, and University of the Philippines. Her students would all agree that while she was strict and terrifying, they knew that she wanted them to understand that singing demands hard work, daily practice, and concentration.
By now it was clear for Jovita that the cultural development of a nation is a responsibility of its government. And so she took it her mission to involve the government intimately and intensively in art. Using her connections, she lobbied among lawmakers to pass a law that would create a foundation to promote music. At last, her hard work paid off. On May 12, 1955, President Ramon Magsaysay signed Republic Act 1370. The law establishes the Music Promotion Foundation of the Philippines and Jovita was appointed the chairman of the board. Under Jovita’s stewardship, the organization subsidizes radio series, music competitions, individual performers, and cultural groups. The foundation’s support was a lifeline for Philippine arts back then, and encouraged even more activities among music organizations.
At the twilight of her life, a grateful nation honoured Jovita Fuentes with the highest award bestowed to any cultural icon. On March 27, 1976, Jovita Fuentes was hailed as the National Artist for Music. She died on August 7, 1978, an esteemed icon in Philippine cultural scene.
In celebration of Jovita Fuentes' birthday and the honor she earned for the province, the provincial government of Capiz proclaimed February 15 as Jovita Fuentes Cultural Day. Also, a street in Roxas City was named in her honor.
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