Today, Feb. 15, is the 124th birth anniversary of National Artist for Music Jovita Fuentes.
She taught at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music from 1919 to 1924.
Fuentes first gained international recognition in April 1925 when she appeared as Cio Cio San in Giacomo Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” at Teatro Municipale di Piacenza in Italy.
When she returned to Manila on Aug. 23, 1930, the day was declared a public holiday.
Fuentes gave her final recital in Manila in 1945 and appeared in the movie “Primadonna” the following year.
She retired from the stage in 1955 and spent her remaining years teaching music. Fuentes was named National Artist in 1976 and died on Aug. 7, 1978. —Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research
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News Briefs: February 15, 2019
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