RATIONAL INSANITY
Jovita -- Diva, Prima Donna
There are a few moments in ones life when one becomes truly proud to know ones heritage. Being a Capisnon, I have so many reasons to be proud of myself and my heritage. Leading the ranks of Capisnons of whom I am truly proud of is of course the president of the first Philippine Republic, President Manuel Roxas, but there is someone else, little known to most in this new generation, who has brought great pride to the people of Roxas City and Capiz -- Jovita Fuentes, the great international Diva and first Filipino Prima Donna.
I should say that my musings about Jovita in this week's column would be more intimate than otherwise, because I pride myself for being related to this great Filipina songbird. My grand aunt, Josefa Vidal Argos is Jovita's second cousin.
To give you a short backgrounder of who Jovita Fuentes is let me start with something most of you would very easily recall, Cio cio San. Cio cio San is the heroine of Puccini's great opera, 'Madame Butterfly'. Jovita Fuentes was the choice player for this role (chosen first hand by Puccini himself) which she debuted at some of the great theaters in Europe when she was barely twenty-four years old. The famous photograph of Jovita as Cio Cio San hangs in one of the great museums in Budapest along with photographs of other great artists. Later she also played the main role in another Puccini classic, Turandot. Other than these two roles she was also personally chosen by the great composer, Richard Strauss for the star role in his opera, 'Salome'. Jovita founded and helped found many Music Organizations in our country and initiated the implementation of legislative support for music in Congress and the Senate. In her later years, after her retirement from performing arts, she continued her advocacy as a teacher, giving rise to many great singers of that time. Her efforts did not go unnoticed; she was awarded the highest honor for a musician in the country, the National Artist Award for Music.
At lunch I would usually ask my grand aunt about Jovita or Bitang as they used to call her. According to her, Bitang was barely four feet tall, a small package for such a great musical giant, as her niece, Dr. Lilia Fuentes Hernandez would put it. Right across the street to our house in Magallanes St. is an old house; all the time I thought the house belonged to Jovita, but according to my folks it belonged to the late Anita Fuentes, the sister-in-law of the great Jovita. There are but few stories my grand aunt could tell me about Bitang, perhaps, because Jovita was rarely in Roxas City because of her countless commitments in Luzon and abroad. What she did tell me though was that Jovita was also the childhood sweetheart of Manoling, or Manuel Roxas. It was definitely a puppy love though, because both soon went on their own ways, coincidentally, also becoming great national figures.
Last Friday I got more intimate with Jovita when I attended 'Jovita Fuentes: A Night of Music' organized by the College of St. John -- Roxas in cooperation with the Ang Panublion. I have heard Jovita's songs, with no less than she, herself singing these every time I use her CD to inspire me at work, but hearing those same songs sung live by a younger crop of artists is quite an experience. I am truly happy to know that such young talent could belt out Jovita's notes with great gusto despite the period these songs belonged to, 'Ay Ay Kalisud' being one of my favorites.
It really gives me an adrenalin rush every time I see young artists enthusiastically living up to their artistry because, let's just say, aside from being an artist myself, I am a die hard supporter of the arts. It is my dream and wish that someday our local governments and politicians would give more support to the field of culture and arts. Over and above this 'reach for the stars' I also wish that someday, someone like the great Jovita Fuentes would give the country a stir by aggressively drumming up support for culture and the arts.
Artists are dying nowadays, if not literally, maybe in their art. The cliché that we usually hear from our parents about art having nothing to give us financially is actually true, but for the artist who truly and compassionately loves his art, there is no better joy than, in the words of the great Jovita herself -- ' dying for the arts'.
I do hope that for many of our artists out there who are struggling in their field regardless of genre, the tides would swiftly turn to usher in a new age of Aquarius; so that, although we may still say it the way the great Maestra Jovita did decades ago, we could say her words, this time with more hope and enthusiasm for the field of arts and culture -- 'How wonderful it is to die for the arts; to die singing!'
Be rational; be insane...every once in a while! TTFN!
Thank you to Dr. Emma Encarnacion, Chancellor of CSJ-Roxas and to Prof. Ma Terasa Muñoz for inviting me last Friday and for partnering with the Ang Panublion in this very worthwhile event, which, hopefully, will not be the last!
I love you all! Byers!