What it takes to be a National Artist: ‘You’ve got to be crazy’
It was Aug. 1, 1929. Jacinta Belza Cuyugan, married to a doctor, was having a difficult delivery; for a while it appeared to be a choice between the baby’s life and sparing the mother from further suffering.
Both mother and the baby survived. The baby grew up to be an opera star, screen and stage actress, librettist and voice teacher par excellence, and in 2022 a National Artist for Music: Fides Cuyugan-Asensio.
And that is why the diva, who is completing her memoirs, has titled it “I Almost Never Was.”
Cuyugan-Asensio made the announcement at a recent event at the Quezon City Sports Club celebrating her 95th birthday. It was quite an entrance she made, looking every inch the queen of the stage that she was (and is). “She looks much younger,” a friend beside me observed.
–VICENTE CABRIA JR./CONTRIBUTED
The diva was led to her place of honor at a table in front of the stage, where she sat between another National Artist for Music and composer Ramon P. Santos and a close friend, concert pianist Zenas Reyes Lozada.
“She went abroad to study but she did not settle down there for love of country,” one host for the evening said. “Her music demonstrates her love of country.”
It was a festive occasion, with former students at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music, relatives and her legion of friends and admirers attending, performing, paying tribute to her accomplishments and filling the air with lively conversations and with music (“If I Love You,” “La Boheme,” “Mutya ng Pasig”)
There were even moments of unintended humor. One performer was praising the diva to the skies but to Cuyugan-Asensio, it sounded like a eulogy. “I’m still alive,” she blurted out.
–VICENTE CABRIA JR./CONTRIBUTED
Highlights
There were many highlights in the program: tenor Jonathan Badon and soprano Ana Feleo singing the love duet from “Mayo: Bisperas ng Liwanag,” libretto by Cuyugan-Asensio and music by Rey Paguio, based on a celebrated story by Nick Joaquin. Lawyer/singer/pianist Antonio Pastor, also 95, playing Chopin with flair.
A chorus of tenors and sopranos belting out the “Drinking Song” from “La Traviata.” Cellist and Namcya (National Music Competitions for Young Artists) president Renato Lucas recalling that he played with the great sopranos of the recent past “pero iba si Fides (but Fides is unique).” Cocoy Laurel soulfully serenading the diva with the classic Cebuano love song “Matud Nila.”
Humanities professor Felipe Mendoza de Leon, son of National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon (composer of the 1957 “Noli Me Tangere” opera), recalled that his father heartily approved of Cuyugan-Asensio singing the role of Sisa, resulting in Sisa’s aria being the future diva’s signature song. And as a bonus, a rare footage of Cuyugan-Asensio as Sisa was shown.
Unheralded singer Miguel Aguila, 29, was the surprise hit performer of the evening, singing with confidence and a stage presence “Speak Softly Love” (from “The Godfather”). The women in our table screamed “More, more!” and he was the only one asked to do an encore. He obliged with another hit song, “This is the Moment” (from “Jekyll and Hyde”).
–VICENTE CABRIA JR./CONTRIBUTED
In a later chat, Aguila said, “Tita Fides has been my mentor since I was the age of 6.” He is part of a singing group called The Angelos, and his colleagues are George Sison-Tagle, Jenny Sugay and Louie Abaigar. They do corporate events and, in fact, are scheduled to go to Thailand soon.
As expected, the celebrator had the last word. When one of the hosts asked her “What does it take to become a National Artist?” she exclaimed, “You’ve got to be crazy.” This was uttered with the same spunk and spirit that have propelled her to the heights of the magical world of opera and drama.
