The recent launch of My City, My SM, My Music at SM City Lucena gave mallgoers a rare glimpse of the art of opera; as well as the life and work of National Artist for Music Fides Cuyugan Asensio, opera singer, teacher, stage and film actor, and librettist.

Opera is a 400-year old musical genre, that tells a story through music and singing. Each performance is a grand spectacle with beautiful music, drama, words, sumptuous sets, incredible costumes, and movement working together to explore, to wonder about the springs of human motivation. It also highlights vocal artistry at the highest level – unlike in musicals, opera singers do not use microphones to amplify their voices, and the music played by the orchestra is completely live.

Opera was first introduced to the Philippines in 1898 through the zarzuela, a Spanish art and music form that involves spoken and sung words. It was eventually called sarswela after adapting to local culture. The sarswela would, later more commonly be known as local opera.

One of the most notable opera performances in the Philippines is the Sandugong Panaguinip, the first official Philippine opera in the Tagalog language. It was staged in 1902 and was composed by Ladislao Bonus, who is now known as the Father of Philippine Opera. From then on, opera has become part of Filipino culture, which My City, My SM, My Music hopes to bring closer more people.

A joint project of SM, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the Filipino Heritage Festival, WCOPA, and the Philippine Star with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Music for Young Artists (NAMCYA), and Tahanan Books, My City, My SM, My Music is a celebration of Philippine Performing Arts – music, dance, and theater.

The campaign aims to bring people and music together by showcasing indigenous, folk, classical, and contemporary artistry in a roadshow around the SM Supermalls. Advocating music for all, we are working with communities to mount performances, exhibits, and workshops in key cities around the Philippines.

It is the latest edition of the My City, My SM series which has showcased our country’s tourist attractions, cuisine, crafts, and visual arts in a cultural roadshow around the SM Supermalls since 2010.

The program hosted by Southern Tagalog Most Outstanding Events Host of the Year Normandy Laureta opened with a delightful classical performance of The Prayer by Odette Garcia and Dr. Cris Buela.

They later enjoyed a magnificent opera performance of Ivan Nery with an aria from Spoliarium the Opera by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab and Libretto by Natisonal Artist Fides Cuyugan-Asensio.

Guests including Lucena Council for Culture and the Arts Chairperson Dr. Luzviminda Calzado, City Tourism Officer Arween Flores, City Information Officer Mignon Tan, Provincial Toursim Officer Nesler Almagro, and Philippine Information Agency Provincial Manager Lito Giron all enjoyed the tribute video hosted by broadcast journalist Rizza Diaz.

They were all warmly welcomed by SM executives led by SM’s Millie Dizon, SM City Lucena Regional Operations Manager (South 5) Arch. Niko Alvarez, Mall Manager Maricel Alquiros and  Assistant Mall Manager Engr. Russel Alegre.

Mallgoers also had a rare chance of viewing the exhibit at the My Music House which showcased the life and works of National Artist Fides Cuyugan- Asensio. The centerpiece was her Sisa costume she wore  in Felipe de Leon’s Noli Me Tangere which became a hallmark in the country’s musical theater history. Also on display were memorabilia from her opera performances, her awards, photos while she was teaching, producing, and directing opera and theater productions.

National Artist for Music Fides Cuyugan-Asensio is an opera singer, teacher, stage and film actor, and librettist. She was born Fides Belza Cuyugan on August 1, 1931 in Lucena, Quezon to topnotch surgeon Dr. Gervasio Santos Cuyugan and Jacinta Belza, a beauty from Camarines Sur, who played grand opera excerpts on the piano, instilling in a love for music in her young daughter.

Fides began her musical training in 1938 at the Philippine Women’s University grade school where she studied piano and music theory. In 1947, she enrolled at the University of the Philippines College of Music and Arts and finished two courses – a Bachelor of Arts in English specializing in Drama in 1950, and a Bachelor of Music, Major in voice and minor in piano in 1951.

After graduation, she received a scholarship to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, making her the first Filipina singer ever to be admitted at the most exclusive music school in the world that time. She graduated at the Curtis Institute of Music in 1955 with an Artist’s Diploma, major in voice with special studies in stage movement and musical concept through movement or eurhythtymics.

She returned to Manila in 1954 where she reigned as coloratura soprano for three decades. She made her professional debut as Adele in Die Fledermaus at the Far Eastern University Auditorium. Two years later, she sang the role of Sisa in the world premiere of De Leon’s Noli Me Tangere with the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

From 1969 to 1974, Fides brought classical music to a larger audience by hosting Sunday, Sweet Sunday, a one hour television show where she performed major musical works. She later returned to television with A Little Night Music from 1989-2002.

Fides also joined the academe, as Chairman of the Voice and Music Theater Department of the University of the Philippines. After her retirement, she continues to teach and mentor musicians at the Fides Cuyugan Asensio Institute of Music and the Arts.

Among her students were Salmeyo Malaki (who performs in Los Angeles and San Diego), soprano Andion Fernandez (currently under contract with Deutsche Staatsoper), and tenor Lemuel Cuento (now with Vienna Staatsoper).

For her work, Fides Cuyugan Asensio has been given many awards, including PAMA-AS: Gintong Bai Award (Thank you to Outstanding Women Leaders) for the Musical Arts by the NCCA, a Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 7 July 2005, as well as the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining Award in 2015. She was named National Artist for Music in 2022.

The My City My SM, My Music event at SM City Lucena is the seventh in the series after the grand launch at SM City North Edsa honoring National Artist for Music Ramon Pagayon Santos. This was followed by SM City Olongapo Central’s tribute to Coke Bolipata, SM City Marilao’s homage to National Artists Francisca Aquino and Ernani Cuenco, and SM City Pampanga’s showcase on Kapampangan Sacred Music featuring Msgr. Gregorio Lazatin Canlas.

More recently, SM Masinag paid tribute to National Artist for Music Lucio Diestro San Pedro; while SM City Dasmarinas highlighted Philippine Punk Icon Bobby Balingit of the Juan Isip Band and the Sisters of Mary Hand Bell Ringers. My Music’s next stop will be at SM City Santa Rosa.