President Manuel Roxas and Jovita Fuentes.
Both Manuel Roxas and Jovita Fuentes hailed from Capiz. The former went on to become the 5th president of the Philippines while the latter wowed the international audience as an opera singer. They were romantically linked to each other–some say it was just puppy love while other sources believe it was true love gone wrong.
Manuel and Jovita were childhood sweethearts. The relationship had to take a back seat when Manoling–as Roxas was fondly called–was sent to study in Hongkong. He later graduated from Manila High School and then took up law at the University of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Jovita was sent by her father, Don Canuto Fuentes, to Manila to further her studies. And this is when Manoling and Jovita crossed paths once again.
LISTEN: Rare Recording of “Arimunding-Munding” by Jovita Fuentes (circa 1925)
For a while, Jovita lived with Manoling’s two aunts who were old maids. He used to visit the place not just to bring lanzones to his aunts, but also to watch Jovita play the piano. Before long, the two began dating each other. The relationship lasted for 3 years, and ended when Jovita declined Manoling’s proposal, the reason of which was Manoling’s refusal to talk to her parents about the marriage.
Heartbroken, the two parted ways. Manoling eventually married Miss Philippines Trinidad de Leon who was also a daughter of Sen. Ceferino de Leon of Bulacan. Jovita, on the other hand, traveled abroad and found international success as an opera singer.
Rumor has it that Manoling only married Trining to advance his career as a politician. As for Jovita, she became the first National Artist for Music in 1976 but never married.