Susan Fuentes (; 1 November 1954 – 7 September 2013) was a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

singer known as the "Queen of Visayan Songs". She recorded and popularized

Visayan Visayans ( Visayan: ''mga Bisaya''; ) or Visayan people are a Philippine ethnolinguistic group or metaethnicity native to the Visayas, the southernmost islands of Luzon and a significant portion of Mindanao. When taken as a single ethnic group, ...

classics such as ''Matud Nila'' (''They Say'' in English; ''Sabi Nila'' in Filipino), ''Gimingaw Ako'' (I Feel Lonesome),
Usahay
' (''Sometimes'' in English; ''Minsan'' in Filipino), ''Rosas Pandan'' and ''Miss Kita Kung Christmas''.

Early years

Fuentes was born as ''Susan Toyogon'' in 1954. At age five, Fuentes was already joining amateur singing contests in

Butuan Butuan (pronounced ), officially the City of Butuan ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Butuan; Butuanon: ''Dakbayan hong Butuan''; fil, Lungsod ng Butuan), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the region of Caraga, Philippines. It is the ''de facto'' ...

. While still in high school at Agusan National High School, she was featured in the defunct Bisaya magazine for her singing talent and beauty. After high school, she went to Manila to continue her singing career.

Career

She got her big break and her recording debut in 1977. As a singer, Fuentes’ sultry performance was noted for its lusty vocals and emotional styling. She was also known for her Latin-styled Visayan folk songs. She gained crossover success in the Tagalog, Ilocano, Hiligaynon and Visayan music market with the famed Awitong Bahandi and Mga Awiting Walang Kupas. She eventually took a long hiatus from the music industry to raise her own children. During this period, Fuentes went through personal struggles with her life as she battled drug addiction and heavy smoking that would eventually lead to her partner taking her children away from her. After over coming her personal struggles she returned to the industry in 2010 with the help of her long-time friend and singer Dulce. She performed with

Pilita Corrales Pilar Garrido Corrales (born August 22, 1937) is a Filipino pop singer, songwriter, actress, comedian and television presenter. She is dubbed as "Asia's Queen of Songs" and is widely known for her rendition of "Kapantay ay Langit" which eventu ...

in Cebu, with Dulce in Bohol and made a guest appearance at ''

Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman ''Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman'' () formerly known as ''Master Showman Presents'', is a Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Hosted by German Moreno, along with John Nite, Shermaine Santiago, Jackie Lou Blanco ...

'' on June 19. These would be her last performances on stage. Her worsening health condition prompted Fuentes to be confined in the hospital. On August 19, 2012, Dulce organized a fundraising event for her titled "Usahay … A Moment for Susan" which took place on August 28 at Zirkoh Morato in Quezon City. Among the performers were Manilyn Reynes, The CompanY, Gary Granada, Nonoy Zuñiga, Aiza Seguerra, Jose Mari Chan, Marco Sison, Jett Pangan, Isay Alvarez, and Frencheska Farr. The event was organized to help Fuentes pay for her medical bills. In December 2012, she was recognized by the JRG Halad Foundation as one of that year’s awardees for outstanding contributions to Cebuano music. On March 23, 2013, she was featured in GMA Network's life story series ''

Magpakailanman ''Magpakailanman'' ( en, Forevermore) is a Philippine television drama anthology show broadcast by GMA Network. Hosted by Mel Tiangco, it premiered on December 2, 2002. The show concluded on December 27, 2007. It was replaced by the '' E.S.P.' ...

''. Host Mel Tiangco interviewed her alongside her friend Dulce. It was her last televised appearance.

Personal life

Fuentes described her life during the 80's as "self-destructive" despite being wealthy. She was in a relationship with a man named Darl who was already married and had children of his own. During the affair, they had two children; a daughter and a son. The couple lived together briefly and did not marry. After Fuentes became a

drug addict Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use of ...

, her partner decided to return to his other family and took her children with him. She became estranged from them for many years until 2012. In 2002, she underwent kidney transplant after they were both damaged. She had to be confined in the Kidney Institute for three weeks, where she had 13 sessions of dialysis.

Death

During her final years, Fuentes had to be confined in the hospital due to her worsening health condition. She stopped performing on stage after 2010. In August 2012, she was interviewed by GMA News where she expressed hope of being able to live for another ten years. At her final televised appearance on ''

'' in March 2013, she told Mel Tiangco of how much she wanted to live so that she could see her children again and get to know them better following years of estrangement. Fuentes died on September 7, 2013, after prolong confinement at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. It was revealed that she had been in battle with

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...

. The JRG Halad Foundation hosted a tribute for Fuentes and the late Cebuano Maestro Mil Villareal, who also died in the same month, on September 30.

Discography

Albums

*''Ang Atong Pinangga'' (1976) *''A New Feeling (Visayan Song Book)'' (1977) *''Awitnong Bahandi'' (1977) *''Halad Nako (Awitnong Bahandi Part 2)'' (1977) *''Mananaygon'' (1978) *''Yukbo sa Bisayanhong Awit w/

'' (1978) *''Tango Uban Kang Susan'' (1980) *''Mga Awiting Walang Kupas'' (1980) *''Straight from the Heart'' (1982) *''Miss Kita Kung Christmas'' (1990)

Singles

*Miss Kita Kung Christmas (original released by The Lightnings Band in 1976; also Covered by

Apo Hiking Society The Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, later popularly known as APO Hiking Society, or simply APO, was a Filipino musical group and one of the pillars of Original Pilipino Music ( OPM) composed of Danny Javier†, Jim Paredes, and Boboy Garro ...

, also covered by

Rico J. Puno Enrico de Jesus Puno (; February 13, 1953 – October 30, 2018), better known as Rico J. Puno (), was a Filipino singer, television host, actor, comedian and politician. He was considered as a music icon in the Philippines. He started the tren ...

Sharon Cuneta Sharon Gamboa Cuneta-Pangilinan ( , ; born January 6, 1966) is a Filipino actress, singer, television host, and socialite. Regarded as one of the most successful and highest-earning individuals in the Philippine entertainment industry, she has ...

Jessa Zaragoza Richelle Ann Mallari Loyola-Avanzado (born January 31, 1979), better known by her stage name Jessa Zaragoza, is a Filipina commercial model, singer and actress. She is known as the "Phenomenal Diva" and "Jukebox Queen of the 90s" for her first ...

, Sarah Geromino, and Ronnie Lliang) *I Wonder What Will Happen (1976) *While I'm Around (1976) *Pinangga (Tagalog Song) (1976) *Himaya (Tagalog Song) (1976) *Sa Dilim Nitong Gabi (1976) *Sa Damgo Ko (w/ Harana Trio) (1976) *Tayo'y Magsimbang Gabi (1976) *Ang Aguinaldo Ko sa 'Yo (1976) *Kawang Lamang (1976) *Mahinumdum Ka Ra (adapt. SONG FOR ANNA) (1977) *Mga Hayop Sa Damo (Movie Theme) (1977) *Anong Pait (Movie Theme) (1977) *Ginikanan (1978) *Katahap (1978) *Dapa't Magsaya (with THE APO HIKING SOCIETY and PASSIONATA) (1978) *Nakapagtataka (1978; original by APO; also covered by Hajji Alejandro, Rachel Alejandro, and pinoy rock band Sponge Cola) *Siya (1978) *Singsing Nga Brilyante (1979) *Balili (1979) *Ay Pagkapait / Bisag Unsaon (1979) *Undo (1979) *Ayaw Pagpaila (1979) *Himayang Nahunlak (1979) *Tig! (1979) *Sigi Lang (adapt. I Will Survive) (1980) *Gugma Ko (1981) *Pagbati (1981)

References

External links

*http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2013/09/08/1183961/farewell-queen-visayan-songs *http://entertainment.inquirer.net/111563/queen-of-visayan-songs-susan-fuentes-is-dead {{DEFAULTSORT:Fuentes, Susan 1954 births 2013 deaths 20th-century Filipino women singers Cebuano people Filipino songwriters People from Butuan Traditional pop music singers Visayan people