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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-25/arimda-siguion-reyna.avif" alt="Armida Siguion-Reyna" loading="lazy" />
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(Armida Siguion-Reyna)
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Early Life and Formative Years
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Born Armida Liwanag Ponce Enrile on November 4, 1930 in Malabon, Rizal (now a city in Metro Manila), she was the daughter of Alfonso Ponce Enrile, a Spanish mestizo lawyer and politician, and Purita Liwanag, a soprano and one of the earliest graduates of the <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1188/today-in-philippine-history-june-18-1908-the-university-of-the-philippines-was-established" class="news_link">University of the Philippines</a> College of Music. Growing up in a household steeped in music and politics, Armida was exposed to the arts early on. Her mother's passion for music and her aunt, Carmen Concha, the first female film director in the Philippines, profoundly influenced her aspirations.
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At nine, Armida's worldview shifted after reading her mother's diary, which revealed Purita's suppressed dreams and subservience to her husband's wishes. This experience ignited a resolve in young Armida to pursue her ambitions unapologetically and never compromise her independence. She began singing under her mother's tutelage, mastering the songs of Fely Vallejo, and nurtured her love for music and performance.
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November 4, 1930: Armida Siguion-Reyna was born in Malabon, Rizal