Maria Carpena

Early and personallife Carpena was born in Santa Rosa, La Laguna, to rice farmer Camilio Carpena and Maria Evangelista. She was their eighth child.

Carpena started singing at an early age. She was a soprano in a choir at a nearby church. She pursued music despite her father's stern disapproval.

As Carpena rose to fame, she met a married fan whom she eventually had an affair with. They had a son, Mauro Carpena, on March 12, 1908.

In 1908, Carpena was invited to the United States by Governor-General William Howard Taft and she recorded her songs under Victor Recording Company. She was accompanied by the Molina orchestra. Carpena's first solo, Ang Maya, was recorded in a makeshift studio in Manila Hotel.

Carpena did not receive formal training and never learned how to read sheet music. She played music by the ear.

Death Carpena died on March 8, 1915, due to complications caused by an appendectomy. She was 28 years old, and was buried at the La Loma Cemetery.