Alicia Moreda Tuya (November 1, 1912 – June 13, 1983), was a
soap opera
A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
actress, comedian, and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television industry.
Early years
Moreda was born in
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez (, ) is a city and the eighth-largest municipality in Puerto Rico. It was founded as Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez, and is also known as ''La Sultana del Oeste'' (The Sultaness of the West), ''Ciudad de las Aguas Pura ...
, one of three children born to Alberto Moreda Cifuentes and Celestina Tuya Lafuente. Her siblings were her sister, Adela Moreda Tuya, and her brother, Alberto Moreda Tuya. Her father was born in
Gijón
Gijón () or () is a city and municipality in north-western Spain. It is the largest city and municipality by population in the autonomous community of Asturias. It is located on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea in the Bay of Biscay, in the cent ...
,
Asturias
Asturias (, ; ast, Asturies ), officially the Principality of Asturias ( es, Principado de Asturias; ast, Principáu d'Asturies; Galician-Asturian: ''Principao d'Asturias''), is an autonomous community in northwest Spain.
It is coextensiv ...
, northern Spain, and had come with his brother to
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez (, ) is a city and the eighth-largest municipality in Puerto Rico. It was founded as Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez, and is also known as ''La Sultana del Oeste'' (The Sultaness of the West), ''Ciudad de las Aguas Pura ...
before the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (cloc ...
. In 1921, her mother died and she was raised by her father and sisters. Moreda received her primary and secondary education at the Catholic school "Colegio La Milagrosa" in Mayagüez. At first she thought that she would like to become a
nun
A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...
; however, after participating in a school play, she decided that she would prefer to become an actress.
Acting career
After she graduated from high school, Moreda auditioned for theatre roles and participated in many local productions. At first she would tell everyone that she was a Gallega (a person from Galicia, located in the north-western corner of Spain) and she was nicknamed "La Gallega". Besides theatre, she also made many presentations on radio. On March 28, 1954, Moreda participated in the first televised program in Puerto Rico, a comedy titled "El Caso de la Mujer Asesinadita" (The Case of the Assassinated Woman) alongside
Telemundo
Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a division of NBCUniversal, which in turn is owned by Comcast. It provides content nationally with pr ...
Channel 2.
In 1960, she acted in "Casos y cosas de casa" (Cases and things of the house) with
Braulio Castillo
Braulio Castillo Cintrón (March 30, 1933 – February 28, 2015) was a telenovela actor in Latin America. His two sons, Braulio Castillo, Jr. and Jorge Castillo, are also actors. He was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Castillo played in the ''O ...
and
Lillian Hurst
Lillian Hurst (born August 13, 1943) is a Puerto Rican actress and comedian, She made her debut as a television comedian in the early-1960s. She has worked in film, stage and television productions in the United States.
Early life
Hurst was born ...
. She also acted in the soap opera "La Gata" (The (female) Cat) and became very attached to the cat on the set. She then adopted many cats and dogs, and she named each one of the animals after a famous person.
Among the movies in which Moreda acted are the following: ''Romance en Puerto Rico'' (Romance in Puerto Rico) (1962), with
and Luis Vigoreaux; ''Jucio contra un Angel'' (Judgement against an Angel) (1964), alongside Braulio Castillo and Luis Vigoreaux and '' DÃos los CrÃa'' (God creates them) (1979) alongside
Norma Candal
Norma Daniela Candal Penedo (April 10, 1927 – February 5, 2006), was a Puerto Rican actress and comedian who was best known for her role as Petunia on ''La criada malcriada''.
Early years
Norma Daniela Candal Penedo was born in 1927 in Fajar ...
Otilio Warrington
Otilio Warrington, known popularly as Bizcocho (born February 26, 1944) is a comedian, best known for his roles of "Bizcocho" and "Cuca Gómez".
Early years
Warrington was born in the Barrio Obrero area of Santurce, Puerto Rico. When he was nin ...
,
Esther Sandoval
Esther Sandoval (28 December 1928 – 6 February 2006) was a Puerto Rican actress and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television.
Early years
Sandoval was born Esther MarÃa González in Ponce where she received her primary and secondary education. ...
and director
Jacobo Morales
Jacobo Morales (born 12 November 1934) is a Puerto Rican actor, poet, writer, playwright, filmmaker, and auteur.
Later years
She would always carry the flags of
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
and
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...
wherever she went. At times when she would be hospitalized for any reason, she would request that if she ever died she would like to be buried with both flags.
Alicia Moreda died on June 13, 1985, of natural causes and was buried with her two flags in the Cementerio Municipal de Mayagüez. The city of
Caguas
Caguas (, ) is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, and east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey. Caguas was founde ...
named a street ''Calle Alicia Moreda'' in her honor.