I have a MySQL database with standard UTF8 charset (Hostinger VSP, Debian 8, MySQL View 14.14 Distrib 5.5.62, for debian-linux-gnu (x86_64) using readline 6.3), the data is inserted into the database by a app through a NodeJS REST API, and through a WEB panel in PHP the data is changed, if necessary. When registered by the App works normally, if an insert or update is done through PHP the special characters and accents PT-BR are unconfigured (a black triangle appears with? Instead of the character).
We have already inserted the TAG in the PHP pages to use UTF8, we changed in the database too, but nothing solved. What happens is that if we make a copy of the VPS database for our connection localhost works normally - with the same data and structure.
Screenshot of the application, the texts are displayed, inserted and edited correctly.
ScreenshotofthePHPcodeinVPS,withthehighlightedtaginserted. 