By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno
MANILA – A state funeral fit for a national artist was held for Nora Aunor, one of the pillars of Philippine entertainment, at Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig on Tuesday.
Aunor, born Nora Villamayor, passed away April 16 at age 71 due to acute respiratory failure following an angioplasty.
While Libingan ng mga Bayani is near Heritage Park, where her wake took place, Aunor’s remains were brought first to the Metropolitan Theater in Manila for a state necrological service.
In a message relayed by National Commission for the Culture and the Arts chairman Victorino Manalo, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he will miss how Aunor, known as the “Superstar,” performed as a singer and actress.
“Wala siyang kinantang awitin or ginampanang papel na hindi sumalamin at pumukaw sa damdamin ng mga tagapakinig at manonood (There was no song she sang or role she played that did not reflect and evoke the emotions of listeners and viewers),” Marcos’ statement read.
President Marcos further said it was with Aunor that he realized that shouting out loud or singing with a high voice are not necessary to be noticed.
Veteran actress Charo Santos-Concio then recalled Aunor’s humble beginnings as a water vendor along the railroads of her hometown in Iriga to the National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts she would eventually become.
“Nora Aunor was even bigger than all her roles. Higit pa sa mga karakter na kanyang binigyan ng buhay, binigyan nya ng buhay ang pangarap ng milyong-milyong Pilipino. Kahit saang probinsya ka man manggaling, anumang hirap mo (More than the characters she brought to life, she brought to life the dreams of millions of Filipinos. No matter what province you come from, no matter what your hardships are), Nora gave millions of Filipinos the most important gift: hope,” Concio, a former executive of broadcasting giant ABS-CBN, said.
In his thanksgiving message, Ian de Leon, Aunor’s son with former husband Christopher de Leon, gave a final tribute to how his mother dedicated herself to her musical and acting craft, and her advocacy.
“Bilang kanyang mga anak, kami ay naging saksi sa kanyang walang kapantay na dedikasyon at pagmamahal sa kanyang sining. Nasaksihan namin kung paano siya lumaban di lamang sa kanyang karera kundi para sa mga kwentong nais nyang bigyang buhay: Mga kwentong Filipino, totoo at makabuluhan (As her children, we witnessed her unparalleled dedication and love for her art. We witnessed how she fought not only for his career but for the stories she wanted to bring to life: True and meaningful Filipino stories),” Ian, who also became an actor like his parents, said.
Called “Ate Guy” by her friends and fans in reverence to her role in the 1971 film Guy and Pip alongside Tirso Cruz III, Aunor first gained national spotlight when she won in the Tawag ng Tanghalan, then a standalone singing contest program, in 1967.
Her entertainment career spanned over six decades. She was set to film a movie with fellow entertainment legend Hilda Koronel this year before her passing.
Long overdue for a National Artist citation, Aunor finally made it to the list in 2022, just before the term of Rodrigo Duterte as president ended. (PNA)
