– Nora Aunor, the iconic ‘Superstar’ of Philippine cinema, has passed away at the age of 71

– Her death was confirmed by her son, Ian de Leon, in a heartbreaking post on social media

– On his Facebook page, Ian posted a poignant black-and-white picture of the veteran star

– In his post, Ian called his mother as the “heart” of their family, touching the hearts of many

Nora Aunor—the iconic ‘Superstar’ of Philippine cinema—had just left an irreplaceable void in the hearts of her family and fans following her passing on Tuesday, April 16, at the age of 71.

Among the countless tributes pouring in for the film icon, one that stood out and deeply moved netizens came from Kristoffer Ian de Leon, her child with veteran actor Christopher de Leon.

Ian de Leon, may nakakadurog-puso na tribute para kay Nora Aunor: "She was the heart of our family"

Photos: Ian de Leon, Kristoffer Ian de Leon on Facebook

Source: Facebook

On his official Facebook page, Ian shared a poignant black-and-white photo of his mother.

In his message, netizens felt the profound grief of a son bidding farewell to the woman he called the “heart” of their family as he honored her memory with words that resonated deeply with fans.

 

“With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, we share the passing of our beloved mother, Nora C. Villamayor ‘Nora Aunor,’ who left us today, April 16, 2025, at the age of 71,” Ian began in his post.

 

According to the actor, his mother was a source of strength, “She was the heart of our family — a source of unconditional love, strength, and warmth. Her kindness, wisdom, and beautiful spirit touched everyone who knew her. She will be missed beyond words and remembered forever.

” Ian’s heartfelt tribute quickly went viral, drawing emotional reactions from netizens on the site.

Many praised the actor not only for his strength but also for his love and reverence for his mother.

Comments flooded the post, offering condolences and recalling Nora’s immense contributions.

“Nakikiramay kami bro,” one netizen wrote, while another one offered their prayers to Ian and the rest of the family afterward, “My deepest condolences and prayers to you and your family, Ian.”

May be a black-and-white image of 1 person

Known as the ‘Superstar of Philippine cinema, she has earned critical acclaim for her powerful performances in films such as Himala, Bona, and The Flor Contemplacion Story. Her contributions to the arts were recognized in 2022 when she was named National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts. In 1975, Nora married fellow actor Christopher de Leon.

They have one biological son, Ian de Leon, and adopted four children: Lotlot, Matet, Kiko, and Kenneth de Leon. As previously reported by KAMI, a vintage slum book page of Nora Aunor recently surfaced online, revealing some of her favorite things. She mentioned that Vilma Santos and Esperanza “Espie” Fabon were her “chum girls.” She also shared that she dislikes arrogant people. She named Nancy Wilson, Dionne Warwick, and Barbra Streisand as her favorite singers.

 

Meanwhile, the one and only superstar, Nora Aunor, shared the story of how she lost her powerful and striking voice. She said she simply woke up one day only to find out that she could no longer sing. She admitted that it was a painful experience for her, as she used to love singing more than acting back then. Unfortunately, her once-powerful voice could never be restored.