MANILA (UPDATED) — Philippine Superstar and National Artist Nora Aunor passed away after a medical procedure according to her son, Ian De Leon.
In an interview with media at the Heritage Park in Taguig, De Leon clarified his mother’s passing was not during a medical procedure. He gave no further details as to his mother’s ailment.
“She was being operated on and after that she had a hard time breathing and eventually things went downhill from there. That’s why they had to do another procedure after that,” he said.
De Leon was joined by siblings Lotlot, Matet and Kenneth in thanking the Filipino public for their love and support for their mother who he says was a very giving person not just to her family but even friends and supporters.
“Uunahin niya ang ibang tao bago ang sarili. Hinayaan niyang maging inspirasyon sa karamihan yung ginagawa niyang pagkanta, pag gawa ng pelikula. Ginusto niya yung gawin dahil gusto niya iparating sa mga tao na ang tao rin ang nagbibigay ng lakas sa kaniya. Tao rin ang nagbibigay ng pagmamahal sa kaniya.,” he said.
(She would put others first before herself. She let herself and her talent in music and films be an inspirations for others. She liked doing that and giving that to people because they also give her strength. They also love her.)
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“Kaya siya naging Superstar, kaya siya naging National Artist. Dahil yun sa pagmamahal, dahil yun sa binigay ng Panginoon at paniniwala kay Hesukristo.”
(That’s why she became a Superstar and a National Artist because of the love the Lord and her belief in Jesus Christ.)
De Leon said their mother peacefully passed on Wednesday evening “surrounded by those who love her the most.”
“We are profoundly grateful to everyone who has reached out with love, prayers, condolences. Your messages are powerful testament to how deeply she was cherished not just by us, but an entire nation. Thank you for honoring her life, her work and the lasting mark she leaves behind.”
The first night of Aunor’s wake was graced by close friends and family. Among them Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos, Boots Anson-Roa, Senator Robin Padilla and Nadia Montenegro.
Fans-turned-friends Gie Tamayo and Tess Ocampo were also in tears upon arriving at the Heritage Park.
Tamayo recalled how she would go to their neighbors house just to be able to watch the Superstar perform on television.
“Napaka humble. Napakabait po niya sa mga fans. Hindi niya tinuring na fans kundi pamilya,” Tamayo said.
(She was very humble and very kind to her fans. She doesn’t treat us as fans but family.)
Tamayo adds that the last time she saw the movie icon was in March 26. At that time, Aunor stayed in her room.
“Dun niya kami pinapasok kasi nahihiya siya sa kapatid ko na balikbayan at fan niya na hindi niya maharap kasi fan din siya.”
(She let us in her room because she wanted to give the opportunity to my sister who is a returning resident to see her.)
Paying respects for the Superstar
Family, friends and supporters of Aunor can pay their last respects at the Heritage Park:
April 17 (7pm-12mn): Private gathering for family and friends. 8pm mass
April 18 (1pm-12mn): Family and friends. 8pm mass
April 19 and 20: Public viewing (10am-4pm). Family and friends at 7pm
April 21 (1pm-12mn) Family and friends. 7pm mass
April 22: State funeral. Details to follow.
De Leon underscored the valuable lessons they learned from their mother, all of which he says they will continue to imbibe and pass on to their children, family and friends.
“Nakita nating lahat kung paano siya namuhay sa harapan ng masa, ng media, ng entertainment industry. Nakita natin kung paano siya namuhay sa amin, sa pamilya niya. Kaya kami swerte namin, napakablessed namin dahil nagkaroon kami ng isang Nora Aunor, Nora Cabaltera Villamayor bilang ina,” De Leon said.
(We saw how she lived in front of the masses, the media and the entire entertainment industry. We saw how she lived for us, her family. We are very lucky and blessed because we had a Nora Aunor, a Nora Cabaltera Villamayor as our mother.)
170 movies
Aunor starred in 170 films and got her first break when cast in 1967’s “All Over the World”, a typical teen comedy of the era.
With a darker skin tone compared to the half-Caucasian actors that dominated local cinema at the time — Aunor brought a relatability to audiences, earning her the nickname Ate guy, or big sister guy.
She would become a sensation as part of a studio-manufactured “love team” with actor Tirso Cruz III. Together they were known as “Guy and Pip”.
Critical acclaim followed nearly a decade later with starring roles in the dramas “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” (“Three Years Without God”) and “Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo” (“Once a Moth”), both released in 1976.
‘Splendid career’
Aunor also recorded hundreds of songs, including 1971’s “Pearly Shells”, said to be one of the Philippine’s top-selling singles ever.
On Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos described her as “a gift to the Filipino nation”, and the government’s National Commission for Culture and the Arts said she would receive a state funeral.
“Throughout her splendid career that spanned more than 50 years, she was our consummate actress, singer, and film producer,” Marcos said.
“Her golden voice was a balm for all. Her genius was a gift to the Filipino nation.”
The fourth of five children from a family in the poverty-stricken Bicol region southeast of Manila, Aunor, born Nora Villamayor, helped the family make ends meet by selling cold water and snacks at a train station.
Her grandmother taught her to sing, and at 14, she won a nationwide singing contest.
She married Filipino actor Christopher de Leon in 1975, and the couple had one biological child and four adopted children before separating two decades later.
Aunor later immigrated to the United States, and in 2005 was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for drug possession. She underwent a court-directed drug diversion programme that kept her out of prison.
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