CELIA RODRIGUEZ UNDER FIRE: Vilmanians Slam Actress for “Disrespectful” Remark at Nora Aunor’s Funeral!

A storm of controversy erupted online after veteran actress Celia Rodriguez made a bold statement during her eulogy for the late Nora Aunor at Heritage Memorial Park. In her speech, Celia passionately praised Nora, calling her the only true National Artist in the world of showbiz—and saying that no one could ever follow in her footsteps.

While many fans of Nora Aunor praised Celia for her heartfelt tribute, the remarks didn’t sit well with supporters of another Philippine cinema icon—Vilma Santos, famously known as the Star for All Seasons. For the Vilmanians, Celia’s statement felt like a direct snub to Ate Vi, implying that Vilma didn’t deserve to be a National Artist.

Celia Rodriguez, bilib sa lalim ng pag-arte ni Nora Aunor-Balita

In the latest episode of Showbiz Now Na, hosted by Cristy Fermin, Romel Chika, and Wendell Alvarez, the hosts tackled the brewing issue.

Romel stressed, “A eulogy should honor the one who passed away, not be used as a platform to throw shade or stir division. This wasn’t the right moment to insert comparisons.”

Cristy Fermin echoed this, saying the backlash was intense, especially after watching the full video of the eulogy. She noted that the delivery and tone of Celia’s words seemed to hint at a deeper message.

Celia was heard saying, “No one will follow you, Nora. You are the only Superstar.”
For many Vilmanians, this felt like a subtle jab at their idol.

Cristy added, “The Vilmanians were vocal. You can read their comments online—they felt insulted and hurt by what seemed like an intentional exclusion.”

Celia Rodriguez gets emotional over Lifetime Achievement Award from Nora Aunor and PMPC | GMA News Online

Interestingly, Celia seemed aware of the controversy her words would spark. In the same video, she boldly admitted:
“People are going to bash me again, it’s okay, I’m used to it. I’m just telling the truth.”

This comment only added fuel to the fire, as it suggested that Celia stood by her statement, even knowing it would provoke strong reactions.

In the end, this issue once again reignited the decades-long rivalry between the camps of Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor—two legendary figures whose supporters have long debated who truly reigns supreme in Philippine entertainment.

But for others, the moment called for unity, not division—highlighting the need to focus on honoring the memory of a fallen icon, rather than drawing lines in the sand.