Cathy Babao reminisces Caridad Sanchez and Nora Aunor’s friendship
Caridad Sanchez’s daughter Cathy Babao honors Nora Aunor in a heartfelt post.
Many celebrities took to social media to express their grief over the sudden loss of their dear friend, ‘Superstar’ Nora Aunor.
Some paid tribute with heartfelt messages and throwback photos, remembering their cherished memories with the National Artist.
Among those who shared a close bond with Nora was veteran actress Caridad Sanchez. Their friendship, which spanned from the ’80s until the present, was deeply rooted not only between them but extended to their families as well.
On Facebook, Caridad’s daughter, Cathy Babao, honored the late superstar with a touching tribute from their family.
Cathy reminisced about candid moments with Nora and the special bond she shared with her mother.
“She would often call late at night, when the world had quieted and only the hum of crickets and the buzz of the cordless phone broke the stillness. Once or twice, I was the one who answered,” Cathy recalled.
She remembered the first time she answered one of those late-night calls, feeling starstruck upon realizing that it was Nora on the other end.
Cathy also shared how the two veteran actresses supported each other through late-night conversations.
“Mom and Ate Guy shared a friendship as fierce as it was quiet–something forged in long conversations and unspoken understanding. Through the 1980s and well into the early ’90s, their bond held. That was a turbulent season in Ate Guy’s life. She had separated from Kuya Boyet, was raising Ian, Lotlot, and Matet, all while carrying the weight of her stardom and the constant demands of film and public life,” she said.
“Mom became her sounding board. Their calls would stretch on for hours, the cordless phone drifting from the living room to the kitchen, then to the bathroom, and finally into Mommy’s bedroom–always tucked beneath her chin like a secret. She never said much about the things they talked about, but I knew. I saw it in the way she’d nod quietly, the way she’d sometimes sigh after a long call, as though holding someone else’s heartache gently in her hands.”
Their bond grew even deeper, with Caridad stepping in as a second mother to Nora’s children whenever needed.
“One afternoon, after picking me up from school, we went straight to Capitol Medical Center. One of the kids–Matet, I think–was confined. Ate Guy was away. From there, we drove to their house in the Scout area to check on the others. I watched my mother quietly slip into this other role–comforter, fixer, second mother. She had always had a soft spot for her co-stars, but with Ate Guy, it was different. Deeper. Steadier,” Cathy wrote.
Cathy also described Nora as simple, soft-spoken, and humble — agreeing with her mother’s view of her as a generous soul who gave without hesitation.
One cherished possession that remained with Caridad was a pair of diamond earrings framed in gold, a gift from Nora’s family.
“She told me she had tried to give them back. It was too much, she said. But Ate Guy wouldn’t hear of it. ‘Sasama po ang loob ko,’ she had said, refusing. Tucked beside the earrings was a small handwritten card, no frills, just feeling: ‘Tita, maraming, maraming salamat sa lahat.'” Cathy said.
In closing, Cathy saluted Nora for the beautiful life she lived. One filled with generosity, humility, and grace.
“Ate Guy left the way she often lived off-screen: quietly, without fanfare, as if not wanting to trouble anyone. But in her wake, she leaves behind a brilliance that refuses to dim–a light that lives on in every song, every role, every life she touched. She was more than an icon. She was a rare soul, generous and grounded, a woman who bore the weight of fame with astonishing grace. The one and only Superstar of Philippine cinema,” she praised.
Followers of Cathy and Nora Aunor loved the tribute, flooding the comments with warm messages and prayers for both families.
As of writing, the post earned more than 6,000 reactions on Facebook.
Nora Aunor passed away on April 16 at the age of 71. Her children, Ian De Leon and Lotlot De Leon, announced her passing through social media.
“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 wrote.
Lotlot also shared details of Nora’s wake. Public viewing will be held on April 19 to20, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Chapels at Heritage Park.
Nora’s internment is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. Details regarding the late actress’ funeral are yet to be announced.
Take a look at these local celebrities and personalities who paid tribute and honored Nora Aunor:
