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Nora Aunor, Philippine cinema, Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, Iriga City, Nora Aunor death,
Nora Aunor, revered as the “Superstar” of Philippine cinema and proclaimed a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, has passed away at the age of 71.
From Iriga City to Immortality in Film
Her death was confirmed by her son Ian through a heartfelt message posted on Facebook on Wednesday night.
“We love you Ma,” Ian wrote. “Alam ng Diyos kung gano ka namin ka mahal.. Pahinga ka na po Ma.. Nandito ka lang sa puso at isipan namin..”
Her daughter, Matet, also paid tribute with a brief but emotional message on Instagram, “I love you mommy.”
Born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Aunor first captured the hearts of Filipinos in the 1960s with her powerful and soulful singing voice. She quickly rose to fame, not just for her musical talent but also for breaking conventional beauty standards. Her petite frame and dusky complexion defied the industry’s preference for fair-skinned, Hollywood-like leading ladies — a quiet revolution in representation.
Nora Aunor: A Career That Shaped Philippine Cinema
Aunor’s acting career was as groundbreaking as it was enduring. She delivered unforgettable performances in some of the country’s most iconic films, including:
- “Himala” (1982)
- “Bulaklak sa City Jail” (1984)
- “The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995)
Her performance in Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos earned her her first Best Actress awards from both Gawad Urian and FAMAS in 1976.
In 1990, Aunor achieved a rare “grand slam” in Philippine cinema, sweeping five major Best Actress awards — Gawad Urian, FAMAS, Film Academy of the Philippines, Metro Manila Film Festival, and Philippine Movie Press Club — for her role in Gil Portes’ “Andrea, Paano ba ang Maging Isang Ina?”
Nora Auno Global Acclaim
Her global acclaim reached new heights in 2013, when she won Best Actress at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong for her performance as a midwife in “Thy Womb,” a locally produced film.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, upon naming her a National Artist in 2022, hailed her extraordinary body of work, “[Her filmography is] exceeded only by the number of awards and citations she has received from local and international organizations.”
In February 2023, Aunor spoke publicly about a harrowing health scare. In an interview with TV host Boy Abunda, she recounted a near-death experience where she “died” for three minutes after her oxygen levels plummeted.
“Ang nangyari, hindi ko alam, walang tumulong. Hindi minadali na lagyan ako ng oxygen,” she said. “Humiga ako [tapos] hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyari. ‘Pag gising ko nando’n na ako sa ICU.”
She described it as not her first brush with death — recalling a car accident in 1982 that occurred during the filming of Himala, one of her most acclaimed works.
