Moms and Dads

Nora Aunor: The Woman I Briefly Saw Up Close

by Alexa Villano
April 23, 2025

Nora Aunor was not just a mother to her five children, she was ‘nanay’ to her co-workers and fans, often being their supporter in life

So many tributes have been posted and shared after the death of actress and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Nora Aunor on April 16. Celebrities, friends, and family have visited her wake at Heritage in Taguig. On April 22 at noon, she was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani with full honors after a necrological service at the Metropolitan Theater. The service is part of the honor bestowed as a National Artist, which was given to her in 2022.

I sifted through some of the stories I did as an entertainment reporter and saw vast photos of the times I got to be up close. Thus, I am reminded of the moments she was “Nanay” to many in the entertainment industry.

Nora Aunor was not just a mother to her five children, she was ‘nanay’ to her co-workers and fans, often being their supporter in life

Nora Aunor at Sine Sangdaan in 2019. Photo courtesy of Rob Reyes

Mirroring the Struggles of Modern Moms

With more than 170 films she has made, Nora Aunor has mirrored and played almost every societal role. One of the roles she played, which I vividly remember, was that of Flor Contemplacion, the Filipino OFW hanged in Singapore. I was young, and Flor’s story made headlines with activists even burning the Singapore flag when it was announced Contemplacion had died.

Nora would play more roles that impacted film and television viewers. She played a midwife in Thy Womb, Magnolia Dela Cruz in Bilangin Ang Bituin sa Langit, Annie in Little Nanay, and Nelia in Onanay, to name a few. She didn’t just play the role of mom and grandma but was also mom to her five children: Lotlot, Ian, Matet, Kenneth, and Kiko.

Of the five children, only Ian is her biological child with ex-husband Christopher de Leon. But as Lotlot and Matet told Jessica Soho in a KMJS interview, the actress always considered them from her.

“Never niya po pinaradam sa amin iyon. Nalaman po namin kasi na ampon kami through the helpers,” Matet said. “Si Kuya, anak ni mommy pero tayo (referring to Lotlot, her, Kiko, and Kenneth), anak niya sa heart.“

Lotlot recalled the moment she found out, asking her mom many questions. But Nora Aunor assured her that her love for them never changed.

“Ikaw, galing ka sa Panginoon. Si Ian, siya lang pinagbuntis ko. But mommy never treated us any differently from Ian.”

As a mom, Matet described her as a strict mom but “lambingin” and playful. She told Bernadette Sembrano in an interview last year that when she had time, she would play with them when they were young.

“Buong childhood namin, busy si mommy kaysa nasa bahay siya to play with us. Pero maiintihan namin na para kanino? Bakit siya busy? Para sa amin iyon,” Matet shared.

As a Lola, Matet said her mom would encourage her children to sing. The actress even wanted Matet’s daughter Mishka to have voice lessons.

Nanay Nora On Screen

More than her kids, Nora was also “Nanay” and Lola to her on-screen kids. In 2014, she was present to cheer on Edgar Allan Guzman, or EA, during his Your Face Sounds Familiar stint. She was in the audience, clapping for him. EA played her son in Sa Ngalan ng Ina in 2011. They worked together again in the film Mananambal shown early this year.

Jeric Gonzales also called her nanay and posted photos of them together. The two worked together in the film Dementia.

Carol Banawa and Jo Berry also recalled their moments working with the Superstar, sharing photos of their time. They are just some personalities who became close to Nora Aunor and were fortunate to have called her their onscreen mom and lola.

Nora Aunor giving a speech after receiving the National Artist Award in 2022. Photo from NCCA

The National Artist She Is

Before she became a National Artist in 2022, Nora Aunor was nominated and excluded from the list twice. However, during those times, she received recognition, such as the Gawad Plaridel Award in 2014, given by the University of the Philippines, and the Best Actress Award at the Cinemalaya Film Festival for the Film Hustisya.

I was fortunate enough to see her up close and listen to the messages she gave the audience during the Gawad Plaridel and Cinemalaya in 2014. In UP, she told the audience that the recognition made her feel she had finished school, having only finished up to Grade 2. The award, she said, was special because it was teachers and students who chose her.

“Ang nararamdaman ko ngayon ay iba, eh. Iba kapag UP ang nagbigay sa iyo ng karangalan. Sabi ko nga kanina, hanggang Grade 2 lang ako pero pagtayo ko sa stage ng UP ay parang graduate na din ako ng Unibersidad. Masayang masaya ako,” she told us after the ceremony. “Nakakatuwa dahil sa hindi man ako ni-recognize ng ibang tao, ang taumbayan at mga estudyante at guro ay nagbibigay sa akin ng parangal.”

At Cinemalaya, Nora was cheered as she received the balangay trophy after being declared the winner. She mentioned her supporters, the Noranians, who never left her side during her career’s challenges.

“Kung hindi po dahil sa kanila, wala po ako dito sa harapan ninyo ngayon,” she told the audience.

Those moments showed me why she was Nora Aunor, the actress everyone looked up to. She was not just the Superstar who made movies; she was Nora, who could relate to everyone. She was not just a mom and grandma to her family, she was a mother, sister, and grandma to the people.

When she was finally recognized in 2022, everyone applauded. It took time, but she was recognized because she truly deserved the recognition, joining the ranks of awardees like Ishmael Bernal, Lino Brocka, and Marilou Diaz-Abaya.

National Artist for Film and Broadcast Ricky Lee, who worked with Nora in Himala, shared that she gave the people, particulalry the masses, to keep dreaming.

“Nilagyan niya ng hugis ang ating mga damdamin. Binigyan niya ng direksyon ang ating mga aspirasyon,” he said during his eulogy at the Metropolitan Theater. “Binigyan din niya tayo ng pag-asa at tinuruang puwede tayong lumaban upang matupad ang ating mga pangarap. Ipinakita niya sa atin ang kapangyarihang hindi natin akalaing meron pala ang ordinaryong tao.”

Forever In Everyone’s Hearts

Nora Aunor may no longer be around, but she will always be part of Philippine Entertainment. The last time I saw her up close was in 2019 when the country celebrated Sine Sangdaan, and many celebrities were present. She walked on the red carpet. Fans waved at her, and she waved back, excited to see many co-actors she had not seen for so long.

Before she died, Nora took part in the film Mananambal, where she starred alongside Bianca Umali. I came across a post where someone mentioned that some of today’s kids only knew her as a supporting cast member. It was disappointing to know that some are not even aware of the work she has done in the past. It just shows that her films should be accessible and not just the TV projects she has done.

Director Adolfo Alix, who worked with Nora or Ate Guy, said he hopes to release the film Kontrabida, one of the last films she did. In his post, he wrote: “Hoping this can be released soon as a fitting tribute in memory of her.”

With Nora Aunor, one will ask, who will follow the legacy she made? As Loltlot de Leon, none of them can match the work and contributions she made in showbiz, but they can carry the values and lessons she gave them. That is the true treasure of their mom, the superstar, who rose from poverty and showed the country that anything is possible.