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Remembering Nora Aunor: The Country’s Superstar

by Alexa Villano
April 20, 2025

The Philippine entertainment industry mourns the death of actress and National Artist Nora Aunor at the age of 71

Actress and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor died on April 16 at the age of 71. Her children, Ian and Lotllot de Leon, confirmed the news.

Nora’s grandchildren, led by actress Janine Gutierrez, paid tribute to their Mama Guy.

” A treasure to our family but truly always more the people’s than ours. She had a life of giving her immeasurable love to everyone she touched, whether on screen, through music, or in person,” the grandchildren said in a statement.

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support. Please keep our family in your prayers, especially Mama, Uncle Ian, Ate Matet, Kuya Kiko, and Ken, as we say goodbye.”

Her death comes after another entertainment icon, singer Pilita Corrales, died last April 12.

The Nation Mourns the Loss of a Superstar

Dubbed the country’s “Superstar,” Nora Aunor or Nora Cabaltera Villamayor began her career in the 1960s, first gaining recognition for her powerful singing voice in local competitions. Before entering show business, she worked various jobs—selling peanuts and water in Iriga, Camarines Sur.

Nora went on to star in numerous films, often paired with notable names like her ex-husband Christopher de Leon, screen partner Tirso Cruz III, and longtime on-screen rival and close friend Vilma Santos.

More than an artist, Nora was a mother and grandmother. Her relationship with her children – Ian, Lotlot, and Matet has made headlines through the years, but they later patched things up. They were together with their other siblings, Kiko and Kenneth, during her 70th birthday in 2023.

Lotlot, Ian, and Matet followed her footsteps in showbiz.

Tributes have poured in from industry peers and public figures. Vilma Santos-Recto expressed her condolences, along with Charo Santos, Hilda Koronel, Dingdong Dantes, Lovi Poe, Senator Grace Poe, Maricel Soriano, and many more.

President Bongbong Marcos also offered his sympathies to the family. The actress will be laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on April 22.

A Cinematic Legacy: 10 Iconic Nora Aunor Films

With over 170 film credits to her name, narrowing down Nora Aunor’s most memorable roles is no easy task. As we honor her cinematic legacy, we revisit 10 films that helped define Philippine cinema through unforgettable lines, award-winning performances, and groundbreaking narratives.

1. Himala (1982)

In what is arguably her most iconic role, Nora played Elsa, a faith healer whose line “Walang himala!” has become embedded in pop culture. The film was later adapted into the stage musical Isang Himala, where Nora made a cameo as narrator.

2. Thy Womb (2012)

Nora starred opposite Lovi Poe as a childless midwife in this Brillante Mendoza film, which competed at the 69th Venice Film Festival. While it didn’t win the top prize, it earned Nora the prestigious Bisato d’Oro Award for Best Actress.

3. T-Bird at Ako (1982)

T-Bird at Ako paired Nora with Vilma Santos. She played Sylvia Salazar, a lawyer who becomes emotionally entangled with her client Sabel, a local dancer.

4. Bona (1980)

In this NV Productions film, Nora plays Bona, a young woman blindly devoted to a struggling actor. The film was restored and screened at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival’s Cannes Classics section, and later closed the Cinemalaya Film Festival 2024.

5. Dementia (2014)

Nora portrayed Mara, a woman struggling with dementia who returns to her ancestral home—only to confront haunting memories and eerie presences. A haunting performance that blurred psychological and supernatural elements.

6. Bilangin Ang Bituin sa Langit (1989)

In the movie, Nora Aunor played the dual role of Magnolia Dela Cruz and Maggie Zulueta. The film is one of the many films she starred in alongside Tirso Cruz III.

In 2020, Nora returned to television in the TV adaptation as Cedes Dela Cruz. Mylene Dizon played the role of Magnolia while Kyline Alcantara took on the role of Maggie.

7. Flor Contemplacion Story (1995)

Nora starred as Flor Contemplacion, based on the story of the OFW hanged in Singapore for murder. Her son Ian de Leon was part of the movie, playing the eldest son of Flor.

The movie would be one of the many films Nora collaborated with director Joel Lamangan. The two also worked on Muling Umawit ang Puso, Bakit May Kahapon Pa, Sidhi, Hustisya, and Isa Pang Bahaghari.

8. Annie Batungbakal (1979)

She plays the titular role of Annie, a dispatcher by day, and dances at the disco at night. The movie is inspired by the same song by the group Hotdog.

9. Minsa’y Isang Gamugamo (1976)

“My brother is not a pig!” This line is perhaps one of the most iconic scenes in the film Minsa’y Isang Gamugamo, a Filipino protest film directed by Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara. She played the role of Corazon, a Filipino nurse who dreams of going to the US to give her family a better life. Several incidents, however, changed that dream, including her brother’s death and the treatment the families endured from US officials.

10. Banaue: Stairway to Heaven (1975)

The Superstar plays the daughter of the chief’s tribe, and is set in the background of one of the country’s familiar places in Northern Luzon. The film paired her with Christopher de Leon. The two eventually married and had their son Ian. The two would adopt four more children before their separation in the 90s.