Nora Aunor
What will be will be.
This is how Nora Aunor feels about her devoted fans’ incessant calls to have her proclaimed as National Artist for Film.
“Kung ibibigay naman ng Diyos, ibibigay Niya sa‘yo. But if it’s not meant to be, then it’s not. And I think there are many other artists who need to be given that honor first,” she said at a press conference for her upcoming movie, “Kontrabida.”
“Besides, I have never thought even back in the day that I would become a National Artist,” added the acclaimed actress-singer, who had been denied the award twice in the past.
Talks about the longstanding issue were recently rekindled, after a lawmaker filed last November a house resolution seeking the Superstar’s nomination and “long-overdue” recognition as National Artist, which she “rightfully deserves.”
In her resolution, ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Niña Taduran noted Nora’s illustrious acting and music career that spans five decades. She also stated that, “despite very humble beginnings,” Nora “overcame all obstacles to reach the pinnacle of the film industry” and “eventually showed to the whole world her thespic talents.”
Taduran added that Nora shouldn’t be judged for her “personal mistakes,” but for her “big contributions to the film industry.” “We’re not looking for a saint,” she stressed. “We just want to honor someone for her amazing talent and work, which brought glory and inspiration to the country.”
In 2014, former President Benigno Aquino III dropped Nora from the list of honorees, citing issues linking her to illegal drug possession in Los Angeles in 2007.
However, Nora’s then lawyer, Claire Espina, later said that the President may have been misinformed. She clarified that the actress was “never convicted of a crime” and that the charges against her were dismissed.
Nora was shortlisted anew for the title in 2018, but, yet again, didn’t make the final cut. Then Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that though Nora received a “majority,” but not a unanimous vote from the joint board of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts—the two bodies that come up with the list of awardees.
Nevertheless, Nora remains grateful to everyone who believes that she’s deserving of the honor. “I’m very thankful to the fans, to my friends and to the reporters who support me. Hintayin na lang natin [kung] ipagkaloob ng Diyos,” Nora said, adding that she harbors no ill feelings about her previous exclusions.
“Hindi dapat ikasama ng loob ‘yun,” she stressed. “Kung hindi napapanahon, kailangang tanggapin.”
Meanwhile, Nora has slowly been learning the ropes of social media. The 67-year-old actress now has a YouTube page and was amused to find out that she actually has young fans.
“I was puzzled at first because there were millennials sharing the videos. Turns out, there’s a new fan group called ‘Bona,’ which is composed of millennials. And I’m happy to have that kind of interaction,” she related. “My YouTube channel is my way to get closer to my fans, the Noranians, here and abroad.”