Nora Aunor. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network
Nora Aunor gave an account of the three miracles that happened in her life, including the time when she said she died for three minutes while in a hospital, to which she had herself rushed due to low oxygen level. Miraculously she woke up again in the intensive care unit (ICU), she added.
The Superstar narrated this during her interview for “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Monday, Feb. 20. Aunor first spoke about the car accident she figured in during the filming of her 1982 hit film “Himala.”
“Akala ng mga kasamahan ko sa pelikula ay namatay na ako kasi naghead-on [collision], ako ‘yung nagda-drive,” she recalled. “Nagdasal na sila kasi sabi nila baka patay na ako.”
(My fellow actors and staff in the film thought that I was already dead because I had a head-on collision accident and I was the driver.)
“Ang nangyari pala, ‘yung salamin sa harapan, natanggal ‘yun sa sasakyan pero buo, hindi nabasag. ‘Yung manibela naman, imbes na tamaan ako sa dibdib, lumihis sa akin,” she continued. “Wala talaga, wala akong naramdamang sakit. Ang naramdam ko lang ay nauntog ‘yung ulo ko sa may bintana.”
(What happened was the car’s windshield was removed, but it did not shatter to bits. The steering wheel, meanwhile, veered away instead of hitting my chest. I did not feel any pain at the time. I only felt my head bump into the window.)
Aunor also considers regaining her voice, even if it was not the same as before, as a miracle and admitted she came to a point where she asked God what she had done to deserve going through such hardship. It can be recalled that Aunor underwent cosmetic surgery in Japan in 2010 which reportedly damaged her vocal cords.
“May mga insidente na pwedeng sisihin [pero] ayoko nang magsalita kasi nando’n na e. Magsalita ka man nang magsalita, wala na rin namang mangyayari,” she said. “Ang kasalanan ko lang, nung nasa Boston kami hindi pa ako nakapagpa-opera ng boses na dapat noon naoperahan na para nakabalik.”
(There are incidents which I could blame, but I don’t want to talk about it because it is what it is. Even if I speak about it repeatedly, it won’t change anything. My only mistake was that I did not undergo surgery when I was in Boston, which could have brought my voice back.)
Aunor then revealed the third time she experienced a miracle which happened just recently when she was in and out of the hospital. The veteran actress did not immediately disclose what caused her hospitalization.
“Hindi ko alam kung pwede kong sabihin—kasi namatay na ako nang three minutes nitong nakaraan lang,” she revealed. “May insidente na sabi ko, ‘Halika na [sa ospital] kasi bumababa na ‘yung oxygen [ko] sa katawan.’ Tumakbo nanaman sa ospital, pagtapos sa ospital sabi ko, ‘Oxygen lang po ang kailangan ko.’
(I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this, but I died for three minutes just recently. There was an incident where I said, “Let’s go to the hospital because the oxygen level in my body is getting low.” We rushed to the hospital, then I told [the staff there],” I only need oxygen.”)
“Ang nangyari, hindi ko alam, walang tumulong. Hindi minadali na lagyan ako ng oxygen,” she added. “Humiga ako [tapos] hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyari. ‘Pag gising ko nando’n na ako sa ICU.”
(What happened was that—I do not know—no one helped me. They did not immediately give me oxygen. I lied down, then I did not know what happened next. When I woke up, I was already in the ICU.)
Aunor then recounted being told by her friends that God loves her and that He may have granted her another chance to live because she has yet to fulfill her “mission” in life.
‘One-way’ romance with Tirso Cruz III
During the interview, Aunor also spoke about her past relationship with veteran actor Tirso Cruz III and admitted that what happened between them was a one-way street romance.
Aunor initially opened up about her experience in love, revealing that she once truly loved someone who did not share the same affection toward her. Aunor revealed that she was referring to Cruz, noting that she does not hide their past relationship from the public.
“Si Pip ‘yon e,” she answered, referring to Cruz’s nickname. “Wala pa si Papa Boyet (Christopher de Leon) noon… Eleven, 12 years na on and off kami.” (It was Pip. That was before Papa Boyet came. [Pip and I] were on and off for 11 to 12 years.)
“Basta ang alam ko, dadating ang panahon na—gustuhin man ng Diyos—baka kami,” she stated. “Pero ngayon, hindi na masyado dahil… may kanya-kanya nang pamilya. Masaya na rin ako ngayon.”
(What I know is that there would come a time—if God willed it—that we might end up with each other. But now, it is unlikely to happen because we already have our own families. Also, I am already happy now.
Aunor also admitted that she was madly in love with Cruz that whenever they had a misunderstanding, she would get drunk and wait for him outside his house even if it would take her overnight.
Reconciliation with Matet de Leon
Aunor and Abunda also touched on the topic of the actress’ recent feud and reconciliation with her adoptive daughter Matet de Leon.
“Siguro may pingdadaanan din ‘yung anak ko at hindi ko rin alam na may pinagdadaanan siya,” she explained. “Nagkaroon ako ng ano na maggawa ng [tuyo] na hindi ko alam na ikakasama ng loob niya.”
(Maybe my daughter was going through something and I did not know about it. I had an [idea] to make a [gourmet tuyo business] and I did not know that it would upset her.)
She reiterated that they have already settled the misunderstanding between them, saying that Matet, along with her family and other siblings, regularly visits Aunor in her house. /ra