Nora Aunor, Superstar and National Artist, dead at 71
Nora Aunor. Image from AFP
Updated, April 20, 11:11 a.m.
Veteran actress and National Artist Nora Aunor has died of acute respiratory failure, just a month before her 72nd birthday in May.
Her death was announced by her son, actor Ian de Leon, who posted on Facebook.
“We love you Ma… alam ng diyos kung gano ka namin ka mahal… pahinga ka na po Ma.. nandito ka lang sa puso at isipan namin (We love you, Mom. God knows how much we love you. Please rest now. You will remain in our hearts and minds),” he said.
In a follow-up post, Ian described the late Superstar as the “heart of [their] family ” and a source of “unconditional love, strength, and warmth.”
“With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, we share the passing of our beloved mother, Nora C. Villamayor ‘Nora Aunor’ who left us today, April 16, 2025, at the age of 71,” he said. “She was the heart of our family — a source of unconditional love, strength, and warmth. Her kindness, wisdom, and beautiful spirit touched everyone who knew her. She will be missed beyond words and remembered forever.”
Her son, Ian, confirmed to 24 Oras on Friday, April 18, the cause of Aunor’s death, although some sources said that she had been confined at a hospital in Pasig for a medical procedure.
READ: Nora Aunor died of acute respiratory failure, says son Ian de Leon
The Superstar, whose real name is Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, had been somewhat open about her health issues. She recently withdrew her candidacy in the 2025 midterm elections as the second nominee of the People’s Champ Guardians party-list due to health reasons.
In pulling out of the race, Aunor cited the advice of her doctors. “Pinaalalahanan din ako ng aking mga doktor na umiwas sa stressful situation kagaya ng pangangampanya (I was also reminded by my doctor to refrain from engaging in stressful situations such as campaigning),” she said in early March.
In February 2023, she said in an interview with Boy Abunda that she “died for three minutes” at a hospital where she rushed herself after experiencing low oxygen levels. Miraculously, she woke up again in the intensive care unit (ICU), she had said.
In August 2024, Aunor expressed regret about losing her “golden voice” after a botched surgery in Japan 15 years ago, which prevented her from pursuing her singing career. She claimed at the time that the medical procedure was botched “on purpose” to ruin her voice. This was especially hard for Aunor as she considered singing to be her greatest love.
“Ang pinaka love ko talaga ‘yung pag-awit kasi kung hindi dahil sa pag-kanta ay hindi ako makakatulong sa pamilya at hindi rin ako makikilala ng mga tao, kaya nung masira ang boses ko, sinira nila eh, para bang sinadya. Hanggang ngayon, hindi ako nakakakanta,” she told Maricel Soriano in the interview.
(What I really love most is singing because if it wasn’t for singing, I wouldn’t be able to help my family and people wouldn’t recognize me, so when my voice broke, they broke it as if it’s intentional. Until now, I can’t sing.)
Ultimate artist
As an icon and a legend to many, Aunor was the ultimate artist for being able to master singing, dancing, and acting in theater and on the silver screen, and even on the radio. She was also a record producer and film producer. She was also the most celebrated and the most awarded actress in Philippine show business.
She began her career in stage plays before transitioning to television, and then in making films, for which she was later called the “Grand Dame of Philippine Cinema,” and a Hall of Fame awardee at the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards (Famas), arguably, the highest acting award-giving body in the Philippines. She was also named the champion of the popular singing contest “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on her second attempt with her rendition of “Moonlight Becomes You” in 1967.
Aunor was also the host of the long-running musical variety show “Superstar,” which premiered in 1967 and lasted for 22 years. She was joined by the late German Moreno, Cherie Gil, Jaclyn Jose, and Jograd de la Torre.
As a provincial lass from Iriga, Camarines Sur, Aunor rose to fame in her film debut “All Over the World” (1967), starring Eddie Gutierrez and Rosemarie Sonora. Among her other critically-acclaimed movies were “Minsa’y May Isang Gamu-Gamo” (1976), “Bona” (1980), “Himala” (1982), “Bulaklak sa City Jail” (1984), and more recently, “Mananambal” (2024).
Also known for her moniker “Ate Guy” and “La Aunor,” her filmography and strong fanbase had put her in direct rivalry with Star of All Seasons Vilma Santos, whom she considered a good friend. She was also known for her love teams with Tirso Cruz III, Manny de Leon, and Cocoy Laurel.
On Facebook, Santos expressed her love for Aunor soon after her death was confirmed, showing their close friendship on and off-screen.
La Aunor and Vilma Santos at the 2024 PMPC Star Awards. PMPC Photo by Joey Austria
“Our sincerest condolences and prayers. Rest in peace, Mare (my friend). Ms. Nora Aunor, our Superstar and National Artist, maraming salamat,” she said.
Her most recent award was for best actress at the PMPC Star Awards for the movie, “Pieta,” tying with fellow screen veterans, Soriano and Santos.
At a press conference for “Pieta,” she told Philippine Daily Inquirer: “Time will eventually come when I will have to stop working. Pinag-iisipan ko na ngayon kung paano ko gagawin ang pag-exit ko sa industriya. Tinitimbang ko kung makakaya kong tumigil … pero hindi s’ya magiging madali para sa akin.”
“Napamahal na kasi sa akin ang sining. Kaya nung sinabi ni Direk Adolf (Alix Jr., director of ‘Pieta’) na may gagawin kaming pelikula, tuwang-tuwa ako dahil nakaka-miss talagang umarte. [During the pandemic,] ang hirap ng walang ginagawa. Tapos, nanood ka sa TV at nakikita mo ang ibang magagaling na artista na may ginagawa, kaya lalo mong nami-miss.”
The award-winning actress was conferred the title of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte after several snubs in previous administrations.
At the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ tribute to Aunor in July 2022, she told industry colleagues and her loyal ‘‘Noranians” that she will continue to promote Filipino movies that inspire.
“These past few days, I have been battling an illness. This was also the reason I was not able to attend the actual ceremony in Malacañang. I feel much better now. I thank those who have sent messages,” she added. “The life and art of Nora Aunor that you love so much — since I first tried my luck in music and in acting several decades ago — I will continue to offer them to you.”
In her later years, she began foraying into politics.
Colorful life behind the camera
Aunor left behind her biological son, Ian de Leon, and daughters Lotlot and Matet de Leon, who she adopted with ex-husband Christopher de Leon. She has two other adoptive sons — Kiko and Kenneth de Leon. She was also the adoptive grandmother of siblings Janine and Diego Gutierrez, and the biological grandmother to Jaden and Jordan.
Her death came just a few days after that of Pilita Corrales, the mother-in-law of her daughter Lotlot.
Just like her long-running TV program, “Ang Makulay na Daigdig ni Nora,” her life behind the camera was just as colorful as could be seen on screen. Her stormy relationship with her children, for one, was made public on several occasions.
In 2022, and even years before that, Matet bared that she had a falling-out with Aunor after the latter put up a gourmet tuyo business which “directly competed” with her own food business, saying that she felt betrayed by her mom.
Matet further claimed that the Superstar did not treat her as her own child. They eventually reconciled in January 2023.
Asked which she thought was tougher, to become an artist or to become a mother, Aunor had said “Napakahirap sagutin n’yan bilang ina… kasi baka may masabi na naman akong [hindi namin pagkakaunawaan ng aking mga anak].
Aside from Christopher, Aunor was also linked to Richard Merk and John Rendez.
