Cinema’s ‘miracle’: Nora Aunor’s most celebrated awards, titles and roles
In an acting industry where stories flicker and fade, Nora Aunor didn’t just play and perform roles; she defined and transformed them into tiny miracles that lit up the screen. From her iconic performance as Elsa in “Himala” (Miracle) to bringing the true-life story of a Filipina migrant domestic worker convicted of a double murder in “Flor Contemplacion,” she became a true icon of cinema.
As the industry mourns not only an actress but an acting legend, we also celebrate the indelible mark she left behind, which made her deserving of the National Artist of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts honor and the Grand Dame of Philippine Cinema title. Aunor’s every performance resonated not just deeply with the audience but also garnered significant accolades that cemented her place in the film industry.
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“Himala” (Miracle) (1982)
Perhaps the most iconic of Aunor’s movies, “Himala” is considered one of the greatest Filipino films of all time after being adjudged by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino as one of the Ten Best Films of the Decade.
Directed by the late Ishmael Bernal, Aunor delivered an iconic performance as Elsa, a young woman who claims to have seen the Virgin Mary and begins healing the sick, leading to a religious movement in her town. The way Aunor embodied the themes of faith, doubt and societal pressures in “Himala” made it one of her most celebrated roles.
Upon its premiere at the 1982 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the film swept the festival awards including Best Picture and Best Actress for Aunor. It also won Best Picture at the 1983 Catholic Mass Media Awards. Aunor was also hailed Best Actress in various local awarding bodies including Gawad Urian.
“Himala” had its international premiere at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival and became the first Filipino film to be included in the Competition section, where it vied for the Golden Bear trophy.
The film then took home the Bronze Hugo Award at the 1983 Chicago International Film Festival. In the same year, it received a special religious citation at the 1983 Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Taipei, Taiwan.
In 2008, “Himala,” the only Filipino film to be shortlisted, was awarded the Viewers’ Choice Award for Best Asia-Pacific Film of All Time, with the award being a joint production of CNN International and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
The film was also selected as the opening film and last iteration of the 1983 Manila International Film Festival, which was chaired by then First Lady Imelda Marcos.
“The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995)
Aunor portrayed Flor Contemplacion, a Filipina domestic helper in Singapore who was convicted and executed by hanging for allegedly killing her fellow Filipina maid and the little boy under her care. The Superstar’s performance earned her the Princess Pataten Award for Best Actress at the 19th Cairo International Film Festival. The film also won the Golden Pyramid Award for its director, Joel Lamangan.
Aunor’s convincing portrayal as the fallen heroine garnered her various Best Actress awards, including from the FAMAS and Gawad Urian. The film was also screened and exhibited at different film festivals around the world, including the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival, the 1996 Dublin Film Festival, the Hawaii International Film Festival, and the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival in New York, among others.
“Thy Womb” (Sinapupunan) (2012)
Directed by Brillante Mendoza, Aunor portrayed Shaleha, a midwife in a Muslim community who, despite her own inability to conceive, assists her husband in finding a second wife to bear him a child.
The film competed for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. Although it did not take home the top honors, the film received three special prizes — the La Navicella Venezia Cinema Award and the P. Nazareno Taddei Award Special Mention for Mendoza, along with the Bisato d’Oro Award (Best Actress) for Aunor.
Aunor’s complex performance earned her Best Actress awards not only from local awarding bodies but also from international festivals, including the 7th Asian Film Awards, 6th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, and the 3rd Sakhalin International Film Festival.
The film also won a special jury award at the 7th Cines del Sur – Festival de Granada in Spain, as well as 2nd place for a feature film at the 10th International Independent Film Festival in Lisbon, Portugal, and at the 11th Asian Film Festival in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
“Bona” (1980)
Directed by the late Lino Brocka, Aunor played the titular character who becomes infatuated with a struggling and abusive actor named Gardo (Phillip Salvador).
In 1997, the film was cited as one of “The Best 100 Films in the World” by the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, USA, making it one of the Philippines’ greatest movies to this day. Aunor received her second Gawad Urian for Best Actress for her role.
The film then premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight of the 1981 Cannes International Film Festival. It also won the jury prize at the Figueira da Foz International Film Festival at that time.
Over the years, “Bona” has been screened at various international film festivals. Last year, a digitally restored version of the film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Cannes Classics section, where it received positive reviews.
“Bakit May Kahapon Pa?” (1997)
Aunor portrayed a former New People’s Army hit woman who seeks vengeance against an army general (Eddie Garcia) responsible for the massacre of her village. The Superstar’s compelling performance earned her the Golden Pearl Award (Best Actress) from the inaugural East Asia Film and Television Award in Malaysia.
The film was also nominated for Golden Pyramid at the Cairo International Film Festival. It also competed and exhibited at the 2nd Asian Film Festival in Tokyo, Japan, the International Film Festival of India New Delhi in India, and Brussels International Independent Film Festival, among others.
“Taklub” (Trap) (2015)
Set in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which devastated Tacloban in 2013, Aunor took on the role of Bebeth, a mother mourning the loss of her children in the disaster.
Aunor’s portrayal of a mother and survivor dealing with grief and trauma earned the movie rave reviews and accolades. The film won Best Film at the 1st MónFilmat Festival Internacional de Cinema and also took home a special jury prize at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
The film was honored with the Audience Award at the 16th Asiatica Film Mediale and the 15th Beirut International Film Festival, and it also earned Aunor her Dambana ng Kagalingan bilang Pinakapasadong Aktress (Hall of Fame) at the 18th Gawad Pasado.
“Naglalayag” (2004)
Directed by Maryo J. de los Reyes, Aunor assumed the role of Dorinda, a menopausal judge grappling with loneliness and a midlife crisis. Her character embarks on an unconventional relationship with a much younger taxi driver.
Aunor’s nuanced performance earned her the Best Actress trophy at the 31st Brussels International Independent Film Festival in Belgium. The film also received the Special Jury Prize and the Best Actor award for Yul Servo.
“Dementia” (2015)
In this psychological horror film, Aunor portrayed Mara Fabre, a woman suffering from dementia who experiences unsettling occurrences in her ancestral home.
The Superstar’s portrayal of a deteriorating mind confronting past traumas earned her Best Actress honors at the St. Tropez International Film Festival in France. The film also won Best Foreign Language Film at the time.
