Nora Aunor helped Bibeth Orteza move family into 3-story apartment

Bibeth Orteza with Nora Aunor (center). Image: Facebook/Bibeth Orteza

Seasoned actress and director Bibeth Orteza paid tribute to the late Nora Aunor by recalling the latter’s generosity, which helped the former’s family move into a better abode.

In a tribute posted on her Facebook, Orteza credited Aunor’s help in moving her family out of the “silong” (humble shelter) to a three-story apartment.

“While I had already started to do bit parts and character roles in movies, I was principally still a television writer and “Ang Makulay na Daigdig ni Nora” was among the shows I wrote for. This family breadwinner was finally able to make enough money to move her family out of the silong occupied since 1971, to a three storey apartment on K-1 street, in Kamuning,” she recalled.

READ: Nora Aunor once helped old farmer buy new carabao, Joel Lamangan recalls

The filmmaker noted that Aunor gave her the money so she could make the down payment for the apartment.

“The problem was the talent fees I was expecting to make the down payment for the move wasn’t out yet. I went to see the woman, asked if she could advance me the money and promised I’d give it back to her as soon as I got it. She stared at me for a long beat, she must have been reading if I was telling the truth. She asked someone to make a check, she signed it, then gave it to me at once. Nakalipat kami (we were able to move), yes!”

Orteza shared that the late Superstar even returned her payment and didn’t want to make a fuss about it.

“A month or so later, I got paid. I had no checking account, so I brought the money to her. She wasn’t home. I left the cash with the same person who prepared the check for me. Evening of that same day, lo and behold, came a basket of fruits and the very same envelope of cash I had earlier left in her house,” she stated.

“I rushed to her place in Valencia. She had guests. Our eyes met. I waved the envelope at her. She put a finger to her mouth, shook her head, gave me a beer, while also putting the envelope back in my bag. She wasn’t perfect. But she was this,” concluded the director.

In a separate tribute, director Joel Lamangan also recalled how Aunor once helped an old farmer buy a carabao for his farm, as well as how she gave money to film crews who were underpaid.