National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor passed away on April 16 at the age of 71 due to acute respiratory failure, as confirmed by her son, Ian De Leon. During the state necrological services held for the late Superstar on April 22, National Artist Ricky Lee gave a moving eulogy in her honor. “Rebelde si Guy,” Lee said. “Sa loob ng pitong dekada ay nilabanan niya ang status quo. Binago niya ang kolonyal na pagtinging nagsasabing mga mapuputi lang at matatangkad ang maganda sa puting tabing. Ginampanan niya ang papel ng mga babaeng palaban at makatotohanan.”
Lee recalled meeting Aunor for the first time while working on Himala, the Ishmael Bernal-directed drama for which Lee had written the script. “Marami siyang binasag at binago ang paniniwala,” Lee said of Aunor. “Pinili niyang huwag lang maging superstar kundi maging isang tunay… Ginawa niyang totoo ang ibig sabihin ng sining.”
“Minsan lang mangyayari ang isang Nora Aunor,” concluded Lee, “pero di pa tapos ang kuwento mo, nagsisimula pa lang…Minahal mo kami nang lubos maski na halos ay wala nang natira para sa sarili mo. Hayaan mong mahalin ka rin namin hanggang sa walang hanggang.”
‘Maraming salamat, Ate Guy’
Filmmaker Joel Lamangan, who directed Aunor in six films, also paid tribute to the late Superstar during the service. “Sa lahat ng pelikula namin, nakikita ko ang dedikasyon at pagmamahal ni Ate Guy sa kanyang trabaho,” said Lamangan. “Hindi ko siya nakitang naging mayabang. Laging humble, laging magaan ang loob. Ang lahat ng iyon ay siyang dahilan kung bakit tinuring ko siyang isang tunay na artista at isang kaibigan.”
“Ngayon, naaalala ko ang mga sandali na kami ay nagkasama,” continued Lamangan. “Hindi ko makakalimutan ang mga araw na nagtulungan kami at nagkasama sa mga pelikula. Ang mga alaala na ito ay mananatili sa aking puso.”
“Maraming salamat, Ate Guy,” Lamangan concluded, “sa lahat ng iyong ibinahagi sa akin, sa lahat ng iyong itinuturo sa akin, at sa pagiging isang magandang halimbawa ng isang aktor at isang tao.”
In a recent Facebook post, Lamangan revealed that he and Lee had been planning to produce a biopic based on Aunor’s life. Despite her passing, Lamangan stressed that the project will still move forward.
In a career spanning nearly seven decades, Aunor starred in almost 200 films — including Himala, The Flor Contemplacion Story, and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos — while working with legendary filmmakers such as Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, and Mario O’Hara . Following her death, the public paid tribute to the country’s beloved Superstar until April 20, with a private wake held on April 21. After the state necrological service held on April 22, Aunor was laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
