President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday paid a heartfelt tribute to National Artist Nora Aunor, whose songs and films captured the heart and soul of the Filipino people.
“Look at Nora Aunor—how do we even speak of Ate Guy without feeling an ache in our chest?” the President said, posthumously conferring the Presidential Medal of Merit on the late actress.
“She (Aunor) had the talent, she had the particular skill to communicate that in her song and in her films. And that’s why, once again, we honor her today…Sinalamin niya ang bawat isa sa atin. Dahil sa angking galing at kabutihan sa kapwa, minahal siya ng lahat ng Pilipino,” President Marcos added.
He noted that her every film, song, and TV appearance drew massive audiences and long queues of devoted Noranians. “Ang kinang ng isang Superstar ay hindi kailanman kukupas.”
Aunor’s list of accolades, Marcos noted, is unmatched—international awards from Europe to Africa, countless trophies from the FAMAS, Gawad Urian, MMFF, Luna, and Star Awards, and a place in the FAMAS Hall of Fame. She was also named National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, “and rightfully so.”
President Marcos recalled the filming of Himala in the dunes of Ilocos Norte, near his family home. “Whether in Himala or Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Ate Guy looked into our eyes and pierced our souls” and said: “Ito ay kung sino tayo bilang mga Pilipino.”
He also shared a personal story about his first encounter with the young Nora Aunor during his eighth birthday party at Malacañang in 1965.
From then on, he said, their paths crossed often at events and dinners, and she remained ever relatable to the public. “I don’t know what it is… but every person that saw her perform felt a connection. This could be my cousin, my sister, my girlfriend—that was the quality of Ate Guy.”
President Marcos fondly recalled speaking to her longtime on-screen partner Tirso Cruz III during her wake. “Ito ‘yung Guy and Pip talaga from the time… and that’s still how we remember her.”
Aunor, who passed away on April 16, 2025, leaves behind a legacy as the Superstar of Philippine entertainment and a beloved cultural icon whose art gave voice to the Filipino experience. | PND
