Viva Films pays tribute to National Artist Nora Aunor via ‘The Superstar Collection’
Some artists entertain. Others stir something deeper. Then, there are those like Nora Aunor—who didn’t just perform, she made the screen feel like life itself.
Born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, she was better known to generations as “Ate Guy,” the Superstar who carried the weight of stories that reflected the Filipino condition. Her beginnings were modest—selling water by the train tracks—but her journey defied every expectation. She rose, not with spectacle, but with sincerity, becoming a force in Philippine cinema for over five decades.
Nora’s eyes, often quiet, could deliver more than dialogue. Her voice, at times tender or trembling, had the kind of clarity that stayed with you long after the scene faded. And her presence wasn’t about pretending—it was about being.
Marked by Milestones
With more than 170 films to her credit, Nora Aunor’s filmography is a towering contribution to the industry. In 1990, she swept all five major acting awards for her performance in Andrea, Paano Ba Maging Isang Ina?—an achievement that solidified her place in the local film canon.
She was inducted into the FAMAS Hall of Fame in 1992 and received the FAP Lifetime Achievement Award the following year. By 1999, the Cultural Center of the Philippines named her among the 100 Centennial Honorees for the Arts.
Internationally, she stood shoulder to shoulder with the best. Her portrayal of a mother seeking justice in The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995) won her Best Actress at the Cairo International Film Festival. In 2012, she brought home major acting awards from the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Asian Film Awards for Thy Womb.
Beyond films
Nora Aunor’s artistry didn’t end with cinema. As a singer, she recorded over 500 songs and more than 260 singles—including the million-selling Pearly Shells in 1971. She performed on stage, graced television screens, and left her mark on every medium she touched.
In 2022, she was declared a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, the highest cultural honor in the Philippines. This year, she is also set to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit, a posthumous recognition of her deep influence across generations.
A Tribute: “The Superstar Collection”
To pay tribute to her legacy, Viva Films brings back some of Nora Aunor’s most impactful films through The Superstar Collection: A Tribute to the National Artist. Starting April 25, audiences can watch these works in select cinemas for only ₱150.
Screening in SM Cinemas, Robinsons Movieworld, Fisher Mall Cinemas, and Gateway Mall:
- Beloved (1985, dir. Leroy Salvador – Digitally Enhanced) A powerful story of friendship tested by betrayal, with Aunor and Hilda Koronel delivering unforgettable performances.
- The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995, dir. Joel Lamangan – Digitally Enhanced) This landmark film tells the harrowing journey of a Filipino domestic worker facing a tragic fate abroad. Aunor’s performance earned her global acclaim.
- Mananambal (2024, dir. Adolfo Alix Jr.) Her final film, a haunting tale of healing and the supernatural set in Siquijor, co-starring Bianca Umali.
Legacy That Lives On
This curated film selection invites both lifelong fans and first-time viewers to experience the range and depth of an artist who shaped the way stories are told in the Philippines. Nora Aunor showed us life’s wounds and wonders—always with honesty, always with heart.
Though she may no longer take center stage, her work remains. And in every frame she graced, her truth still speaks.
