Maria leonora teresa nora aunor biography
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Her early life was marked by financial struggles, but her innate talent for singing became her ticket to a brighter future. Later, in 2005, she was arrested in Los Angeles for drug possession, a setback that affected her public image. She has notched more than 30 gold singles; with estimated sales of one million units, her cover of "Pearly Shells" (1971) is one of the biggest-selling singles in the Philippines.
Television
| Year | Title | Genre |
| 2011 | Sa Ngalan ng Ina / TV5 | Drama |
| 2011 | Walang Tulugan / GMA | Musical Variety Talk Show |
| 2002 | Bituin / ABS-CBN | Soap Opera |
| 2002 | Nora Mismo / NBN 4 | Public Service Program |
| 1995 | Superstar sa 4 / PTV 4 | Musical Show |
| 1995 | Nora / ABC 5 | Drama Anthology |
| 1994 | Modern Romances / GMA 7 | |
| 1993 | Spotlight on Nora / GMA 7 | Drama Anthology |
| 1992 | Star Drama Presents — NORA / ABS-CBN | Drama Anthology |
| 1990 | Superstar — The Legend / IBC 13 | Musical |
| 1984 | La Aunor / RPN 9 | |
| 1978 | Makulay na Daigdig ni Nora / RPN 9 | Drama |
| 1975 | Superstar / RPN 9 | The Longest running musical-variety show |
| 1974 | The Nora Aunor Show / GTV 4 | Variety show |
| 1969 | Nora-Eddie Show / Channel 9 | Musical-Variety Show |
| 1968 | Oras ng Ligaya / Channel 3 |
Theater
| Year | Title | Producer |
|---|---|---|
| 1991, | Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo | PETA (Philippine Education Theater Association) |
| 1993, | DH (Domestic Helper) | PETA (Philippine Education Theater Association) |
| 1994, | Trojan Women | Cecille Guidote-Alvarez’s Theater Company |
Notable citations and awards
International awards and recognition
| Year | Name of the Movie | Group | Award |
| 2004 | Naglalayag | Brussels Festival of Independent Films (Belgium) | Best Actress |
| 1997 | Bakit May Kahapon Pa? | East Asia Film and Television Award (Malaysia) | Best Actress |
| 1995 | The Flor Contemplacion Story | Cairo International Film Festival [1](Egypt) | Best Actress |
| 1983 | Himala | Berlin Film Festival (Germany) | Nominee |
| 1981 | Bona | Cannes film Festival (France) | Certificate of honor |
CINEMANILA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
| Year | Citation | ' |
| 2000 | Lifetime Achievement Award (Philippines) |
10 ASIAN BEST ACTRESSES OF THE DECADE
| Year | Group | Award |
| 2010 | Green Planet Movie Awards [2](Hollywood) | Recipient |
Philippine awards
FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie, Arts and Sciences)
| Year | Title of the Movie | Award |
| 1976 | Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos | Best Actress |
| 1979 | Ina Ka ng Anak Mo | Best Actress |
| 1984 | Bulaklak sa City Jail | Best Actress |
| 1989 | Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit | Best Actress |
| 1990 | Andrea, Paano Maging Isang Ina | Best Actress |
| 1991 | Special Citation | Best Actress Hall of Fame |
| 1995 | Special Citation | Circle of Excellence |
GAWAD URIAN (Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino)
| Year | Title of the Movie | Award |
| 1976 | Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos | Best Actress |
| 1980 | Bona | Best Actress |
| 1989 | Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit | Best Actress |
| 1990 | Andrea, Paano Maging ISang Ina | Best Actress |
| 1991 | Special Citation | Best Actress of the Decade (1980s) |
| 1995 | The Flor Contemplacion Story | Best Actress |
| 1996 | Bakit May Kahapon Pa? | Best Actress |
| 2001 | Special Citation | Best Actress of the Decade (1990s) |
- Nora Aunor received the first ever Best Actress Star award from GAWAD URIAN
Film Academy of the Philippines (Luna Awards)
| Year | Title of the Movie | Award |
| 1989 | Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit | Best Actress |
| 1990 | Andrea, Paano Maging Isang Ina | Best Actress |
| 1991 | Ang Totoong buhay ni Pacita M. | Best Actress |
| 1993 | Special Citation | Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 1995 | The Flor Contemplacion Story | Best Actress |
STAR AWARDS (Philippine Movie Press Club)
| Year | Title of the Movie | Award |
| 1984 | 'Merika | Best Actress |
| 1990 | Andrea, Paano Maging Isang Ina | Best Actress |
| 1991 | Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M. | Best Actress |
| 1994 | Special Citation | Star of the Decade (1980s) |
| 1995 | The Flor Contemplacion Story | Best Actress |
| 1997 | Special Citation | The Vic Silayan Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award for Acting |
| 1999 | Bakit May Kahapon Pa? | Special Recognition for Golden Pearl Award |
| 2004 | Special Citation | Best Actress of the Decade (1990s) |
| 2009 | Special Citation | Himala |
- Nora Aunor received the first Best Actress Star Award from the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC).
Metro Manila Film Festival
| Year | Title of the Movie | Award |
| 1978 | Atsay | Best Performer* |
| 1979 | Ina Ka ng Anak Mo | Best Actress |
| 1982 | Himala | Best Actress |
| 1984 | Bulaklak sa City Jail | Best Actress |
| 1990 | Andrea, Paano Maging Isang Ina | Best Actress |
| 1991 | Ang Totoong buhay ni Pacita M. | Best Actress |
| 1992 | Special Citation | Gawad ng Natatanging Pagkilala |
| 1992 | Muling Umawit ang Puso | Best Actress |
| 1996 | The Flor Contemplacion Story | Plaque of Recognition for Winning in the Cairo International Film Festival |
- Nora Aunor is the first and only Best Performer awardee of the Metro Manila Film Festival
Note: Is equivalent to Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress Award.
Manila Film Festival
| Year | Title of the Movie | Award |
| 2004 | Naglalayag | Best Actress |
Catholic Mass Media Awards
| Year | Title of the Movie | Award |
| 1981 | Bakit Bughaw ang Langit | Best Actress* |
| 1984 | Bulaklak sa City Jail | Best Actress |
Young Critics Circle
| Year | Title of the Movie | Award |
| 1990 | Andrea, Paano Ba Maging Isang Ina | Best Performer |
| 1991 | Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M. | Best Performer |
| 1993 | Inay | Best Performer |
| 1995 | The Flor Contemplacion Story | Best Performer |
- Nora Aunor received the first ever Best Performer award from the Young Critic Circle
Note: Is equivalent to Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role
Quezon City Film Festival
| Year | Title of the Movie | Award |
| 1972 | And God Smiled at Me | Best Actress |
Bacolod Film Festival
- 1975 - Best Actress - Banaue (Grand Buglas Award)
Davao City Film Festival
- 1976 - Best Actress - Ibilanggo Si Neneng Magtanggol
Movie Magazine Awards
- 1991- Best Actress - Ang Totoong Buhay Ni Pacita M.
Ateneo Galian
- 1991 - Best Actress - Ang Totoong Buhay Ni Pacita M.
KRITIKA
- 1991 - Best Actress - Ang Totoong Buhay Ni Pacita M.
Joel David Awards for Excellence in Philippine Cinema
- 1991 - Best Performer - Himala
People's Choice (PPC Publications)
- 1995 - Best Actress - The Flor Contemplacion Story
- 1997 - Best Actress - Babae
1st Cape Tip Festival
- 2004 - Best Actress - 'Naglalayag
PASADO (Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro)
- 2004 - Pinakapasadong Aktres - Naglalayag
- 2009 - PinakaPasadong Artista sa Lahat ng Panahon
- 2010 - Pinakapasadong Dakilang Artista ng Bayan
Gawad Tanglaw
- 2004 - Kapuripuring Aktres - Naglalayag
S Magazine People's Choice Award Actress of the Year
BALATCA (Batangas Laguna Teachers Association for the Culture and the Arts)
- 2004 - Best Actress - Naglalayag
- 2006 - Special Citation - Dakilang Kayumangging Lahi National Artist
Feminist Centennial Film Festival
- 2006 - Special Citation - Outstanding Achievement in Film Acting
- 2011 - Movie Icon Of Our Time - 8th Golden Screen Awards - ENPRESS
- 2011 - Lifetime Achievement Award (For International Achievements) - 13th Cinemanila International Film Festival
- 2011 - Originals in Philippine Cinema Award - 7th Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival
Notable dialogue terms in other works
"I did not...
The fifth of 11 children, she helped her family by selling peanuts and water at the train station. Additionally, in “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay” (1978), where she played a man impersonating a woman, Nora received multiple Best Actress awards for her transformative performance, showcasing her versatility and range as an actress.
Nora Aunor’s legacy in Philippine cinema is defined by her groundbreaking roles, her fearlessness in tackling controversial and thought-provoking films, and her exceptional range as an actress, earning her a place in the hearts of many.
Family, Faith, and Fighting Spirit
In 1975, Nora married fellow actor Christopher de Leon, and the couple became one of the most adored onscreen and real-life pairs in Philippine showbiz.
Nora Aunor, acclaimed for her groundbreaking career in music, film, and television, passed away at the age of 71.
Her son, actor Ian de Leon, confirmed her passing through a deeply emotional Facebook post:
“We love you Ma… alam ng Diyos kung gaano ka namin kamahal… pahinga ka na po Ma… nandito ka lang sa puso at isipan namin.” (“We love you, Ma… God knows how much we love you… Rest now, Ma… You will always be in our hearts and thoughts.”)
She would have celebrated her 72nd birthday on May 21.
She is the only Filipino actress to win international awards from five different continents.
Aunor has also topbilled several stage plays, television shows, and concerts. Voice of the People. Her achievements include:
Multiple FAMAS Awards, including induction into the Hall of Fame.
Best Actress at the Asian Film Awards for "Thy Womb" (2012).
Recognition at prestigious film festivals in Cairo, Hawaii, and Tokyo.
In 2022, she was named a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, the highest cultural honor in the Philippines.
Her grit, raw talent, and profound connection to her audience propelled her to stardom, rising above her humble beginnings.
A Defining Career in Philippine Cinema : Breakthrough and Triumphs
Nora Aunor’s illustrious film career began with a series of breakthrough performances that showcased her raw emotional depth and versatility, eventually solidifying her as one of the Philippines’ greatest cinematic icons.
Her acting career took flight with “Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo” (1976), where she portrayed a woman caught in a complicated love triangle.
Overall she has recorded more than 500 songs.
- She has notched more than 30 gold singles.
- With estimated sales of one million units, Nora's cover of "Pearly Shells" (1971) is one of the biggest-selling singles in the Philippines.
- Nora has also recorded some 46 hit long-playing albums, and several extended plays.
- 1964 - Certificate of Honor, First Prize Liberty Big Show, Camarines Sur
- 1965 - Winner (14 weeks) Darigold Bulilit Contest
- 1966 - Certificate of Honor, First Prize Darigold Jamboree, Naga City
- 1967 - Pinakamahusay na Tuklas na Talino, Grand National Finals Champion - Tawag ng Tanghalan
- 1969 - Favorite Singer of Northern Luzon Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, Dagupan City
- 1969 - Best New Recording Artist of the Year - PREDA
- 1970 - Best New Female Recording Artist - 1969 Awit Awards
- 1970 - Singer for the Months of February, March, and April - DWOW Radio
- 1970 - Best Female Singer in English - Philippine Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
- 1971 - Female Singer of the Year - PREDA
- 1973 - Binibining Pilipinas ng Pelikula at Awiting Pilipino given by First Lady Imelda Marcos
- 1973 - Top Selling Records, Female Singer of the Year, English Version - PREDA
- 1973 - Top Selling Records, Female Singer of the Year, Tagalog Version - PREDA
- 1974 - Queen of Northern Luzon for 100 Hit Records
- 1984 - Gallery of Distinction - Aliw Awards
- 1991 - Gold Record Award (Langit Pala ang Umibig the Album) - Aguilar Music Corp.
- 1991 - Gold Record Award (Handog ni Guy LIVE, the Album) - Universal Records
- 1995 - Best Country Folk Singer (Maliit Man sa Tingin) - 1st Katha Awards
- 1995 - Best Interpreter of Movie Theme Song (Kahit Konting Awa) - 9th Awit Awards
- 1995 - Gold Record Award (Kahit Konting Awa the Album) - Viva Records
- 1997 - National Music Festival Award - Sandiwa Philippines
- 1998 - Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino - 11th Awit Awards
- 1999 - Gawad Siglo as One of the 50 Best Live Entertainers of the Century - Aliw Awards
- 2011 - Dangal Ng OPM Award - Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit
- 2011 - Lifetime Achievement Award - 3rd PMPC Star Award for Music
- 2011 - One of 15 OPM Icons - 3rd PMPC Star Award for Music
- 2011 - Lifetime Achievement Award - 24th Aliw Awards
References
External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Aunor, Nora |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | |
| Date of birth | May 21, 1953 |
| Place of birth | Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
- Himala was awarded the CNN APSA Viewers Choice Award for Best Asia-Pacific Film of all Time (November 14, 2008)
- The Flor Contemplacion Story became the first Filipino movie to win the grand prize in a Major International Film Festival (Cairo '95).
- The Flor Contemplacion Story grossed US$ 3.3 million in its domestic and international exhibitions, making it one of the highest-grossing films in Philippine history.
- Bona was cited as one of "The Best 100 Films in the World" by the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, USA (1997).
- The Filipino actor with the most "Best Performer" awards (5).
- The first Filipino actor ever to win the "Best Performer" award (1978).
- The only actress included in the prestigious "Centennial Honor for the Arts" given by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (1999).
- The first actress to be honored with the "Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service" (TOWNS) award (1983).
- The youngest recipient of the "Lifetime Achievement Award" given by the Film Academy of the Philippines (1993).
- The only Filipino actress to win three successive best actress awards in the Film Academy of the Philippines (1989,1990,1991).
- Chosen by the Gawad Urian as "Actress of the Decade" (1980s and 1990s).
- The only Filipino actor to bag seven Metro Manila Film Festival best actress awards.
- The first actress to be crowned as "Box Office Queen of Philippine Cinema" (1971).
- The only Filipino actor honored by the City of Kileen, Texas U.S.A.
Another notable controversial film, “Bona” (1980), saw Nora portraying a woman obsessed with a famous actor, delving into unhealthy obsession and the dangers of fame. She broke barriers, defied stereotypes, and touched the hearts of millions. Christopher, later remarried Sandy Andolong, and both developed a civil relationship with Nora, built on mutual respect and understanding.
Nora’s story was also one of resilience.
Both were romantic dramas.
In 1971, the power of the loveteam’s fandom flexed its power for the Guy and Pip movie, which was featured in that year’s Manila Film Festival. The awards ceremony was done in Hollywood.
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NORA AUNOR: NATIONAL ARTIST IN FILM
It is undeniable that Nora's legacy in Philippine cinema is unmatched.
With a career spanning over five decades, she has appeared in more than 180 films, covering a vast range of genres—from musical dramas and romantic tales to hard-hitting political films and socially-charged narratives.
If box office is the yardstick, the Superstar had plenty.
One of her most commercially successful films was Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (1979), where she starred alongside Lolita Rodriguez.
This mother-daughter drama became a box office hit, proving that serious, intense storytelling could resonate with the masses.
Nora also had tons of movies that critics regard as the finest in Filipino cinema.
There’s Bona (1980), where she played a naïve fan who became disturbingly devoted to a small-time actor.
There’s also Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), where she depicted a woman incarcerated for murder.
And, of course, no one can forget Himala (1982).
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As Elsa, a supposed visionary in a drought-stricken town, Nora channeled themes of faith, disillusionment, and mass hysteria with haunting precision.
Her famous line—"Walang himala!"—has echoed across generations and has remained one of the most iconic moments in local film history.
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Himala has since been restored, studied, and screened around the world, widely regarded as one of the greatest Filipino films ever made.
In recognition of her towering influence, Nora Aunor was named National Artist for Film in 2022, the highest cultural distinction in the Philippines.
NORA AUNOR AS A RECORDING ARTIST
Perhaps one aspect of Nora’s artistry that the new generation is unaware of is how much she has also contributed to the music industry.
She started as a singer after all.
In 1968, a year after her Tawag ng Tanghalan triumph, and while she was pursuing stardom in the movies, Nora signed a record with Alpha Records.
The Superstar released an astounding 260 singles—setting the record for the most in Philippine music history.
Among her many releases is a cover of "Pearly Shells," which is regarded as one of the best-selling Filipino singles of all time.
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Another best-selling single is her cover of "Moonlight Becomes You," which is her winning piece in Tawag ng Tanghalan.
Nora also recorded several Filipino folk songs, including Leron Leron Sinta, Sarung Banggi, and Dandansoy.
The Superstars has earned several awards for her work in the music industry, including an Album of the Year from the Awit Awards in 1971, for the album The Phenomenal Nora Aunor.
She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 from the Star Awards for Music and a Dangal ng OPM Award in 2011 from the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit.
A singer with a voice that could hush a crowd, an actress whose eyes could speak volumes, and an international icon whose work echoed far beyond Philippine shores—Nora Aunor’s impact isn’t just unparalleled; it’s intricately woven into the very fabric of Filipino culture.
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Nora Aunor: The Eternal Superstar of Philippine Cinema
Nora Aunor: The Eternal Superstar of Philippine Cinema
Introduction
Nora Aunor, often hailed as the "Superstar of Philippine Cinema," is a name that resonates deeply within the hearts of Filipinos.
In “The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995), she portrayed the titular character, a Filipina domestic worker wrongfully executed in Singapore. From her humble beginnings, she rose to become a cultural icon, shaping the landscape of Filipino cinema, music, and television.
LOS ANGELES / MANILA — Superstar. This blog delves into her life, career, and legacy, celebrating the remarkable contributions she made to the arts and culture of the Philippines.
Early Life: From Iriga City to Stardom
Born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor on May 21, 1953, in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Nora grew up in a modest household.
Instead, it was her unwavering spirit and ability to rise from adversity that endeared her even more to her fans.
Nora’s enduring contributions to Filipino cinema, music, and television continue to inspire generations.