When National Artist and Superstar Nora Aunor passed away, the Philippine entertainment industry was dented with a hole that can never be patched.
Popularly known as ‘Ate Guy,’ the incomparable mark she left while pushing the local cinema and artistry to excellence is one that cannot be measured. And as the Filipinos mourn the death of an icon, the entirety of her legacy will surely live on—especially the humility she radiated when she was still alive.
The sad news of Nora’s passing has ignited a series of heartfelt tributes from the people who were able to witness her ethos on and off-screen. Good words have been said—each an iteration of her exemplary acting. But beyond that, many attest to Nora’s character even with the spotlight switched off.
IMAGE: janinegutierrez on Instagram
In a tribute post on Instagram, OPM singer Carol Banawa penned a heartfelt farewell to Nora, recalling the time they worked together in ABS-CBN’s 2002 series Bituin.
Carol begins, “It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Ms. Nora Aunor—a true legend, an icon, and one of the greatest actresses in the history of Philippine entertainment.
“It was an incredible honor to have worked alongside her, to witness her brilliance, and to learn from her not just as an artist, but as a beautiful soul.”
The singer then says Nora’s “kind eyes” and “gentle warmth” are keepsake to her memory, and her willingness to support and mentor young artists is fundamentally telling of the late artist’s inspiring undertaking for her craft.
She ends her tribute with, “Ms. Nora Aunor’s legacy will live on—not just in her remarkable body of work, but in the hearts of those she touched.She will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
“Thank you, Ms. Nora, for everything. Your memory, your spirit, and your extraordinary talent will live on forever.”
Dante Nico Garcia also accounts Nora’s humble groundings at a time when he was assigned to lead the production design for the said series.
Dante recalls, “Photo shoot and teaser shoot sa Roxas Boulevard and unang araw na mami-meet ko si Nora Aunor. By phone lang muna ang coordination ko with her team for her measurements.”
Just when he was walking to Nora’s dressing area, Nico was hit with a working concept inspired by Nora’s humble beginnings.
He writes, “Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa kung saan siya binibihisan, naalala ko na sobrang wild idea sa akin nung mabasa ko nung bata ako na nagtinda siya ng tubig sa tren.”
Taking into account Nora’s indigent background before stardom—where she would sell water by the train station at a time when water is not a merchandise—Dante thought that it would be a nice way to appeal to the masses.
He continues, “So naisip kong magpa ‘metaphor’ eklat ‘artsy’ kuning kuning in my own PD kind of way. Sa kanyang photoshoot…sa kanyang tv comeback. May pamatid uhaw merchandise din siyang hawak. Na very masa. Very Pinoy.”
Upon arriving to the dressing area, Dante immediately asked Nora, “Ate Guy, ok ka lang po uminom ng softdrink sa plastik?” Then he proceeded to work on Nora’s measurements for her wardrobe.”
As it turned out, all of her outfits were tailored rightly—except for the ill-fitting pair of shoes that’s much bigger than Nora’s size.
Nico explains in his post, “Ang bilin kasi sa akin… sa pambata ako bumili. Di ako naniwala. Yong pinakamaliit sa pang matanda ang binili ko.” The very same explanation he offered to Nora back in the set.
With Dante holding onto his excuse, Nora didn’t say anything. She didn’t get mad, she offered no resolve—only a laugh that acknowledged a dismissible fault.
Dante ends his post with, “Natawa siya sa akin. At nasundan pa ‘yon ng maraming tawanan sa set. Salamat sa mga aral sa pagitan ng mga halakhak at hagikgik, Bituin.”
After succumbing to acute respiratory failure on April 16, 2025, Nora was interred on April 22 at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. An advocate of social justice, a voice to the voiceless, and a cinematic star that redefined the entertainment industry, Nora is set to be honored with the Presidential Merit Award.
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