Sharon Cuneta mourns loss of ‘national treasure’ Nora Aunor

INFO

‘Natutuwa ako na ginawa siyang National Artist habang mayroon pa siyang panahon na ma-enjoy ‘yung honor na ‘yun. She was so deserving of it,’ Cuneta says of the late Superstar

MANILA, Philippines – From one star to another, Sharon Cuneta mourned the loss of National Artist Nora Aunor.

Accompanied by her husband Kiko Pangilinan, Cuneta attended Aunor’s wake on April 20 at The Chapels at Heritage Park in Taguig City to pay her final respects to the late Superstar.

“Napakalaking kawalan sa industriya… ‘Yung gano’ng kagaling na artista, parang naputol ang ehemplong maaaring nadagdagan pa sana niya para sa amin at sa mga henerasyong mas bata at paparating pa,” she added.

(Her death is a huge loss to the industry… With an artist that good, it’s like the examples she could have set for us and for the generations to come were cut off.)

Cuneta and Pangilinan mentioned that Aunor’s rise to super stardom has always served as an inspiration to Filipinos.

Born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, Aunor’s story is regarded as a “Cinderella story,” having started out selling water to train passengers. After spending countless hours practicing and working to make an honest living, she eventually gathered every last bit of what she earned to travel all the way to Manila from Bicol. She would then start her career as a singer, getting her first shot at fame in 1967 as the winner of the televised singing competition, Tawag ng Tanghalan. 

Later on, Aunor would then dip her toes into the world of acting, where she would excel tremendously and become known as one of the Philippines’ greatest.

Aunor would then be regarded as a Superstar — a moniker born out of her exceptional talents in singing, acting on the screen and stage, and producing films.

“Napaka-inspiring ng story niya. Mula doon sa nag-audition siya, nag-umpisa siya sa napaka-humble na buhay, naghahanap-buhay na siya bata pa siya,” Cuneta said. “What an inspiring story. It’s such a Cinderella story. Natutuwa ako na ginawa siyang National Artist habang mayroon pa siyang panahon na ma-enjoy ‘yung honor na ‘yun. She was so deserving of it.”

(Her story was so inspiring. From the moment she auditioned, she came from humble beginnings, and strived to make a living when she was still young. What an inspiring story. It’s such a Cinderella story. I’m glad that she was made a National Artist while she still had time to enjoy that honor. She was so deserving of it.)

Cuneta once shared the stage with Aunor in 1989 for an OPM medley, making for a legendary performance. The Megastar fondly looked back on this, but also expressed regret that she never got to act alongside Aunor in a film.

Aunor passed away on April 16 at the age of 71 due to acute respiratory failure. She was named a National Artist in 2022. – Rappler.com