‘Miracle worker’: Senators pay tribute to Nora Aunor

Four senators on Thursday paid tribute to national artist Nora Aunor who passed away on April 16.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero expressed his condolences to the family of Nora, his fellow Bicolano.

“Bukod sa pareho kaming taga-Bicol, isa si Ate Guy sa mga hinahangaan kong artista. Noong 2015, kasama ako sa mga lumagda sa resolusyon ng Senado na nagbigay-pugay sa kanya dahil sa kanyang Lifetime Achievement Award mula sa ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards,” Escudero said in a statement.

(Aside from both of us being from Bicol, Ate Guy is one of the actresses I admire. In 2015, I was among those who signed the Senate resolution honoring her for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards.)

“Paalam at maraming salamat, Ate Guy. Mananatili ang iyong ningning at alaala sa puso ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.

(Farewell and thank you very much, Ate Guy. Your light and memory will remain in the hearts of every Filipino.)

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada also honored Nora’s life, calling her “one of the pillars of the Filipino television and film.”

“Isang tunay na inspirasyon si Ate Guy sa pagpupunyagi sa buhay gamit ang angking talento upang maabot ang tugatog ng tagumpay,” Estrada, who was also an actor before joining politics, said.

(Ate Guy is a true inspiration in persevering through life by using her innate talent to reach the pinnacle of success.)

“Sa bawat pagganap sa pelikula at pag-angkin sa entablado, ipinadama niya sa atin ang tunay na diwa ng sining. Wala pang nakakapantay sa kanyang mga naging ambag sa industriya. Isa siyang tunay na alamat sa larangan ng sining at pelikulang Filipino,” he added.

(In every film performance and stage presence, she made us feel the true spirit of art. No one has matched his contributions to the industry. She is a true legend in the field of Filipino art and cinema.)

“Paalam Ate Guy, ang iyong tinig, talento at alaala ay nakaukit na sa puso ng sambayanang Filipino,” he said.

(Goodbye, Ate Guy. Your voice, talent, and memories are forever etched in the hearts of the Filipino people.)

Senator Imee Marcos also mourned Nora’s death, acknowledging her not only as a superstar but also a “storyteller, truth-teller, and miracle worker.”

“Nora Aunor was never just a phenomenal actress. She was the voice of the voiceless, the face of the everyday Filipino, and the soul of a nation in search of truth, justice, and identity. Her artistry didn’t merely grace the screen — it challenged it, elevated it, and transformed it. Through decades of unforgettable performances, she pierced through generations, inspired cultural awakening, and forever changed the landscape of Philippine cinema,” Marcos said.

Marcos remembered her experience working with Nora in the creation of iconic film “Himala” under the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines.

“As Director-General (of the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines), I witnessed the depth of her commitment and the brilliance of her craft. Her portrayal in Himala remains, to this day, not just one of the most powerful in Asian cinematic history, but a spiritual and cultural mirror held up to the Filipino soul,” she said.

“Nora was never merely an artista (artist)  — she was a force of nature. A woman of quiet strength, fearless choices, and authenticity. In an industry that often favored glamour over grit, she stood firm, choosing roles that told the stories of the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten — and in doing so, rendered them unforgettable. She could turn silence into poetry, stillness into tension, and pain into grace that lingered long after the screen faded to black,” she added.

Actor-turned-politician Senator Lito Lapid praised Nora for her versatility in her craft, which he said, made her remarkable.

“Ang mahigit sa dalawandaang pelikula at palabas na tinampukan ni Nora Aunor ay hindi lamang nagbigay aliw sa ating mga kababayan, kundi nagsilbing liwanag na nagdala sa atin sa ginintuang panahon ng pelikulang Pilipino habang sinasalamin ang realidad ng buhay na siyang nagbigay kamulatan sa marami nating kababayan,” he said.

(The more than two hundred films and shows starring Nora Aunor not only entertained our fellow countrymen but also served as a beacon that led us to the golden age of Philippine cinema while reflecting the realities of life that awakened many of our people.)

“Sa kanyang mga pagganap, binigyang tinig niya ang mga naaapi, ang mga tahimik, at ang mga nawalan ng boses sa lipunan. Ipinakita niya na ang sining ay hindi lang aliwan—ito ay maaaring maging makapangyarihang sandata upang pukawin ang damdamin, imulat ang isipan, at itulak ang pagbabago,” he added.

(In her performances, she gave voice to the oppressed, the silenced, and those marginalized in society. She demonstrated that art is not just entertainment—it can be a powerful tool to stir emotions, open minds, and drive change.)

Lapid also recalled working with Nora in drama films ''Kastilyong Buhangin'' in 1980 and ''Gaano Kita Kamahal'' in 1981.

“Doon ko namalas nang personal ang pambihirang galing ng isang Nora Aunor. Si Nora ay isang tunay na propesyonal, mapagkumbaba, at puno ng malasakit sa kapwa. Ang kanyang pamana ay hindi matutumbasan at ang kanyang pagkawala ay isang malaking kawalan sa ating bansa,” he said.

(That’s when I personally witnessed the extraordinary talent of Nora Aunor. Nora is a true professional, humble, and full of compassion for others. Her legacy is irreplaceable, and her loss is a great loss to our country.)

Nora’s family announced on Wednesday the death of the superstar. She was 71.

Earlier in the day, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said state necrological services and funeral details will be held for Aunor.

In a statement released through its Facebook page, the NCCA said details of the services and the funeral are to be announced, as it cited Aunor’s filmography of over 170 films, which is “exceeded only by the number of awards and citations” she received from local and international organizations.

Nora’s wake begins on Thursday April 17, The Chapels at Heritage Park will be open to Nora's family from 7 p.m. until midnight. There will be a Mass at 8 p.m.

On Friday, April 18, family and friends may offer their farewell to Nora from 1 p.m. until midnight. Mass will take place at 7 p.m.

Public viewing will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From 5 p.m. until midnight, it will be exclusively be for Nora's family and friends again. Mass will take place at 7 p.m.

On Easter Sunday, April 21, family and friends may offer their final farewell to Nora from 1 p.m. until midnight. Mass will be at 7 p.m.

Internment is scheduled for April 22 at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig. — RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News