'Walang Noranian na naging drug addict dahil kay Nora': Fans rail vs PNoy's reason for National Artist snub

Published July 1, 2014 2:29pm

Nora Aunor at the Gawad Urian Awards Danny Pata

On Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III admitted that Nora Aunor's history with illegal substances was the reason he left her off this year's list of winners of the National Artist Award.

"Na-convict po siya sa drugs... na-convict at naparusahan at ang tanong ngayon dito, kapag ginawa ba [siyang] National Artist may mensahe ba akong maliwanag na sinasabi sa sambayanan?" Aquino told reporters after the 67th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force in Pampanga.

In 2005, Aunor was arrested in Los Angeles for possession of methampethamine (shabu), but those charges were dropped in 2007 after the actress complied with a rehabilitation program.

Online, reaction was swift from the Filipino film icon's supporters, questioning Aquino's reason for the snub.

"Wala namang Noranian na naging drug addict dahil kay Nora Aunor, pero maraming direktor, artista, manunulat ang naging mahusay sa inspirasyon ni Nora Aunor," said Sa Ngalan Ng Ina, a Facebook fanpage dedicated to the actress.

On Twitter, some supporters noted that personal matters should not be a basis for selection of National Artists.

@gmanews @noynoyaquino thats the most stupid reason not to proclaim ms aunor. her personal battles have nothing to do with her contributions

— IAmTholits (@IAmTholits) July 1, 2014

@gmanews @noynoyaquino being able to get through all those drug influences is worth an award. She was able to stand on her feet AGAIN.

— happykeffy (@kevincoyoca) July 1, 2014

@gmanews @walltowallnews @noynoyaquino E.Hemingway won the Nobel Prize in Lit, thou he was a drunk, womanizer, paranoid, & mostly depressed.

— AnnaKathrina (@AkQuiambao) July 1, 2014

National Artist po at hindi pagiging santo. #NoraAunor #KnowTheDiff

— vandolph (@vandolph08) July 1, 2014

Former 'Yano' frontman Dong Abay took it as an opportunity to take a shot at Aquino.

Si Nora Aunor naging adik sa droga pero si Pnoy Aquino adik pa rin sa katangahan.

— Dong Abay (@dongabay) July 1, 2014

Others, meanwhile, chose to poke fun at Aunor and her supposed resemblance to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with whom Aquino had long been at odds.

Kamukha daw kasi ni Gloria Arroyo si Nora Aunor. Yun lang yun! #nationalartistproblems ????

— krizzy (@krizzy_kalerQUI) July 1, 2014

Support for Aquino, too

But while there was criticism, there was also support for Aquino's decision.

"I do agree with PNoy's decision. It's not about Nora being a great artist or if she is now clean," wrote user Romar Jeslet Agregado on the GMA News Facebook account. "Would you like your National Artist, that would be looked up to by your children, to be a former convict for using drugs? Simple as that."

don't have problems #noraaunor as a great pinay artist. what my problem is she's a convicted #drugaddict. #IMO

— clarizzetomacruz (@loveclarizze) July 1, 2014

Aquino, for his part, acknowledged that he was going to receive criticism whatever his decision may have been.

"Ganun talaga ang trabahong ito, maski anong ang desisyon ko, mayroon talagang papanig sa salungat sa anumang desiyon ko," he said. — JST, GMA News

Tags: noraaunor, nationalartist, nationalartistaward