Nora Aunor, one of the most revered figures in Philippine cinema whose legendary career spanned seven decades, has passed away at the age of 71. Her children confirmed her death on social media on Wednesday, though no details about the cause or location were disclosed.
Born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in Camarines Sur, Aunor came from humble beginnings—selling water at a train station in her youth—before rising to national fame as a teen singer in the 1960s. She later transitioned to film, earning over 200 credits and dozens of awards throughout her storied career.
Her most iconic performances include “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” (1976), “Bulaklak sa City Jail” (1984), and “The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995). She swept major local acting awards for 1990’s “Andrea, Paano ba ang Maging Isang Ina?” and won international acclaim at the Asian Film Awards for “Thy Womb” in 2012.
Even into her 70s, Aunor remained active in the industry, appearing in the 2023 film “Mananambal” and the TV series “Lilet Matias, Attorney-at-Law.”
In 2022, she was named National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, the highest honor for Filipino artists—a recognition delayed for years due to a 2005 U.S. drug arrest, for which charges were dropped in 2007 after she completed a diversion program.
She was married to actor Christopher de León from 1975 to 1996 and is survived by their children Ian, Lotlot, Matet, Kiko, and Kenneth de León.
Source: Swifteradio.com
