THE story has been told many times how a young girl who sold water at the train station went on to become a film actor, hailed by critics as one of the best, if not the best this poor country has produced.
The story has been told so many times one feels the narrative is now an incantation capable of bringing back to the land prosperity in terms of the arts.
The trains do not run anymore in the town. The town where that little girl with lovely, sad eyes is now a city. Water is bottled by companies or franchises. The region is richer; its people slowly loving the land and the language. The young girl is several decades older. Many names have been linked to her name, all marked by superlatives. She has won recognition in the big city and in many places where her art of cinema is considered supreme. She has gone through crisis and personal predicaments. She has bounced back from the lows that lesser celebrities would have paid for to keep hidden. She looks at you straight in the eye and declares without timidity what she wants. This is not the person impersonated always as shy. In fact, she is that complex: no one can really impersonate her. At their best, those who marvel at her persona can only construct caricatures.
She is complex. She is Nora Aunor. And she is back in the land of her birth. The adage that no one becomes a prophet in one’s place is going to be reconstructed because she would be honored in two provinces, Albay and Camarines Sur.
As I write this, loyal admirers and officers of her many fan clubs were on their way to Naga City onboard a chartered bus. They have planned this trip some months back after they were informed that Ateneo de Naga is going to give Nora Aunor the Bulawan na Bikolnon Service to Bikol award. This is the highest award the university can bestow in the field of arts and culture to a Bikolano. The ceremony would take place on March 27.
The citation begins with the line: “Nora Aunor, from the start of her career never denies her humble beginning.”
The citation states how from “that beginning in Iriga, we learn about fate and how it can bring forth a great artist. The proof of that great art is captured by the screen and books, in documentations about how that girl one night, many years ago left this region so she can come back to it with boon and grace. The roles that she shares with us are manifold: from a woman who sleeps with and loves the enemy, to a young girl who sees the Virgin but declares that there is no miracle—all these are subjects so daring and brave we wonder where Nora Aunor gets the audacity to portray them. “
The citation concludes by saying: “Therefore, in recognition of her achievements in cinema, television, theater and radio, contributing to the rise of Philippine entertainment industry, inspiring generations of Bikolano filmmakers and actors, and creating a tradition of scholarly works and film criticisms, the Ateneo de Naga University is most privileged to confer on Nora Aunor the Bulawan na Bikolnon [Bulawan means Golden]Service to Bikol Award, given this 27th day of March, in the 2015th year of our Lord.”
Genius is always way ahead of any time. The case is the same with Nora Aunor. One looks at her arriving in the hotel and one sees this lithe figure barely visible in the crowd. For the critics and film readers, that is not the Nora Aunor honored but the voice, body and the face that can overwhelm a space created by camera lens. More, the region of Nora Aunor’s birth is also honoring the persona, the humility behind the celebrity, the power behind the mystery.
A day before the awarding at the Ateneo de Naga University, the city of Naga would also honor Nora Aunor with a honorary citizenship that would make her a Nagueña. It is a gesture acknowledging how many years ago, Nora Aunor stood on the small stage of Plaza Quezon and, perhaps, looked around a bit timid, while a crowd gazed at her wondering what kind of voice could come from that body. It is said that Nora then was interested in the prize money so she could buy food for her family and pay the debts they had incurred among neighbors. That made her strong. She heaved up her shoulders and when they came down, the voice slowly rose, the vibrato rare, as she sang of the night and the music. The moon swung and the clouds sort of lifted the shadows. But the little girl was not aware of anything but the song carrying her to the world where her talent soared supreme and no debt or cruel neighbors ever existed.
That girl was back in the city of her dreams and she would speak how cities that take care of their artists are good cities. Back with the people who love her, she once more heard her name chanted, and a song about gratitude played like forever in her mind.
E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com
Image credits: Jimbo Albano
3 comments
Thank you very much, Mr Tito Genova Valiente!
Miss Nora Aunor is truly the National Artist in its real sense.
Thank you so much Mr. Tito Valiente, Nora Aunor is only one in the sense of the word, the pride of the Philippines and our national treasure.If not because of Nora Aunor,Philippines couldn’t have a lot of international because of her acting talent that is recognized internationally. That’s why she is unique, the only one.
Nora is so more than deserving of the recognition and award that Ateneo de Naga has conferred on her. Only Nora!