Following moving messages from Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Alfred Vargas, and Ice Seguerra, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. honored National Artist and acclaimed actress Nora Aunor after her passing on April 16.
“Lubos akong nagdadalamhati sa pagpanaw ng isang tunay na alamat ng sining at kulturang Pilipino. Si Ate Guy ay isang inspirasyon, hindi lamang sa aming mga kapwa artista kundi sa bawat Pilipinong nangangarap at nagsusumikap. Sa loob ng maraming dekada, siya ang naging tinig, mukha, at damdamin ng sambayanang Pilipino,” the actor-lawmaker said.
In honor of Aunor’s passing, Senator Revilla filed Senate Resolution No. 1339, expressing the Senate’s profound sympathy and condolences and recognizing her invaluable contributions to Philippine cinema and culture.
Aunor, affectionately known as “Ate Guy,” rose to fame after winning the singing contest Tawag ng Tanghalan in 1967. She became known as “The Girl with a Golden Voice” and released over 500 songs, including popular tracks like “Pearly Shells,” “Handog,” and “People.”
Her music career was followed by decades of acting, during which she appeared in more than 170 films. Aunor won numerous awards, including seven Gawad Urian Best Actress titles and was named “Natatanging Aktres ng Dekada” three times. She was inducted into the FAMAS Hall of Fame and received lifetime achievement awards from the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Aunor’s accolades extended beyond the Philippines, as she became the only Filipino actress to win awards from five continents. Notable wins included Best Actress at the Cairo International Film Festival in 1995 for The Flor Contemplacion Story, Best Actress in Malaysia in 1997 for Bakit May Kahapon Pa?, and the Asia Pacific Screen Award in 2013 for Thy Womb.
“Ate Guy, katulad ng paborito mong awitin na ‘I’ll Never Find Another You,’ wala na kaming makikilalang katulad mo. We will never find another you. You are a gem artist of a lifetime. Nag-iisa ka, and we’ll deeply miss you. Paalam sa isang tunay na Superstar,” Revilla said.
