Nora Aunor as National Artist?

Actress Nora Aunor on the prospect of being named National Artist: “Hindi ko naiisip. Ang iniisip ko lang ’yung mga proyekto ko. [Pero] ’yan ang pinapangarap ng bawat artist kapag [nakuha mo ito], wala ka nang hihilingin pa.”

Nora recalls being broke, jobless in the U.S.

MANILA, Philippines -- With all the hardships she experienced while living in the United States for eight years, the country's superstar Nora Aunor is confident that she will be able to survive everything that will come in her way.

"Kahit saan mo ako pahigain, kahit saan mo ako ilagay, wala. Hindi ako pwedeng matakot doon dahil sanay po ako diyan," Aunor said in an interview with broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez on "Rated K" that aired on Sunday.

Aunor revealed that when she was living abroad, there times when she couldn't even afford to buy food and pay for her laundry.

"Lahat ng kahirapan naranasan ko. Alam ko na 'yon. Maniniwala ka, may araw na hindi ka kumakain kasi nawalan ako ng trabaho. Walang kumukuha sa akin para mag-show kaya walang kita. Hindi naman ako makauwi dahil hindi ko alam ang magiging reaksyon ng tao sa akin pag-uwi ko, kung mahal pa din nila ako. Siyempre hindi na din tayo bata lalo't madami ng bata na artista," she said.

"Nangyari din sa akin na humingi ako ng tulong, minsan maglalaba kami eh nagkulang kami ng 25 cents buti na lang may Pilipino doon binigyan ako ng 25 cents," Aunor said.

But the veteran actress said she never felt angry about her unfortunate experience in the United States.

"Hindi ako nagagalit. Unang una diyan ako nanggaling, nasa probinsiya kami talagang ako ang nagtatrabaho para matulungan ang pamilya ko para mabuhay. Sanay na sanay (ako sa hirap)," she added.

Losing the golden voice

As part of her preparations for her showbiz comeback in the country, Aunor underwent a cosmetic enhancement treatment that turned into a nightmare after a botched procedure in Japan allegedly affected her singing voice

"Umiyak ako. Pagkagising ko sigaw ako ng sigaw pero wala akong naririnig sa boses ko. Ang explanation sa akin lilinisin ang lungs ko dahil sa sobrang sigarilyo. Sabi ko imposible dahil ang tagal ko nang naninigarilyo pero hindi nagkaganito ang boses ko, ngayon lang. Nagkamali po talaga," Aunor said.

The "Thy Womb" actress revealed she still cries whenever she watch other singers perform.
"Naiiyak ako. Sinasabi ko sa sarili ko kailan kaya ulit ako babalik sa pagkanta. Ngayon naimbitahan ako para magbigay lang ng award, hindi kakanta," she said.

The award-winning actress said if given a chance she would really want to sing again.
"Hindi pwedeng hindi. Kung hindi ako nakapagpa-opera noong last year na dapat ay schedule ko, ngayon kapag umalis ulit ako talagang 'yun ang gagawin ko na," vowed Aunor, who is planning to have a big concert after she regains her singing voice.

Right now, Aunor admitted that she is still having a hard time spending quality time with her children -- Lotlot, Ian and Matet.

She said she's just happy that her children still respect her.

"Ang maipagmamalaki ko lang ay 'yung respeto. Kapag nagkikita kami, nandoon pa din 'yung respeto nila sa akin, nakikita ko nararamdaman ko. 'Yun lang ang pwede kong maipagmalaki sa kanila na kahit anong pagkukulang ang nagawa ko, na pinagsisisihan ko naman. Hindi man lang sila nagpakita ng sama ng loob," she told Sanchez.

"Sa ngayon palaging masaya, sabi nila basta happy ka, kahit marami kang problema, madadala na 'yon. Pero ang nagpapasaya ay ang mga anak at pamilya," she added.

Apart from "Thy Womb," Aunor is also appearing in the film "El Presidente," which is another entry to this year's Metro Manila Film Festival.

Her classic film "Himala" has also been restored and will be shown again in theaters next month to mark its 30th year since it was released.

Nora admits shortcomings as a mother

MANILA, Philippines – Veteran actress Nora Aunor Aunor admitted that she has many shortcomings as a mother. That's why she feels blessed that her children continue to love her unconditionally.

“Ang sarap sa loob. Lagi kong sinasabi na marami akong pagkukulang sa mga anak ko. Ang ipinagmamalaki ko lang, kahit na malaki ang pagkukulang ko, 'yung respeto nila sa akin hanggang ngayon hindi talaga nawala,” she said in a taped interview with Boy Abunda that aired on “The Buzz” on Sunday.

Aunor has a son, Ian, with former husband Christopher de Leon, and four adopted children, Lotlot, Matet, Kiko and Kenneth.

Lotlot revealed in a “The Buzz” interview last week that she met her real mother in the 1990s but it was only in 2009 when she came face to face with her dad.

Last Sunday, Aunor bears no ill feelings toward Lotlot for reconnecting with her biological parents.
Aunor said they already talked about the matter when de Leon was able to talk to her real mom for the first time.

“Pinag-usapan na namin noon 'yan. Noong nasa Valencia pa kami, tumawag 'yung nanay sa bahay nagkataon si Lotlot ang sumagot. Pagkatapos nila mag-usap, umiiyak 'yung bata. Sabi ko bakit ka umiiyak. So nagyakapan kami. Sabi niya ‘Mommy. tumawag 'yung mommy ko raw.’ Sabi ko ‘Oh eh bakit ka umiiyak kung mommy mo siya?’” the actress said.

Aunor said she told de Leon that she won’t feel bad if she meets up with her real parents, assuring her daughter that her love for all her children remains the same no matter what happens.

“[Sabi ko sa kanya] ‘Alam mo hindi naman masama kung kikilalanin mo ang nanay mo talaga. Lahat naman kayo anak ko. Si Ian nanggaling lang sa tiyan ko pero kayo ibinigay kayo ng Diyos sa akin kaya anak ko pa rin kayo. Walang pinagkaiba doon,’” she shared.

Nora to join impersonator Ate Gay in concert

MANILA, Philippines – Her iconic presence in the entertainment industry has spawned numerous imitations, but nothing quite like Ate Gay's. Now, the original Superstar, Nora Aunor, is set to join her most popular impersonator in the latter's first major solo concert.

"Kinakabahan ako, at saka excited, kasi may mga tao namang gusto manood," stand-up comedian Ate Gay said of his upcoming concert "Ako Naman! Ate Gay sa Arena" to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on November 30.


In an interview on the late-night newscast "Bandila," Ate Gay said Aunor will make a special guest appearance at his concert, which owes largely to her being a local film icon.
According to the comedian-singer, comparisons to the veteran actress paved the way for his showbiz career.

"Na-discover ako dahil ka-boses ko raw siya pag kumakanta. High school palang ako sinasabi na nila na ka-boses ko raw siya, natural. Wala akong boses na lalaki, ganu’n talaga siya," Ate Gay said.

Apart from being an acclaimed actress, Aunor, throughout her decades-long career, was also a popular recording artist whose singing voice has been dubbed as "golden" by local music critics.

Aunor's presence in one of his shows, Ate Gay recalled, was a particularly humbling experience, especially with his knowledge of her longevity and success as the country's "Superstar."

"Isa lang ang narining ko sa kanya, parang, 'Ikaw na.' Ayaw ko kasi magmayabang, pero isa lang sinabi niya: 'Magaling ka,'" Ate Gay said.

Now with a little over two months before he comes face to face with Aunor again, this time on stage, the comedian-singer is only starting let his dream-come-true sink in.
"Akala ko biruan lang, ngayon nagiging totoo na," he said.

Coco hopes film with Vilma, Nora to push through

MANILA, Philippines – “Walang Hanggan” lead star Coco Martin revealed he is looking forward to doing a project with veteran actresses Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos for director Brillante Mendoza.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Sunday, Martin said there is still nothing definite about the dream project but he is hoping that it will push through.

“Dati pa nakonsepto 'yun. Sabi ko nga sana matuloy. Kahit anong trabaho, gagawin ko ang lahat para matuloy,” he said.

Martin said he would consider it an honor to be acting alongside Aunor and Santos.
“Masuwerte [ako]. Sabi ko nga makatrabaho ko lang sila okay na eh. Basta parte ako ng pelikula,” he said.

According to reports, Martin will be playing the son of either Aunor or Santos in the movie by the award-winning director.

Meanwhile, the actor extended his congratulations to Mendoza for the success of the film “Thy Womb” at the recently concluded Venice International Film Festival.

“Sorba akong nasisiyahan. Alam ko naman may mararating ang pelikula. Nasilip ko na 'yun bago sila umalis. And 'yung ‘Captive,’ sabi ko nga isa talaga sa maipagmamalaking pelikula,” he said.

Martin considers Mendoza one of his mentors in show business and has starred in many of the director's earlier indie projects such as "Masahista" and the Cannes-winning movie "Kinatay."