This National Women’s Month, we recognize and celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of our female national artists. These women have made significant strides in their respective fields, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of artists.
Today’s featured national artist is Nora Aunor, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts.
NORA C. VILLAMAYOR a.k.a Nora Aunor
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts (2022)
May 21, 1953
Nora Aunor, the “Superstar” has an extensive filmography— 170 films—is exceeded only by the number of awards and citations she has received from local and international organizations. In 1972, her performance in And God Smiled at Me earned her a Best Actress trophy at the Quezon City Film Festival. In 1976, she bagged her first Best Actress victories at the Gawad Urian and FAMAS for Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos. In 1990, she scored a grandslam: all of the five award-giving bodies—Urian, FAMAS, FAP, MMFF and PMPC— gave her the Best Actress trophy for her performance in Gil Portes’ Andrea, Paano ba ang Maging Isang Ina? In television, Aunor starred in her own musical variety show that ran for over two decades. She conquered the stage, performing in two major productions of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). In 1992, Aunor was elevated to the FAMAS Hall of Fame. She was given the FAP Lifetime Achievement Award the following year. And in 1999, she was one of the recipients of the Centennial Honors for the Arts, given by the Cultural Center of the Philippines to 100 Filipinos who have made significant contributions to culture and the arts in the 20th century. In November 2012, she won the coveted Best Actress Award from 6th Asia Pacific Screen Award, and consequently became the first Filipino actor to be inducted as a member of Asia Pacific Screen Academy. She also won Best Actress at the 7th Asian Film Awards. (Source: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/nora-aunor/)