Nora Aunor could be 2nd national artist from Bicol

Nora Aunor could be 2nd national artist from Bicol

The Philippine’s only cinema, theatrical actor and recording superstar of all time Nora Aunor is in the shortlist among the prospective candidates for National Artists that may find confirmation from Malacanang.

This surfaced as President Benigno Aquino III has been asked to confirm, proclaim and confer the six candidates for National Artists.

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Eight months ago, the nominees were formally endorsed by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The candidates awaiting the President’s signature for their proclamation include the Bicolana superstar actress Nora Villamayor (screen name Nora Aunor) for Film, Alice Reyes for Dance, Francisco Feliciano for Music, Francisco Coching for Visual Arts, Cirilo Bautista for Literature, and Jose Ma. Zaragoza for Architecture.

Concerned groups said that eight months since October 1, 2013 when the formal endorsement was forwarded to the Office of the President is taking longer than the time needed by the NCCA and the CCP to process the nominations.

A petition has been passed for the people to support the clamor for the President to sign the prospective six new National Artists’ proclamation.

But the award seem to be elusive to Aunor as President Benigno Aquino has already signed the order proclaiming a new set of National Artists as early as two months ago. The actress may have been left out because of moral issues against her, in particular, her alleged drug use and arrest in the United States over drug possession. But the case was consequently dismissed after she performed community service and underwent an 18-month rehabilitation program.

The first Bicolano inducted into the roster of the prestigious category of national artist was Manuel Conde (aka Manuel Urbano who hailed from Daet, Camarines Norte. He was an actor, director and producer.

On July 6, 2009, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed seven individual proclamations conferring the 2009 Order of National Artists on theater stalwart Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, filmmakers Manuel Urbano (aka Manuel Conde) and Carlo Magno Jose J. Caparas, visual artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, novelist Lazaro Francisco, architect Francisco Mañosa and fashion designer Jose “Pitoy” Moreno as National Artists.

The announcement drew criticisms and protests among artists’ groups, which protested that of the seven new awardees, only three—Conde, Alcuaz and Francisco—were shortlisted by the selection committee composed of members of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Eventually, in November 2013, more than four years after they had been proclaimed National Artists, visual artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Tagalog fictionist Lazaro Francisco and filmmaker Manuel Conde were finally conferred the awards in Malacañang.

The National Artist Award was created by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1001 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos on April 27, 1972. Painter Fernando Amorsolo was the first to be given the honor.

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13 thoughts on “Nora Aunor could be 2nd national artist from Bicol”

  1. tirikmo na so mga ngipon ni Nora. Kun maromdoman kaidto, siya so pinakalangkaw na por hora sa RPN 9 (Superstar). Nasobrahan nin droga. Ngonyan, ultimo pagbisita sa dentista dae na baga magibo? Mayo na garong pambayad man lang?

    1. As a Bicolano, let us hope and be proud to count one from our region to be recognized as one.

  2. HISTORICAL TRIVIA: Do you know that during the first hour of EDSA “revolution” after the call of Cardinal Sin on live TV for people power support, Nora Aunor was at the gates of Camp Aguinaldo joining a handful of supporters, way before Jim Paredes was there? An eyewitness said that during that time, the people in that area were no more than a handful.

  3. itong parang taga buntok na ito si Rempola parang kung sinong matarung… Crab Mentality ang hunghag na ito!

  4. Posting a re-edit on this article due to fact-check which was pointed out by one reader. We stand corrected and thank you for calling our attention.

  5. Bad and dark politics, plus strong misguided influence is doing its nasty hand trick here. Bicol’s Nora Aunor may have been left out. Those self-avowed moralists should first look into the mirror and check any dirt on their nose before pointing out somebody else’s.

  6. nakakatawa, nakakatuwa sila. yaong mga taong putik ang ibinabato’t gawa sa kapwa, na ‘di tingnan ang mukha’t puro putik na sila rin ang may likha. Hindi ba nila nababatid at ngawa sila ng ngawa, na itong kanilang pinipintasa’y malaki na ang nagawa, napakaraming karangalan ang iniakyat na sa bansa, na baka sila mismo’y ni katiting ay wala pang nagawa. Nakakalungkot lang, dahil itong ayaw nilang bigyan ng karampatang karangalan, ay bihirang mangyari sa bansa. Tunay na isang kayamanang nanggaling sa lupa na pinanday ng hirap at panahon, upang maging pambansang kayamanan ng ating Inang Bayan. Gumising na kayo, hayan na siya sa ating harapan. Wala magiging katulad niya sa ating panahon ngayon.

    1. That fact is given. She has a sizeable body of works, some gained popularity and awards in international competitions/ exhibitions which is hard to surpass. I agree she is a national treasure.

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