Philippine cinema has lost one of its brightest stars. National Artist and iconic actress Nora Aunor has passed away, according to her son, Ian De Leon. She was 71.

Initial reports suggested she died during a medical procedure, but in a media interview held at Heritage Park in Taguig, De Leon clarified that while she had undergone surgery, complications followed after the operation.

“She was being operated on and after that she had a hard time breathing and eventually things went downhill from there. That’s why they had to do another procedure after that,” De Leon shared, opting not to reveal further details about his mother’s condition.

He was joined by his siblings Lotlot, Matet, and Kenneth, as they publicly thanked the Filipino people for their enduring love and support for their mother—an artist they described not only as a cultural icon but also a deeply generous soul.

“Uunahin niya ang ibang tao bago ang sarili. Hinayaan niyang maging inspirasyon sa karamihan yung ginagawa niyang pagkanta, pag gawa ng pelikula. Ginusto niya yung gawin dahil gusto niya iparating sa mga tao na ang tao rin ang nagbibigay ng lakas sa kaniya. Tao rin ang nagbibigay ng pagmamahal sa kaniya,” Ian said.

(“She would put others first before herself. She let her work in music and film inspire others because she believed people also gave her strength and love.”)

Ian reflected on how her unwavering faith shaped her identity and career:

“Kaya siya naging Superstar, kaya siya naging National Artist. Dahil yun sa pagmamahal, dahil yun sa binigay ng Panginoon at paniniwala kay Hesukristo.”

(“That’s why she became a Superstar, a National Artist—because of love, the gifts from God, and her belief in Jesus Christ.”)

He confirmed that their mother passed peacefully on Wednesday evening, surrounded by family.

“We are profoundly grateful to everyone who has reached out with love, prayers, condolences. Your messages are a powerful testament to how deeply she was cherished—not just by us, but by an entire nation. Thank you for honoring her life, her work, and the lasting mark she leaves behind.”

De Leon emphasized that the values and lessons she imparted will live on in them.

“Nakita nating lahat kung paano siya namuhay sa harapan ng masa, ng media, ng entertainment industry. Nakita natin kung paano siya namuhay sa amin, sa pamilya niya. Kaya kami swerte namin, napakablessed namin dahil nagkaroon kami ng isang Nora Aunor, Nora Cabaltera Villamayor bilang ina.”

(“We saw how she lived her life before the public, the media, and the entertainment industry. And we saw how she lived for us, her family. We’re so lucky and blessed to have had Nora Aunor, Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, as our mother.”)