Remembering Nora Aunor: 72 years of stardom and legacy

Today marks the 72nd birth anniversary of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, Nora Aunor — an icon whose legacy continues to illuminate Philippine cinema.

Widely revered as the “Superstar,” Aunor carved out an extraordinary career with a filmography that spanned over 170 titles. More than the quantity of her work, it was her artistry that earned her a staggering number of accolades from both local and international award-giving bodies. In 1972, her performance in And God Smiled at Me won her the Best Actress award at the Quezon City Film Festival.

Four years later, in 1976, she achieved dual Best Actress honors from the Gawad Urian and FAMAS for her unforgettable role in Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos. By 1990, she made history with a rare grand slam—sweeping Best Actress awards from all five major institutions: Gawad Urian, FAMAS, FAP, MMFF, and PMPC—for her role in Gil Portes’ Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina?

Beyond film, Aunor became a household name through her long-running musical variety show, which aired for over two decades. She also made her mark on stage, headlining two landmark productions under the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA).

Aunor’s contributions were formally recognized through numerous lifetime honors: she was inducted into the FAMAS Hall of Fame in 1992, received the FAP Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993, and, in 1999, was among the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Centennial Honors for the Arts—an elite list of 100 Filipinos who significantly shaped the nation’s artistic landscape in the 20th century.

Today, we celebrate not just the birth of a star, but the enduring brilliance of a national treasure.