When Maria Leonora Teresa Cabaltera a.k.a. Nora Aunor defied the mestiza concept of the Philippine cinema in the late 1960s, it was a sensation. A typical small kayumanggi from Iriga, Camarines Sur had conquered the world of show business where mixed blood and fair complexion were everybodyís semblance that was absolutely adored by the public. She defiled the concept, making an enduring difference in the face of the silver screen.
Born in May 21, 1955, Nora Aunor started out at the age 13 with the most prestigious amateur singing contest from the '50s to the early '70s, Tawag ng Tanghalan. The first attempt, however, was a failure. Challenged by the sad fate, she determinedly joined the competition again the year after. She consistently won for 14 consecutive weeks, which eventually catapulted her to the championship crown in 1968, singing Moonlight Becomes You.
As a newly declared champion, Nora Aunor began guesting in Oras Ng Ligaya on Channel 13 and Operatang Putol-Putol aired in DZXL. She also recorded her albums, Nora Aunor Sings: Mga Awiting Pilipino, Awit ng Puso, Mga Awiting Pamasko and Ang Tindera, which were huge hits. Because of these successes, the new singing star caught the fancy of the bigwigs at Sampaguita Pictures, and the rest was history.
To date, not a single actress can equal Nora's achievements, even rival Vilma Santos. As the Superstar, she has the most "First" in Philippine Cinema. Winning the Best Actress in Cairo for the movie Flor Contemplacion Story in 1995, Nora is the first Filipino actor to win in a major international film festival. Her role in the movie Himala proclaimed her as the first and only Filipino to receive a nomination for prestigious Berlin International Film Festival in 1983. Selected as a juror in the Hawaii Film Festival in 1996, Nora Aunor was the first Filipino international juror actress. The 2010 Green Planet Film Awards in Hollywood also proclaimed Nora Aunor as one of the 10 Best International Actresses of the Decade in Asia.
Speaking about box office hits in the local scene, Nora Aunor is the queen of all queens. She was the first actress hailed as the Box Office Queen of Philippine Cinema in 1971. Bagging the Best Actress in the Film Academy of the Philippines for three consecutive years from 1989 to 1991 and achieving the second grand slam in 1990 as the Best Actress of Urian, Star, FAMAS, FAP and MMFF makes here even more unbeatable. And a lot can still be enumerated.
Nora Aunor's success in the movie industry and her contribution to the arts was recognized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, which awarded her with the Centennial Honors for the Arts, given only to 100 Filipinos who left important notes to the countryís culture and arts in the 20th century.
What made Nora Aunor an ever shining Superstar? It is her charisma and magnetizing appeal to the masses. In her absence and homecoming, the interests in her had not faded one bit. Even the younger generations got curious about her. The ever loyal Noranians of countless numbers are again rejuvenated by her return. It simply manifests that Nora is still phenomenal and still shines brightly as the countryís one and only Superstar.
