MANILA, Philippines – There are no set criteria to be considered an actor’s fan. Often, you just need to have enjoyed some of the movies they starred in, and that already counts. For the late Nora Aunor’s “Noranians,” though, everything they do goes way beyond that.
There’s nothing quite like the dedication Noranians have shown to their beloved Ate Guy over the years, from her Tawag ng Tangahalan victory in 1967 and her molding into a film icon to the moment she was laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on April 22.
On the morning of Aunor’s state necrological services, fans had readily shown up to pay their final respects — some arriving at the first venue, the Metropolitan Theater, as early as 5 am, wearing white T-shirts with the late icon’s face on it. Most of the fans there were senior citizens who had started idolizing Aunor as teens. Decades later, they showed up for Ate Guy the final time.
Anything for the late Superstar
Noranians loved Aunor just as much as she loved them — and it shows in more ways than one.
For Nimfa Marcial, who said she became a fan in 1974, she’s never looked up to any other celebrity as much as she did Aunor. The Superstar’s death hit her hard, she told Rappler, her voice trembling. She had traveled all the way to Manila from the province just to bid Ate Guy farewell at her funeral.
“Forever namin siyang mamahalin. Hindi namin malilimutan ang mga nagawa niya sa pelikulang Pilipino,” Marcial said.
(We’ll love her forever. We’ll never forget everything she’s done for Filipino film.)
With photos of Aunor in tow, Cecilia Duca humorously shared that she immediately hopped on a motorcycle going to Aunor’s wake in Heritage Park in Taguig City when she learned of her passing. She made sure to attend the funeral, too. Duca had been a Noranian for the Superstar’s entire career — first getting captivated by the icon when she competed at and won the singing show Tawag ng Tanghalan in 1967.
Like most Noranians waiting outside the Metropolitan Theater that day, Duca was in tears when she was giving her final message to Ate Guy. However, she takes comfort in knowing that Aunor is now happy to reunite with her family members who passed on before her.
Helen Elvie Ricafrente, meanwhile, had taken time off her job at the Caloocan City Hall to come to Aunor’s funeral. She remains a staunch supporter of the Superstar, recalling the time she even enrolled at Centro Escolar University after finding out that Aunor was studying there.
“Kahit mahirap lang kami, talagang sumunod ako doon (Even though we were poor, I followed her there),” she said.
Aunor was the only celebrity Ricafrente admired that much. She said that it had even come to a point where her parents would spank her for coming home late from Aunor’s film screenings. But she had no regrets.
Susie del Mundo also became schoolmates with the Bona star, playfully recalling how she and her classmates would peek through the window of Aunor’s classroom and even cut classes to go to her tapings with actor Manny de Leon.
Remembering Aunor’s kindness
Lourdes Recilla, 89, showed up to the necrological services alongside fellow members of the Federation of Nora Aunor Followers, which they say is the first-ever Aunor fan club. Having become a Noranian at 59 years old, Recilla carried with her a photo album full of the Superstar’s photos from when she was younger — proudly showing off her collection to the camera while she narrated everything she loved about the icon.
Aunor’s daughter Matet had told Rappler during the wake that Noranians should know how just how much the late National Artist loved them.
This was apparent in the fans’ stories. Many of the ones Rappler spoke to before the state funeral couldn’t name just one favorite memory they had with their Ate Guy just because there were so many. The same three adjectives kept getting mentioned: kind, generous, and loving.
“Tuwing may okasyon, nandoon kami sa bahay nila. Sobrang accommodating niya talaga. Ang bait… Pag nasa bahay kami nila, hindi talaga kami nagugutom, tapos tatanungin kami [kung] kumain na ba kami,” Elvira Villegas fondly remembered.
(Every time there was an occasion, we would be at their house. She was so accommodating and kind. Every time we were at her house, we would never go hungry, and she’d always ask if we had already eaten.)
This kindness is something fans will always carry with them.
Gloria Reyes Dela Peña shared that when she learned of Aunor’s passing, she and Maria Teresa Coronel traveled from Batangas to Manila to go to her wake. They spent several days there, and had camped out on flattened mineral water boxes until the chapel was opened to the public.
“Ate Guy, sabi mo walang iwanan, tapos ito, ikaw pala ‘tong mang-iiwan sa amin,” Dela Peña said in her emotional final message to Aunor. “Hindi mawawala ‘yung alaala mo sa amin. ‘Wag kang mag-alala, kahit nandyan ka na sa heaven, mahal na mahal ka pa rin namin. Kaming mga Noranian mo, hindi kami mabubuwag kahit wala ka na.”
(Ate Guy, you said we’d never leave each other but it turned out you’d leave us first. Your memory will never go away. Don’t worry, even though you’re there in heaven, we still love you so much. We Noranians will always stay together even though you’re gone.)
It’s true. Even as the Noranians paid their final respects to her, it was clear that they’d never forget the Superstar. – Rappler.com
Content shared from www.rappler.com.