Nora Aunor, the legendary Filipino actress and National Artist who captivated audiences for seven decades, died Wednesday at age 71, her family confirmed.
Her son, Ian De Leon, announced her passing in an emotional social media post, calling his mother “the heart of our family—a source of unconditional love, strength, and warmth.” Local media reported that Aunor was at a hospital in Pasig for a medical procedure before her passing.
Born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in 1953 in Iriga City, Aunor rose from humble beginnings, selling water at a train station before winning the talent search “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in 1967. Her transition to acting led to more than 200 film and television credits, earning her the title “Superstar” of Philippine cinema.
Aunor’s most acclaimed performances include “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” (1976), “Himala” (1982), and “The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995), for which she became the first Filipino to win an international acting award at a major film festival. In 2022, she received the Order of National Artists of the Philippines, the country’s highest artistic honour.
Her personal life included a high-profile marriage to actor Christopher de Leon, with whom she had one biological son and four adopted children before their separation in 1996.
As tributes pour in from across the entertainment industry, Aunor is remembered for her extraordinary talent and contributions to Philippine culture. Her daughter Lotlot described her mother as someone who “touched generations with her unmatched talent, grace, and passion for the craft.”
The Philippines mourns the loss of one of its greatest cultural treasures, whose legacy lives on through her extensive body of work and the countless lives she touched with her art.