NORA WINS GUSI PEACE PRIZE

by Nestor Cuartero

Manila Bulletin

November 26, 2015

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Source:

http://mb.com.ph/nora-wins-gusi-peace-prize/

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ONE AND ONLY FILIPINO AWARDEE: Even with her less than 5-foot bearing, Nora Aunor stood tall as the lone Filipino honoree at the 2015 Gusi Peace Prize awards alongside 18 other international dignitaries, scientists, medical doctors, academicians, including former president of Portugal Antonio Eanes. The veteran actress, who has won a harvest of international awards for her acting, is just one of four women receiving the exclusive honors this year.

The Gusi Peace Prize 2015 Laureates

The prestigious Gusi Peace Prize 2015 was handed out in a formal ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Nov. 25. The night before, a welcome dinner was hosted by the Gusi family at the Fiesta Pavilion of The Manila Hotel where the Philippine superstar was hailed as a world-class international artist.

Nora said she felt inadequate in the company of her fellow awardees, all of them trailblazers and trained experts in their respective fields of endeavor. The winner from Austria, for example, Prof. Hans Lehroch, was being honored for his work in scientific research on human genome and medical systems biology.

Miss Nora Aunor of Philippines

Dr. Mary Pinder (Australia) was receiving the same honor for her work in medicine (intensive care). Nineteen internationally renowned individuals who have distinguished themselves in fields ranging from academe to research, engineering to poverty alleviation and cinema, are being feted this year by the Gusi, now on its 14th edition.

Chairman Barry Gusi hands Philippine Laureate, Nora Aunor the Gusi Peace Prize Award.

Other countries represented in this year’s roster of awardees include Russia, Ukraine, United States, The Netherlands, Bangladesh, Cambodia, among others.

Ali Mohammed Said Efaifa of Qatar

Dr. Rob Vanderpoorte of Netherlands

Dr. Susan Briggs of USA 

Hon. Hun Mann of Cambodia

Former President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan

Dr. Zuran Vadachkoria of Georgia

Hon. Shykh Seraj of Bangladesh

Dr. Jeffrey Huang of China

Dr. Hans Lehrach of Austria

Dr. Alexander Chumakov of Russia

Prof. Petr Biizkovsky of Czech Republic

Dr. Zuriyadda Sakipova of Kazakhstan

Dr. Syunji Sano of Japan

Dr. Mary Pinder of Australia

Former President Antonio Eanes of Portugal

According to Amb. Barry S. Gusi, president of the award-giving body, Nora is being recognized for her significant and internationally acclaimed contributions to the performing arts. The Gusi award is aimed at inspiring societies to work closer in the attainment of peace and respect for human life and dignity.

Amb. Barry S. Gusi, Chairman of Gusi Peace Prize Foundation (Left) and Art Barbadillo, Noranian

Previous winners of the Gusi Peace Prize from the Philippines include former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Gloria M. Arroyo. Every fourth Wednesday of November has been declared by Pres. Arroyo as the Gusi Peace Prize International Friendship Day under Presidential Decree 1476.

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The Main Event, Gusi Peace Prize 2015 Awards Night in the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Manila, Philippines.

First Lady of Gusi Peace Prize Dr. Col. Evelyn T. Gusi

Gusi Peace Prize President Senator Emmanuel Jones of Georgia, Atlanta

Gusi Peace Prize Awards Ceremonies

The Gusi Laureates with the Gusi Family

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The Welcome Dinner, the evening before the Award Night was when the Gusi Peace Prize 2015 Laureates were officially introduced to the public at Manila Hotel. 

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Wreathlaying Ceremonies with the Gusi Peace Prize 2015 Laureates at the Rizal Park Monument.

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Photos by: Boying Capistrano

Sources: https://www.facebook.com/gusipeaceprize/?fref=ts

and

Art Barbadillo

Nora Aunor Delighted Over Restored ‘Himala,’ Wins Best Performance By An Actress At APSA

Nora Aunor won the Best Performance by an Actress award
at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards
held in Brisbane, Australia yesterday, Nov. 23

By BHENJ AGUSTIN

mb.com.ph

Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation

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Source:  http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/382824/nora-aunor-delighted-over-restored-himala-wins-at-apsa#.ULECzOTZalV

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MANILA, Philippines—In an exclusive interview with broadcaster Korina Sanchez for “Rated K,” superstar Nora Aunor expressed her happiness that today’s moviegoers love her classic film, “Himala.”

“Lalo yatang kinilabutan yung mga nakapanood, sa ngayon. Yung trailer, pinapalabas na sa mga sinehan ngayon at pumapalakpak raw yata yung mga tao,” she said, referring to the technologically restored “Himala.” The actress revealed that there have been talks to do a sequel to the film.

On “Rated K,” Nora also talked about her hardships in the US including times when she had been hard up.

“Naranasan ko ‘yung, maniniwala ka, mayroong araw na hindi ako kumakain. Kasi nawalan ako ng trabaho, eh.

“Tapos minsan maglalaba ako sa States---kasi usong uso yung maghuhulog ka ng coin, tapos doon ka maglalaba---nagkulang ako ng 25 cents. Buti na lang may Pilipino roon, binigyan ako ng 25 cents.”

Asked how she felt upon learning that she could no longer sing allegedly due to a botched surgery, Nora’s eyes couldn’t help but become misty.

“Ay, umiyak ako! Tapos tinatanong ko sa kanila [doctors] ‘Bakit wala akong boses?’ Ang eksplenasyon sa akin, kasi daw lilinisin daw nila yung lungs ko dahil sa sobrang sigarilyo. Sabi ko ‘Imposible dahil ang tagal tagal ko nang naninigarilyo pero hindi nagkaganito ang boses ko,’” she said.

Another Triumph

In related news, Nora was honored yesterday by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) that bestowed on her the c for the film “Thy Womb.” Nora won over Vidya Balan (“The Dirty Picture,” India), Cho Min-Soo (“Pieta,” South Korea), Humaima Malick (“Bol,” Pakistan) and Darya Ekamasova (“Zila bila odna baba,” Russia).

Recall that the film had also won the Bisato d’Oro at the recent Venice International Film Festival.

Set on the islands of Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao, "Thy Womb" tells the story of Shaleha as portrayed by Aunor, whose struggle to give her husband a child despite her infertility rattles a tradition-bound fishing community.

FOREIGN CRITICS LAUD 'THY WOMB'

By KAYE VILLAGOMEZ

mb.com.ph

Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation

October 7, 2012

Source:  http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/376219/foreign-critics-laud-thy-womb

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MANILA, Philippines — The Nora Aunor film “Thy Womb” won the nod of international film critics in several published reviews.

With a current 100 percent “Fresh” rating from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, “Thy Womb” recently competed for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. The Brillante Mendoza film went on to bring home three special prizes from the said festival: La Navicella Venezia Cinema Award, the P. Nazareno Taddei Award – Special Mention, and the Bisato d’ Oro Award for Best Actress, which went to Ms. Aunor.

One of Rotten Tomatoes’ top critics and Variety reviewer Guy Lodge said of the 2012 release: “Typically arresting direction and a stoically moving lead turn from local industry legend Nora Aunor.”

Lodge added, “Mendoza leaves these anarchic intrusions unsettlingly free of social context; perhaps the director is concerned about a more external focus crowding his affectingly intimate relationship study. He strenuously avoids judging Shaleha’s (Nora) simultaneously courageous and anti-feminist decision to act as her beloved husband’s marriage broker, though Aunor’s softly crinkled face beautifully registers the internal pain of her every decision in this curious process.”

The critic added how tempting it was to call “Thy Womb” Mendoza’s best opus. “As an open-hearted, even sentimental tale of a working-class woman making the most selfless of sacrifices to give her husband a child, it’s tempting to call ‘Thy Womb’ the gentlest film to date from hardworking Filipino provocateur Brillante Mendoza. Then one remembers that it opens with a live human birthing and, later, graphically depicts the beheading of a cow by machete.”

Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter’s (THR) Neil Young recognized the “alluring scenery and a sympathetic lead performance help elevate an otherwise tepid, underdeveloped slice of Philippine ethno-drama.”

The detailed THR account read: “A spectacularly big sky, big sea location just off the coast of Borneo, Tawi-Tawi is one of the country’s five mainly Muslim provinces, and Mendoza’s depiction of the religion’s exotic but mild local variant adds much flavor to proceedings, especially the dazzlingly opulent garments worn at festive and formal occasions.

An IMDB.com critique said of the film: “Quickly assuming the stature of one of the most important directors from the Philippines, Brillante Mendoza churns out another macabre narrative of the hard knock lives from his native land with the effective ‘Thy Womb.’ Working at break neck speed and putting out several shorts and a title or two a year, he’s earned a prolific reputation after a 2009 Cannes win for Best Director for the infamous ‘Kinatay,’ and then followed that up with a starring role for the one and only Isabelle Huppert. But he switches gears a bit for this latest story, leaving behind a violence that dictates the narrative arc to tell a meditatively tragic tale, one which simmers gracefully to its abrupt finale.”

Produced by Center Stage Productions, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and written by Henry Burgos, “Thy Womb” – local title “Sinapupunan” – also stars Lovi Poe, Bembol Roco and Mercedes Cabral.