NORA AUNOR: NOT FOR EVERYONE BUT REMAINS THE ONLY ONE

 by Alvin Dela Cruz Bernardino

Not everyone can and will understand NORA AUNOR ---her ways, her artistic temperament, her notorious mood swings, her unpredictable self, her very being… For all her flaws, setbacks and misbehavior, one needs to UNDERSTAND the complexities of human nature… One needs an open, accepting mind to fully grasp the INTRICACIES of human psyche…

With Nora, it is either you love her or you hate her… To completely fathom the mysteries behind those sad-looking, soulful eyes of hers is like digging into an enchanted bottomless pit or falling into a mystical abyss…

Behind the GREATNESS that is Nora Aunor lies the challenge of knowing the GENUINE person behind the artist… And Nora, warts and all, is one incredibly genuine person --- full of kindness that is often abused and characterized by vulnerability that people mistake as a weakness… Whatever harsh things they say about Nora, one thing is quite certain --- NORA AUNOR WILL REMAIN THE GREATEST ENIGMA WE HAVE EVER KNOWN AND WE WILL NEVER KNOW… Enigmatic, isn’t it?

ANG LANDAS NA TINAHAK NG ISANG NORA AUNOR…

ni Alvin Dela Cruz Bernardino

Maikli lamang ang sanaysay na ito sa kadahilanang napakarami nang naisulat tungkol sa buhay at pagiging artista ni Nora Aunor… Mula sa pagtitinda niya ng tubig sa may riles ng tren sa Iriga, ang pananagumpay niya sa Tawag ng Tanghalan, ang pagiging isang tanyag na mang-aawit, radio talent at product endorser, ang pagpasok sa makulay na mundo ng pelikula at telebisyon, pagsubok sa mapanghamong larangan ng pagganap sa lehitimong entablado at ang pagyakap sa mas mataas na antas ng sining pampelikula at artistikong pagpupunyagi sa mas malalim at mas makabuluhan nitong kahulugan.

Sinasabing sumugal si Nora upang maabot ang kinalalagyan niya ngayon sa kasaysayan ng pelikulang Pilipino. Walang takot niyang tinahak ang daan na bihira lamang ang sumusubok baybayin… Hindi siya nagpasilaw sa kinang ng komersyalismo na siyang mababaw na basehan ng katanyagan ng mga bituin sa ngayon… Si Nora na isang risk-taker at tunay na alagad ng sining ay naghanap ng isang bukal na makatitighaw sa kanyang “artistic thirst” --- sa isang malaya, mapangahas at “experimental” na approach sa pag-gawa ng pelikula… Buong tapang niyang niyakap ang “indie spirit” o independent filmmaking at ang pag-gawa ng mga seryosong pelikula o art films tulad ng “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” at “Bona” sa ilalim ng sarili niyang produksyon.

Sa ngayon, patuloy si Nora sa pamamayagpag sa indie world… Kasalukuyan pa ring umaarangkada ang pelikula niyang “Thy Womb” sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo na nakapagbigay na sa kanya ng tatlong prestihiyosong parangal bilang Best Actress mula Italy, Australia at Hongkong maliban pa sa mga nominasyon at citations mula sa iba’t ibang international film festivals.

At sa darating na 1st Cine Filipino Independent Film Festival, muli na namang mapapanood si Nora Aunor sa isang obra ni Mes De Guzman --- ang “Ang Kwento ni Mabuti”.

Naglaho man ang matinding kasikatan o commercial appeal ng isang Nora Aunor, binigyan niya naman tayo ng isang malaking dahilan upang ipagmalaki natin ang ating pagiging Pilipino… Isa na siya ngayong alagad ng sining para sa mundo --- isang pagkilala di lamang sa taglay niyang husay sa pag-ganap kundi maging sa kahalagahan niya sa ating kultura. ANG PAGKILALANG ITO AY HIGIT PA SA ANUMANG “COMMERCIAL SUCCESS” NA PANANDALIAN LAMANG.

Matalino si Nora Aunor… At hindi siya nagkamali sa landas na kanyang tinahak…

OUR LITTLE NORA . . .

By ALVIN DELA CRUZ BERNARDINO

I have always been searching for a really old photograph of Nora Aunor… No, not those vintage 1960’s or 1970’s stuff that are now collector’s pieces --- much older than those actually. Until my painstaking Google search finally bore fruit and I found this GEM --- Nora in her early childhood. She must be around seven years old here or in her first grade in elementary education as evidenced by the school uniform that she wears here.

Just look at how those famous eyes illuminate even at a tender age. Nobody can deny that those liquid soulful eyes of Nora Aunor are indeed so mesmerizing --- for they hold mysteries that are sometimes hard to fathom... Eyes that magnetize people --- admirers and enemies alike... Eyes that speak and express a wide spectrum of feelings... Eyes that catapulted this diminutive charmer from Iriga to what she is now ----- a first-rate world-class artist and national treasure in the truest sense of the word.

Yes, those eyes hold mysteries that are puzzling, sometimes vague yet fascinating... So fascinating that one can get hooked unraveling those mysteries --- and only Nora can cast such spell... IT'S THE NORA MAGIC, THE NORA PHENOMENON... And for as long as she continues to be an ENIGMA to many, Nora Aunor will remain an interesting subject that goes beyond the pages of our history books.

HAS A BEAUTIFUL VOICE

Prof. Andrea Veneracion
National Artist for Music

Souvenir Program Handog Ni Guy Concert

She always has a good voice and over the years, she has developed her own style. Nora in her heyday towered above all other singers not only in terms of popularity but simply because she has a beautiful voice which is what spells the difference even now that many other pop singers have cropped up. Most of our singers now sing well, yes. They have their own style but most of them are at best imitators.

SI MABUTI

TOP REASONS WHY PEOPLE SHOULD WATCH “ANG KWENTO NI MABUTI”

By ALVIN DELA CRUZ BERNARDINO

Top Reasons Why People Should Watch “ANG KWENTO NI MABUTI”

1. It is a beautiful, “feel-good” movie told in all its simplicity and truthfulness, devoid of convoluted twists and complexities that are often dished out in today’s films. The story can be the story of any individual, of any Filipino who yearns to find and cultivate GOODNESS and moral integrity within himself given the harsh realities and uncertainties of day-to-day existence.
2. There’s a certain cultural flavor in the film that would interest and appeal to viewers – local and foreign alike as the story is set in an idyllic, remote barrio in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya.
3. Keeping the spirit of independent filmmaking in the Philippines alive, Ang Kwento ni Mabuti boasts of a highly creative and experimental approach in film production and story-telling which is the trademark of acclaimed director/writer Mes De Guzman – resulting in a movie that can be described as lyrical, realistic, simple yet powerful.
4. The movie substantially relies on the marked artistry of its lead actor – NORA AUNOR whose last indie project happened to be the widely and internationally acclaimed film Thy Womb. For her role as the kindhearted folk healer Mabuti, Aunor had to study the Ilocano dialect which she used in all of her scenes in the movie. For a change, and a welcome one at that, Nora essays a character that is full of optimism, positive vibes, cheerfulness and yes – GOODNESS!
Ang Kwento ni Mabuti is not the usual fare that the movie world offers… It is independent fimmaking at its best. Great story, topnotch direction, arresting and breathtaking visuals, excellent production design, impressive artistic and technical merits and a fresh and mesmerizing performance from Nora Aunor. If there is one movie that people should watch in the forthcoming inaugural Cine Filipino Film Festival, definitely it is ANG KWENTO NI MABUTI.