What they say about Nora Aunor
As a Movie Actress
“Nora is the greatest actress the Philippines has ever produced.”
LINO BROCKA, National Artist for film:
“Nora Aunor is a perfect film actress. Since the camera can do extreme close-ups, the littlest of nuances count a lot. And she can do just that – she can show pain, sorrow, ecstasy, fun with just her eyes.”
LAMBERTO AVELLANA, National Artist for film
“As an actress, she’s the greatest among the actresses put together. No need to prove it. She’s so versatile.” (Bandera, May 6, 1981)
CHARITO SOLIS, Asia’s Best Actress,
1st FAMAS Best Actress Hall of Famer,
“Nora’s acting is beyond description and is one in a million. Her eyes speak so much. She gives more what you expect in every scene. It was carried out to perfection.”
JOEL LAMANGAN, international-director awardee:
"In my book, Nora Aunor is the greatest Filipino Actress."
BOY ABUNDA, Host, And Columnist
“Every scene with Nora Aunor is the film’s acting highlight.”
MARYO J. DELOS REYES, director
“There are always superb performances from Nora Aunor, who really reaches an astonishing level of maturity and control.”
PATRICK FLORES, Chair, Young Critics Circle
“No amount of negative criticisms can put Nora down because she is a Great Actress. Nora Aunor has given us much of her art, it’s our turn to pay her back with the due respect she deserves.”
RICKY LEE, international award-winning scriptwriter
“Nora Aunor continues to inspire national/international discourse on ASIAN transnational media. An ICON, still unsurpassed. If we only have the good sense to protect national treasure like Aunor, we will probably be able to understand ourselves as a people.”
MAU TUMBOCUN,US based film critic,
former Manunuri
“Nora Aunor remains the greatest actress of all time setting the standards of acting in movie and TV.”
GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE, Editor,
Movie Director-Writer
“Nora Aunor is a Filipino icon, arguably our greatest actress. On the level of cultural discourse, she is very much part of our struggle. As a cultural worker, I acknowledge her importance. Any respectable Nora Aunor film can be used to educate our people.” ( Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 26, 2009, E1-3)
LAV DIAZ, International award-winning director
As a Stage Actress
On Nora’s stageplay Minsa’y Isang gamu-gamo: “I think Nora Aunor is the greatest Filipino actor of either gender, whether living in the Philippines today or abroad – barringno one – either on films, on the radio, or on stage.”
ALBERTO FLORENTINO, noted writer
“Nora proves that she is easily one of the finest actresses in the land today. Among those currently straddling films and stage, she probably has no peer. What maturity has Nora developed! They don’t give awards for plays, but she will have all the awards she needs in the warmth she gives to the lonely, the balm she gives to the wounded, and the hope she gives to the grieving. There is one thing greater than being a superstar. And that is being, in the truest sense of the world, the people’s star.””
CONRADO DE QUIROS,columnist,
Philippine Daily Inquirer
“Of course, one can only use superlatives in describing the multi-faceted aspects of the sensitive acting of Nora Aunor. She can tug at your heart, evoke laughter in comic lines delivered with understatement and utmost subtlety, her body language speaks volumes. Hers is art that hides the processes – you only see the end result, you can watch in awe, you can only be deeply moved. No wonder this singing-acting marvel has become a legend in her lifetime.
LEONOR OROSA GOQUINGCO, Art Critic
“Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo…is a triumph for Nora Aunor, Philippine theater in general, and PETA in particular…Aunor lives up to one’s high expectations. The depth, fire and intensity are there.”
AMADIS MA. GUERRERO, critic,
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Miss Aunor’s gestures, expressiveness, body language and delivery of dialogue bespeak a sensitive, accomplished performer. She is an amazing natural and intuitive actress; she must be, as there is no record of her ever going to acting school or whatever. As an earlier review said, “She proved her claim to being the Philippines’ best actress of her time.”
J.V. CRUZ, columnist, Malaya
“Nora Aunor is an endless well of versatility and creativity because her whole personality is not solely focused on showbusiness. She comes off with mature acting talent because she is genuinely interested in the plight of the domestic helpers just as she is intensely interested in the victims of Pinatubo. Her acting energy comes from a heart sincerely interested in the misfortune of her fellow human being. She has had fame and glory and she has now revealed an authentic interest in humanity. Nora deserves a standing ovation and a hearty Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!”
PIO DE CASTRO III, Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino
“In recognition of her outstanding achievements, honors, and prestige that form part her non-pareil works of art towards achieving the goals and objectives of this University ( PUP Sto. Tomas Branch) in honoring excellence in drama and for her intrinsic talent promoting the highest level of stage performances in Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo and DH, PUP Teatro BatangasawardsMs. Nora Aunor the 1993Most Outstanding stage actress.”(PUP Sto. Tomas, December 16, 1993)
DR. ANGELITA S. NOCON, Adviser,
PUP Teatro Batangan
As a Television Actress
“Sa Ngalan ng Ina is successfully reminding viewers of the iconinc actress Nora Aunor’s exceptional ability…her “native intelligence” as athespian is evident in all her scenes, big or small.”
NESTOR TORRE, critic, Inquirer,
Manunuri founding memberr
“Filipino actress Nora Aunor works best with Filipino filmmaker Mario O'Hara..””
NOEL VERA, Critic
Critic After Dark
As a Singer
“Every time, I am star-struck in seeing one not aware of her genius…she is none other than the Superstar Nora Aunor!”“Ate Guy deserves the monicker Superstar because her talent traverses not just the movies (her dewy eyes communicate volumes in a fraction of a second) and television, but significantly, records. When foreigners ruled the airwaves, hers was a voice that could cut through and affect you…non-gratuitous anything, just a girl with a golden voice singing a song…”(Backstory, Phil. Daily Inquirer, Sept. 22, 2011, D6)
LEAH SALONGA, international singer:
“Nora is a dramatic singer. She is more of giving emotions to her songs that other good singers have to learn. Her songs are her greatest legacy to the Filipino masses. We should pay homage to Nora’s rich heritage toFilipino music and culture.”
NANI FANDINO, music critic-teacher, New Jersey, USA:
On "Handog ni Guy” first concert: “As a first-timer in the concert stage, Nora Aunor passed the test with flying colors. In spite of the seemingly insurmountable stress and strain of such a challenge. Nora’s vocal brilliance shone…she gave her very best in every song.”
ERNIE PECHO, columnist, Daily Globe
On “ Alay niGuy sa Bagong Milenyo” concert: “Once again, the country’s one and only Superstar, Nora Aunor, provedto all and sundry why she deserves the title…No one expected that she couldsing straight some 20 songs…and she performed them so well…Clearl,y thenight belonged to Nora alone. Her interpretation spoke of all the love and the pain that she has undergone, and even her spiels were delivered with such confidence and casualness of one talking to a friend of her life’sexperiences.”
BIBSY CARBALLO, writer, columnist, People’s Journal
On “The Legend…Live” Music Museum concert of Nora:“The Legend… Live…breathed life into and brought back the luster of the hits of the decades past… The mere Superstar’s presence on stage is simply awesome, and once she opens her mouth to sing, you get mesmerized by her vocal power.”
MARY ANN BAUTISTA and RICKY GALLARDO,
Philippine Daily Inquirer
“Nora once more proved that she is without peer in the emotionalreading of a song…In song after song…she would, pitch perfect, extend anote, abbreviate another, and wrap around a word until the song has becomehers and hers alone. The entertainment industry will always have its dime-a-dozen divas but it will never know another Nora Aunor.”
GERALD RAMOS, critic,Today:
on “Gold,” Nora’s 50th b-day concert in Araneta Coliseum “That evening, it was made clear what sets Nora apart from the currentset of so-called divas. Nora simply sings. She doesn’t scream. And thismakes a lot of difference…Not only did she look good – fresh , youngishand lovely. She sounded very well, indeed.”
NESTOR CUARTERO, editor, Tempo
Manila Bulletin entertainment
“Nora Aunor holds her audience in the palm of her hand…She sang ,danced, she had to do many spiels, she kept the whole show well-paced andeventful – very few entertainers of whatever age, could have done as well.”
NESTOR TORRE, critic/editor,
Philippine Daily Inquirer
I was one of the judges in the Tawag ng Tanghalan championship who batted for Nora Aunor. And I proved myself right from the start. The first time I heard this tiny, little gem of a singer, I was really impressed. “Wow, what a voice! To think that it’s coming from someone so young at that time. She had a natural nice, deep voice to typical of the soulful Filipina soprano voices. And more than that, I was really struck by her beauty. Believe me, I knew then she would amount to something great.
FIDES CUYUGAN ASENCIOProfessor of Music and Voice,
UP Founding Artistic Director,
Music Theater Foundation of the Philippines
"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."
PROF. ANDREA VENERACION
National Artist for Music
Foreign Critics on Some of Nora Aunor’s Performances
“On Bona (1980)
Nora Aunor evokes Giulietta Masina in La Strada —a Gelsomina to keep company with the kid who acted superbly in The Bicycle Thieves.
- FRANCIS CUEL, Cinematographer
Aunor is a sociological phenomenon: the first dark-skinned superstar, idolized by the underclasses. Her fans’ devotion is unlimited. A score of them has come to live and work in her house as self-appointed servants. For many, she has the status of a saint. Her role in Bona in Brocka’smovie—which she produced out of her own pocket in order to appear in the a serious film—is not unlike that of one of her own fan-servant-slaves.
- ELLIOT STEIN , “Bona,” Village Voice ,
September 25, 1984, 70 •
On Himala (1982)
Nora Aunor as Elsa gives a sensitive, polished and highly passive and consistently low-key performance. She is letter-perfect for the role.
- Variety , January 26, 1983
On The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995)
Aunor invests her role with powerful emotions and utmost conviction, showing how a humble, self-sacrificing mother became a victim of corruption and abuse—and later, a national symbol adored by her countrymen.
- EMMANUEL LEVY, Variety , Dec. 11, 1995
On Thy Womb (2012)
Aunor’s softly crinkled face beautifully registers the internal pain of her every decision in this curious process.
– GUY LODGE, Variety, Sept. 2012
Aunor’s moving portrayal of a woman determined to provide her husband with a child
– STEVE GRAVESTICK , Toronto programmer
Her elfin features, so powerfully expressive of both happiness and sorrow help make Shahela (Nora) an engaging, unlikely heroin
- NEIL YOUNG, The Hollywood Reporter,
Sept. 2012
One of the most poignant and intimate films at this year’s Venice fest …amoving and a visually captivating movie with two commanding yet understated central performances
– JO-ANN TITMARSH, CineVue,
September 2012
Nora Aunor’s acting is immense…Filipino diva Nora Aunor progressively conveys humiliation and pride, pain and hope, frustration and dignity. Emotions fruit of the extreme consequences, of a choice of love that destroys and upsets. Emotions that Thy Womb is able to convey with great intensity and maximum modesty.
– Italian Libre Cinema website