Featured art by Bhernn Saenz. With images courtesy of NCCA.
MANILA, Philippines — The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) join the nation in commemorating the life and remarkable contributions of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, more known as Nora Aunor, in a necrological service held Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.
The Arrival honors began at 8:30 AM, followed by a tribute program at 9:00 AM. The state funeral rites then continued at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.
The National Artist, who passed away on April 16, 2025 at 71, stood her ground as a distinguished film, television, and theater actor, a renowned singer, and a film producer. Her career began in amateur singing competitions, eventually gaining attention when she won the television talent show Tawag ng Tanghalan in 1967. Her successful stint in the popular television show along with her appearance in Darigold Jamboree, led to her meteoric rise earning the iconic title of the Philippine film industry’s “Superstar.”
Key visual courtesy of the CCP.
Among her acclaimed films are Bona (1980), which was the closing film of Cinemalaya 2024, Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), along with the canonical film Himala (1982), all of which have been featured at the CCP Cine Icons program.
Aunor was then conferred the Order of National Artist (Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) by the Office of the President in 2022. The Order of National Artist is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.
The necrological service was made available to the public with streaming shared on the social media pages of the CCP and NCCA.
Revisit the tribute below:
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