Himala Revisited: Nora Aunor in Vienna, Virginia, for the Special Screening of the Film by Dino Dela Rosa
Vienna, Virginia--The one and only Superstar Nora Aunor was here to attend the special screening of her film “Himala,” the 1982 Ishmael Bernal classic in which she won the best actress award at the Metro Manila Filmfest. She played the faith healer Elsa and her riveting performance is considered one of her best performances. This film was sponsored by the Filipino Ministry of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and MOWELFUND Philippines where Boots Anson-Roa is the Executive Director. Boots and Nora both starred in the memorable drama, Paru-parong Itim (1973).
In 1967, a 14-year-old contestant from Iriga, Ma. Leonora “Nora” Villamayor, entered the then-popular singing competition Tawag Ng Tanghalan. She stood out from the other contestants for her powerful vocals, which the judges and the viewers found amazing for someone so young. She also had confidence and poise. During this time, she was living in Manila with her auntie Belen Aunor, the sister of Nora’s mother, Mamay Tuying Villamayor. For fourteen consecutive weeks, she was the weekly champion and she was ecstatic when she was proclaimed the Grand Champion.
The producers of Sampaguita Pictures took notice of her and put her under contract and christened her Nora Aunor. For a couple of years, she was cast in supporting roles in forgettable films. But in 1970, she was cast in a musical-comedy which became a box-office hit, she was paired with a handsome newcomer named Tirso Cruz III. Their second film, also a musical-comedy, was also a hit. The public took notice of this dusky, diminutive singing sensation and immediately became fascinated with her. A Star was born! Nora Aunor broke the color barrier in the movie industry when before her the tall, fair-skinned mestizas were the leading ladies (Susan Roces, Amalia Fuentes and Gloria Romero).
From the ’70s to the late ’80s, La Aunor reigned supreme as the movie queen making one box-office hit after another. She also conquered TV with her long-running musical variety show, Superstar and the drama series Makulay na Daigdig ni Nora. It was in her drama series where she honed her now effortless acting skills. Her director, Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara, taught her different acting skills. And Nora was a fast learner.
She received critical notice when she won her first best actress award for And God Smiled at Me (1972). She finally won her first actress award from FAMAS for Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos in 1977. By this time she had revealed that she is an actress of extraordinary depth. Since then she was won countless awards.
In 2004, after she did her highly successful U.S. concert tour, she fell in love with San Francisco and decided to try living there. She realized that she enjoyed living there, having some privacy and being Nora Aunor, a private citizen, something she hasn’t enjoyed doing since she joined showbiz at a young age. But she still did a series of concerts for her many U.S-based fans. Last year she became a permanent resident.
When she attended the special screening here in Vienna, Va. on August 13-14, her many fans in the Washington D.C. metro area came to see her. For two nights, she mesmerized everyone with her legendary golden voice as well as her brilliant performance in Himala. Her fans was so thrilled to see her since she rarely comes here to perform, the last time she was here is when she had her concert, “Nora-Kuh: The Power Of Two,” at the Lisner Auditorium.
Her iconic presence at the special screening of Himala proved yet again that after than more than four decades in the industry, Nora Aunor is still at the top of her game and stil the one and only Superstar. There hasn’t been anyone like her before her or since.
A Filipino American writer's blog account of Ate Guy's appearance at the Historic Filipinotown Festival:
OH, NORA! by Noel Alumit
I spent part of Saturday at the Historic Filipinotown Street Festival. With Cory's death, I wanted to see what the mood was. I ate halo-halo, an icy dessert, in a restaurant there. They had the TV on and the news was all about Cory's contributions to the country. (This included an interview with Hilary Clinton who seemed genuinely moved and shocked to hear of Cory's death.)
I must confess my mood lifted considerably when I saw who was going to be at the festival: Nora Aunor! For those of you who aren't familiar with her, she's a huge star in the Philippines.
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA – The Historic Filipinotown (HIFI) Neighborhood Council of Los Angeles, through its Festival Planning Committee, is on schedule to produce the most ambitious and majestic festival to celebrate the cultural Filipino enclave where 30,000 residents of many nationalities dwell, and where all nationalities and ethnicities will come join this Filipino celebration. The event is Saturday, August 2, 2008.
The 6th HIFI Festival will close Temple St just two blocks East of Alvarado. This massive festival with a projected crowd of at least 5,000, will feature a Grand 5K Walk/Run, all-day Carnival Rides with fun for all ages, the Grand Opening of the traveling Smithsonian Exhibition, “Singgalot the Ties That Bind,” guided bus tours around the HIFI district, vendor booths with services, food and goods, several Street Dancing parades and a dynamic stage lineup of talent representing most cultures of the HIFI district.
This will include dancers, vocalists, bands, the crowning of the HIFI Neighborhood Council’s Youth Ambassador 2008, and a colorful lineup of Filipino Folkloric, as well as Proyectos Saluda’s renowned Global Hispanic Folklore Groups, bringing on this occasion the revelry of Nicaraguan, Mexican, and Colombian Folklore Groups in one unforgettable hour of color and music; there will also be Cumbia contests for all. Raffles, contests, and never-ending family fun.
The artistic lineup includes legendary award winners “The Latin Rhythm Kings” including Tierra, Cannibal and The Headhunters, the Colombian legend Zorullo y la Dinamita with old school Salsa and Cha Cha live music, dancers Jared and Juanita, The Marvelettes and a mesmerizing lineup of emerging talents from Celebrity Chronicle.
The Festival will reach its climax when multi awarded actress and singer Nora Aunor graces the stage, as well as 2006 London Jazz vocalist winner Mon David. Renowned emcee and total performer Benita Ibanez will raise the crowds for prime time.
The preliminary Bronze Sponsors for the HIFI Festival includes the City of Angels Medical Center and the Rotary International, also producer of the 5K Walk Run. The Festival is also endorsed by City Council District 13 (Eric Garcetti), Los Angeles Police Department, Good Samaritan Hospital, the Consulate General of The Philippines, The Music Center of Los Angeles County, which is presenting the amazing Lea Salonga on July 11th in its Global Pop series, and Levitt Pavilion of MacArthur Park as Community Partner. The Festival’s preliminary Media Partners are TV18, Asian Journal, Taliba, FilAmNation and La Prensa Colombiana among others.
Sponsorship, Booths, Ads and Media Partnership opportunities are now open for companies and individuals interested in exposure to a crowd of over 5,000 attendees, media and press while also returning to the community and its festival. Your sponsorship/contribution to the festival is tax-deductible.
For more info please visit www.historicfilipinotown.org, or email: jonathan.lorenzo ( @ ) historicfilipinotown dot org
For Sponsorship Opportunities and to promote your name and company in event, email: avanegas ( @ ) historicfilipinotown dot org
ABOUT HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL INC (HIFINC) As the size of Filipino migration in Los Angeles grew over the last fifty years, Filipino enclaves developed. One of the oldest enclaves in the City of Los Angeles is the district that is now known as “Historic Filipinotown.”
On August 2, 2002, a dedication ceremony was held upon the unanimous approval by the Los Angeles City Council for the designation of this area as “Historic Filipinotown”. Historic Filipinotown is situated in a multi-ethnic area one mile west of Downtown L.A. This area is bounded by U.S. Highway 101 to the north, Glendale Blvd. to the east, Beverly Blvd. to the south and Hoover St. to the west. It stretches approximately 1.5 miles from east to west and 0.5 miles from north to south.
The HIFINC was established with the expressed mission to make this neighborhood safe for residents, businesses and stakeholders and also to make this part of the city a tourist destination. The President of HIFINC Inc. is Cecile Ramos.
A yearly festival is produced to celebrate the dedication of this district and celebrate all the other communities comprising the population of 30,000. The producer of the yearly festivals has been Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal.
BeyondJeff Production, Share A Hand Foundation, Inc., JA Event Productions, Josefina Alipio of House of Homes Realty, GMA Pinoy TV, Wild 94.9 & 106 KMEL...
Present: Philippine Independence Day Celebration " A Benefit Festival"
June 13 & 14, 2009 (Saturday & Sunday) at the Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco, California on , 10AM - 6PM
Featuring: Charlie Green Heart Evangelista Richard Gomez Lucy Torres Rey Kilay Rin on the Rox Korusleine Coro de Sta. Ana Drop N Harmony
with "A Very Special Guest" The Philippines One & Only Superstar Ms Nora Aunor
DONATION: $10.00 (Early Bird Prize Eligibility for the first 2500 attendees) Prizes: 1 MacBook and 1 iPod touch - each day
Children - 12 years old & under: FREE
BENEFICIARY: Share A Hand Foundation, Inc.
Join the Search for: Binibining Fiesta Filipina USA 2009 Ginoong Fiesta Filipina USA 2009 Fiesta Filipina USA Idol 2009 Fiesta Filipina Best Dance Crew 2009 Rubik's Cube Tournament 2009
- Be a Sponsor or an Exhibitor and showcase your products and services to thousands of potential customers.
Ms. Nora Aunor encourages fellow Filipinos to support the Historic Filipinotown Festival & 5K Run, a worthy cause. The Superstar will grace the event's activities.
The festival will be held on August 1, 2009, on Temple Street between Alvarado and Union, Historic Filipinotown, City of Los Angeles, California.
Day-long program will also feature Bernardo Bernardo, Malou Toler, Jazz Phil-USA and many more!
See You Tube video of the event’s press conference.
“Hindi ko po mapapantayan, at wala pong makakapantay, dahil nag-iisa lang po siya. Pero sa maliit ko pong paraan, gusto ko pong magbigay ng tribute sa nag-iisang Superstar, si Ms. Nora Aunor.”
Ito ang paunang salita ni Angel, one of today’s biggest stars, bago basahin ang excerpt mula sa script ng Himala, kasama sa aklat na Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon ni Maestro Ricky Lee. Bahagi ito ng programa sa paglulunsad ng espesyal na edisyon ng libro na ginanap sa Powerbooks Megamall noong May 31, 2009.
Matapos makipagbatuhan ng ilang linya kay Vangie Labalan, ina ni Elsa sa pelikula, binigkas na ni Angel ang imortal na linya ni Elsa sa burol, maituturing na most memorable lines sa pelikulang Filipino.
“Ipinatawag ko kayong lahat dahil may gusto akong ikumpisal. Nitong mga nakaraang araw, sa loob lamang ng maikling panahon, parang naranasan natin ang magkahalong langit at impiyerno. Maraming sakit ang gumaling, maraming tao ang bumuti at nagkaroon ng pananampalataya. Pero nakakita rin tayo ng kamatayan, ng epidemya, ng pagpuputa, ng krimen at panloloko.
“Kapag may masamang nangyayari, isinisisi natin ang sumpa. Isinumpa ang Cupang, itinaboy kasi natin ang maysakit kaya gano’n. Kapag may mabuti namang nangyayari, sinasabi nating ito’y gawa ng langit, gawa ng himala.
“Meron akong ipagtatapat sa inyo. … Walang himala. Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao. Nasa puso nating lahat. Tayo ang gumagawa ng himala. Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga sumpa at mga Diyos. Hindi totoong buntis ako dahil sa himala. Hindi totoong nagpakita sa akin ang Mahal na Birhen. Walang himala. Hindi totoo ang himala. Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga sumpa at ng mga Diyos. Walang himala …”
Di tulad sa pelikula, walang namang bumaril kay Angel pagdating sa huling linya. Bagkus, sinalubong ang kanyang delivery ng masigabong palakpakan at pagbubunyi, lalo na sa hanay ng mga Noranian na nakiisa sa paglulunsad. Waring nakahinga ng maluwag si Angel sa mainit na pagtanggap ng audience.
Hindi tinularan ni Angel ang delivery ng Superstar sa mga dakilang linya mula sa panulat ni Ricky Lee. Binigkas niya ito ayon sa sariling pagkaunawa at pagdama sa teksto ng script. Dahil dito, lumabas itong orihinal, natural, at kanyang-kanya.
Tumanggap ng papuri si Angel mula sa awtor. Sabi ni Ricky Lee nang mag-speech ito: “Sincere na artista si Angel … Kaya niyang makuha ang nagawa ni Nora hindi para pantayan kundi para magawa ang sinasabi niyang tribute dahil sincere siyang tao … at nagawa niya.”
Tulad sa paglulunsad ng Para Kay B, unang nobela ni Ricky Lee, ang launch ng Si Tatang at mga Himala ay pagtitipon ng mga kaibigan ng awtor. Kinilala ni Ricky ang halaga ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya:
“Lahat ng mga akdang nasa loob ng aklat ay mga akdang nasulat ko sa loob ng dalawampung taon mula noong late ’60s hanggang sa late ’80s. At lahat sila ay nasulat dahil nakapalibot ako noon sa mga taong nagmamahal sa akin, mga kaibigan. Halos karamihan ng nasusulat ko, nasusulat ko dahil may mga taong nagmamahal sa akin at mga kaibigan … ”
Tumayong guro ng palatuntunan si Ricky Davao. Nagbigay ng paunang salita si Bienvenido Lumbera, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan. Kabilang sa mga nagbasa ng sipi sa aklat sina Ms. Chanda Romero, Phillip Salvador, Ms. Jaclyn Jose, Ogie Alcasid, Dingdong Dantes, Jean Garcia, Nanding Josef, Alan Paule, Prof. Danton Remoto, at Robi Domingo. Naging masining ang pagbasa ng lahat ng mga artista, lalo na sina Phillip Salvador at Nanding Josef. Nagpasaya sa audience ang nakakaaliw na excerpt na binasa nina Ogie Alcasid, Jean Garcia, at Danton Remoto. Dumating sa paglulunsad si Matet De Leon, ipinakilala bilang siyang ipinabubuntis daw ni Elsa sa pelikula. Humabol din si Ms. Melanie Marquez.
Text by Nestor De Guzman; Photos by Manny P, Paolo Herras, and Nestor De Guzman
Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon, Ricky Lee’s groundbreaking anthology, will be reissued as a special collector’s edition in a book launch on May 31, Sunday, 3:00 p.m. at Power Books – Megamall Bldg. A.
First released in 1988, Si Tatang combines Lee’s feature articles, interviews, and short stories, including “Servando Magdamag” and “Kabilang sa mga Nawawala.” It also features the full screenplay of the Nora Aunor-starrer Himala, which recently won CNN Viewers' Choice as the Best Asia Pacific Film of All Time, besting Akira Kurosawa and Wong Kar Wai films in the process.
This special edition features a new cover design, improved layout, new photographs and illustrations, plus 28 additional pages with a reprinted feature about Direk Lino Brocka written after his death in 1992 and a newly written article on the making of Himala that relates never-before-revealed behind-the-scene anecdotes. A must-read for film scholars and enthusiasts.
Ricky Lee is also the author of Trip to Quiapo, considered the Filipino scriptwriting bible. His successful first novel Para kay B (o kung paano dinevastate ng pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin) continues to capture the readers' imagination and has been reprinted barely three months after it was launched last November.
Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon will be available come May 31 at all Power Books and National Bookstore branches. Pre-orders will get a P70.00 discount from the regular price (P450.00) until May 31 through Jerry at 928-9557 / 0921-7849363/ 0917-5331948 or through e-mail writers.studio12@ gmail.com. Special gifts will be given to those who can bring copies of the old edition during the launch.
Tinanghal si Nora Aunor bilang “Aktres na may Pinakamataas na Papuri” sa 11th PASADO Gawad Sining Sine na ginanap sa Manila Grand Opera Hotel, May 16, 2009. Ang kanyang tropeo ay tinanggap ng kaibigang si Ricky Lee, na ginawaran din ng parangal bilang “Manunulat na may Pinakamataas na Papuri.” Unang recipients ng naturang awards sina Ate Guy at Sir Ricky.
Isa sa highlights ng gabi ang parangal sa Himala bilang “Pasadong Pelikula sa Lahat ng Panahon.” Sabi sa binasang citation:
“Ang Himala ay isang pelikulang nananatiling pinakapaborito at pinakaepektibo na kagamitan sa pagtuturo ... Pabalik-balik pa rin itong ipinalalabas, mainit pa ring pinag-uusapan, at walang sawang pinag-aaralan. Hanggang ngayon patuloy pa rin itong umaani ng parangal sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo, kabilang na rito ang pagkilala ng CNN bilang Best Film of All Time in the Asia-Pacific region nitong nakaraang taon.
“Ngayong gabi, bukod sa pagkilala ng PASADO sa magaling na direktor nito na si Ishmael Bernal, pinararangalan ng PASADO ang dalawa pang matatayog na haligi sa likod ng pelikulang ito na sumasalamin sa sarili nitong galing, laman, at dating. Sila ang nagsisilbing simbolo ng pelikulang ito.”
Sabay nang tinanggap ni Sir Ricky ang tropeo nila ng Superstar. Sa kanyang acceptance speech, sabi niya:
“Ginawa namin ang Himala noong 1982—sa budget na 2.7 million pesos—sa loob ng dalawang buwan, kalaban ang walang tigil na pag-ulan, bagyo, iba’t ibang klaseng sakit, flu, dysentery, mga away sa set dahil sa nawawalang panty o continuity. Pero masayang isipin na after 26 years ay napapansin pa rin siya at nabibigyan ng parangal …
“Kung wala si Nora walang Himala. Binuo namin ang Himala na siya lang ang nasa isip namin. Sinulat ko ’yon para kay Nora noong 1976. Kung naririto si Nora, alam kong pasasalamatan niya ang lahat ng tao na, sa walang tigil na akyat-baba ng buhay at pelikula, walang-sawang naniwala at tumangkilik sa kanya hanggang ngayon … ”
Maraming salamat sa bumubuo ng PASADO.
Some sidelights of interest to Noranians:
·Sa intermission sa pagitan ng concert at awards proceedings, pinatugtog ang tatlong unang tracks ng Habang Panahon CD ni Ate Guy. Isa ang komedyanteng si Eugene Domingo sa nakapansin sa pamilyar na tinig ni Ate Guy, nabanggit ni Sir Ricky. Agad ding nakilala ni German Moreno ang tinig ng kaibigan. "Batang-bata pa ang boses ni Nora," komento pa ni Sir Ricky. Inanunsiyo ang bagong CD ni Ate Guy.
·Isang gurong miyembro ng PASADO ang tumayong “Nora Aunor” buong gabi, mula nang mag-comment si Eugene Domingo na ka-height nito si Ate Guy.
·Sumuporta sa awards night ang mga Noranian mula sa Federation, GANAP, at ICON. Hindi nagkulang sa cheering squad.
·Sa binasang roster of PASADO best actress winners, special mention si Ate Guy bilang huling binanggit: “AT ANG NAG-IISANG SUPERSTAR, si Ms. Nora Aunor …”
“We were shooting iyong funeral scene,” pagkukuwento ni Joel Lamangan, casting at crowd director, at gumanap din bilang pari. “Take one lang dahil gagabihin na. Gumuhit si [Ishmael Bernal] sa lupa, Guy, sabi niya, guguhit ako dito, naka-crane shot ako, maglalakad kayo, pagdating mo dito sa guhit, paglapit sa’yo ni Gigi (Dueñas, gumanap na Nimia), luluha ka sa kaliwang mata.
“Takot na takot ako. Sabi ko, Nora, ’day, kelangang magawa mo. Gagawin ko po, sabi niya.
“Umpisa na. Action! Tamang-tamang pagdating nga ni Nora sa guhit at paglapit ni Gigi, pumatak ang mga luha niya sa kaliwang mata. Napapalakpak ako sa husay. Naging Noranian ako after that!”
Katotohanan lagi ang gusto ni Ishmael Bernal. Ito ang lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin, bilang scriptwriter ng pelikula. “Ricky, gawin nating minimalist ang pelikula. Tanggalin mo ang mga taba at burloloy.”
Ito lang ang natatandaan kong nagkaroon ako ng argumento sa kanya dahil sabi ko’y baka maging masyadong deretsahan ang lines. Pero iyon ang gusto niya, sabi niya, deretsuhin mo na ang pilosopiya...
Pero sa kalahatan ay natutuwa ako sa mga discussion namin ni Ishma dahil sinulat ko ang Himala sa isang panahong kinukuwestiyon ko ang Diyos, ang pamahalaan, at maging ang ilang mga paniniwalang nakagisnan ko. Ang mga inhustisya at paghihirap na dinaanan ng mga mamamayan ng Cupang ay dinaanan ko rin sa sarili kong buhay, at masasabi kong ako man, noong mga panahong iyon, ay naghihintay din ng himala. --Excerpt from “Ang Paggawa ng Himala”
Learn more amusing secrets and untold stories behind the making of Himala in this new article written by Ricky Lee, included in the special edition of Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon, the ground-breaking anthology first published in 1988 that put together Lee's journalistic essays, film script and short fiction.
Tatang will be released later this month and will be launched at Powerbooks Megamall on May 31, Sunday.
Aside from the full screenplay of Himala, the book also contains previously unpublished photos taken during the actual shoot of the film, catching superstar Nora Aunor, Ishmael Bernal, Joel Lamangan and the production staff at work.
Regular price of the book is P450. However, there will be a P70-discount for every advance copy pre-ordered from Writers Studio Philippines. Please contact Jerry thru (02) 928-9557, 0921-7849363, 0917-5331948, or e-mail: writers.studio12@gmail.com.
****** Noranians are people smitten by a talent extraordinaire: Ms. Nora Aunor, a singer with golden voice, world-class film artist, cultural icon, living legend—the ultimate multimedia Superstar of the Philippine entertainment industry.
Noranians are SUPERSTARstruck.
This is their page to celebrate their identity as Noranians.
****** Noranians may share here their impression of Nora Aunor; any trivia on her music, performances, or other works; their own stories as Noranians. E-mail contributions to superstarstruck@gmail.com.
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