Dear Ate Guy,
I will be so lucky to be read by you. I am one of those who are spending time away from our homeland to escape the poverty and the crimes and whatever things hound us back there.
I also want to take this opportunity to be finally honest to myself and declare to the world my admiration for you, that you have enriched my life and made me a better person, ever since the "Tawag ng Tanghalan" days.
I was just in elementary then na interesado ring kumanta . You would sing songs like it was just one step away from crying. I would get teary-eyed listening to you. You must win, I told myself, especially after I learned where you were coming from. Ang payat mo pa noon, di ba? Tapos kiming-kimi . And then meron pa akong pinsan who would criticize you as patpatin and uhugin , I was so infuriated. All the more I stood by you.
I began looking forward to your singing in the radio and variety shows. Tapos, napansin ka na ng mga movie producers. Nahalata na nila kung gaano ka na ka-requested . You did bit parts. Naririnig ko noon, kuwentuhan 'yung mga tao kung paano magtitilian sa sinehan kapag umapir ka na sa telon. Hindi ka pa bida noon .
I pestered and pestered my father to allow me to watch. Kasi, he had something against Filipino movies. He got really angry and threatened to stop sending me to school. Hindi daw makakatulong na ang valedictorian sa klase ay isang movie fan.
Pero anong magagawa ko? Tuwang-tuwa ako sa iyo. Gandang-ganda ako sa mukha mo Gustong-gusto kitang ipagtanggol. Lalu na't nakikita ko na parati kang tahimik, na sa kaliitan at kahinhinan mo ay para bang lalamunin ka lagi ng tao. 'Yung iba namang artista, puro pilit magmukhang mayaman. Ikaw, naiiba, simpleng-simple.
That's why, nang nagbida ka na sa "Maria Leonora Teresa," I had to watch the movie, come hell or high water. Alam mo bang that was my first act of independence from my father? And then pruweba pa ito na "made" ka na at tanggap ka na ng mga elite sa movie industry, kasi mismong si Pip ay galing sa angkan ng mga pinagpipitaganang artista . Show them, Nora, show them, sabi-sabi ko noon sa sarili ko. Feeling ko nga, umunlad ang bayan, eh. Ikaw ba naman ang makapareha ng isang Amerikano like Don Johnson. Nung ginawa mo na ang "Merika" later, I'd already been to several places here in North America, courtesy of my relatives, pero inspired pa rin to look for my own Don Johnson. Pero , one thing for sure, nung time ng "Lollipops and Roses," mas inspired ako sa buhay even if those were really dark years.
MLT, Lollipops and Roses, Kondesang Basahan ... " Sikat akong kusinera, ako ang siyang nauuna, nahuhuli ang sinyora, ngunit kapag sibuyas na ang hiniwa ay tumutulo ang aking luha, kahit artista sa drama ay maluluma, ako ang siyang kaawa-awa"? Tingnan mo, tanda ko pa lyrics. Those were my days of innocence. My mother and sisters were with me when I watched "And God Smiled at Me," although it was a secret from my father. "As I said a prayer, singing by the altar...." We were all crying in the end. Sabi ko talaga, ikaw na rin ang pinakamagaling sa drama.
Ako, I became very open sa mga roles mo dahil nga napabilib mo na ako at hindi ako nadi-disappoint . You always surprised me. Kaya nga open din ako sa mga pagbabago sa buhay mo. Ang mahalaga, hindi ka nangingiba sa aming mga fans kahit ilan sa amin, makitid, gusto parati ka na lang bata in miniskirt and ribbons at mahaba ang buhok. Tapos, mag-topless ka ba naman sa "Banawe!" But then, you pulled it off. Ako nga lang lagi ang natatakot. 'Yun pala , that was just the start of films that would make Philippine cinema recognized all over the world -- Minsan May Isang Gamu-gamo, Bona, Himala. You would regularly make popular movies, and then surprise everyone with quality films -- Andrea, The Flor Contemplacion Story, Naglalayag. In all of them, you gave justice to your role. People would notice the eyes, the mannerisms, the voice. Ginagaya kasi kaiba. Kasi rin, basta may kinalaman sa 'yo, popular kaagad, may connect sa tao.
Nora, you could have gone on forever playing cute for your fans and playing safe. You could have even chosen to quit show business. Pero naiintindihan kita, Nora. Ang tao ay kailangang "maglayag ," as they say. And you are not afraid to venture out, lumubog, magkamali. Hindi humdrum ang iyong existence.
You have been admired for so many things, but I think people still have to give you credit for your courage. I read a columnist call that character some kind of self-destructiveness. Well, I would like to tell that person na in this journey of life, there is not one sure way and we don't always know what to do. Nora, you've gone through twists and turns in life, yet you're still standing. Hindi ka nagmakaawa o nagpa-awa . Nora, you've shown character and how it is to keep dignity intact.
Marunong kang tumayo at lumaban. Kahit noong politika na ang napasok mo at tinitira ka na pati ng mga bigating politiko at kapwa mo artista na loyal sa isang tao na unang-una, ikaw ang may tunay na pagkakilala. Tapos , you ran for governor in Bicol, where every one knew there was no beating the trapos and warlords there. Ni sa pangarap, di yata ako magkakaroon ng ganyang lakas ng loob. Kaya para sa akin, ikaw ang panalo.
Though I never had the chance to be one of those who would sneak into your shooting locations, lalo na noong kasikatan ng Guy and Pip love team and people would hold hankies up to you, and queue for a chance to just peek at you, kahit bagsak ka na sa puyat at natutulog ka na lang, feeling ko we have a connection. My life isn't perfect at imposible sigurong maging perpekto rin ang buhay mo -- walang perpektong buhay. Pero sa 'yo, ang daming miron. Still, you're living the life I never can live.
Can anyone imagine the Philippines without a Nora Aunor? Nai-connect ko na nga ang my being a Nora fan to asserting my identity here abroad. Di ba lahat na lang ng Pinoy kilala ka? Di ba ibig sabihin noon ay parte ka na ng kaluluwa ng bayan? Tapos ngayon, bakit may nagrereklamo na tinutulungan ka sa kaso mo? 'Yun ngang mga nagnanakaw na Pilipino sa Saudi, tinutulungan natin eh. Ang mga pagkakamali ba ay mas importante pa sa mga malalaking tagumpay? Lastly, why are we judging people when, in fact, mga miron lang tayong lahat sa kanilang buhay? Ako , I refuse to judge, kasi hindi ko naranasan 'yung kay liit kong tao ay nag-iigib ng tubig at nagbebenta nito sa riles ng tren sa init ng araw, at maglakad papasok nang walang tsinelas. Hindi ko rin alam kung paano buhatin sa aking balikat ang matataas na ekspektasyon ng isang buong bansa.
Forever Noranian,
Danny V. Leonera
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