Nora Aunor deserves greater respect

By Nestor Torre, Columnist, Inquirer

Posted date: August 10, 2007

SUPERSTAR Nora Aunor has had more than her share of controversy these past few years. Now US-based, she's had to deal with drug charges, rumors about same-sex marriage, and persistent jeers about her being a "has-been." Sadly absent in this convoluted discussion, however, has been Nora herself, who has chosen to remain sphinx-silent on these hot issues.

Happily, ABS-CBN's "Nagmamahal, Kapamilya" has been able to get Nora to finally open up on this score--well, to some extent. That's definitely better than nothing, so we appreciate the program's scoop.

Gratitude On the TV show last week, Nora looked good, and expressed her gratitude to a Fil-Am couple who have opted to support her, even as others have cynically rejected her.

The most instructive and poignant part of the show's long feature on Nora was her response to a question raised about what it would take for her to return home to the Philippines.

It turned out that Nora was deeply disappointed by some government leaders who had failed to fulfill their promises to her--not for herself, but for Filipinos in general.

And yet, Nora did want to eventually resume her stellar entertainment career here--because she wanted to regain the public's "full respect," which she knew she had lost because of the controversies she was involved in.

Deep impression This statement on Nora's part made a deep impression on us, because it revealed how profoundly she still valued the Filipino viewing public, which had plucked her out of impoverished anonymity and made her the country's brightest star for more than a decade.

That this amazing transformation had transpired some 40 years ago did not diminish the intensity of her relationship with her public.

We fully share her avowed goal to rehabilitate herself in the public's perception, because we feel that, having learned her lessons the hard way, Nora has some great performances left in her--and, if people give her half a chance, she can still turn her fortunes around.

From the masses Having come from the masses, Nora still has the power to inspire Filipinos to similarly pull themselves up by their bootstraps and make something of themselves.

Not only did Nora galvanize the masses at the peak of her phenomenal career, but she also pretty much single-handedly turned the local movie industry's stellar standards around--from idolizing Caucasian-looking stars, to patronizing the movies of new finds like her, who looked as petite and kayumanggi as the fans who could now fully empathize with her.

In the country's long struggle with colonial mentality, that was a major triumph, and Nora's role in achieving it cannot be gainsaid--or eroded by her worst critics.

Nora wants more respect? By all means, let's give it to her, because she's fully entitled to it.

Issue On the other hand, when it came to the "same-sex marriage" issue, Nora decided to avoid or "rise above" it, declaring that she didn't owe anybody an explanation, and it was time to move on.

So, did she, or didn't she? Perhaps we'll never know for sure--but one thing is certain: Despite everything, Nora Aunor deserves, not just our renewed respect, but also our gratitude.

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