A 10-minute encounter with Nora Aunor

What’s a writer’s greatest weapon aside from the mighty pen? A handy audio recorder!

Who would have thought that one typically warm late-summer Friday afternoon would turn into a welcome surprise? I did not.

Good thing I had my reliable Sony Clear Voice Plus in my bag in preparation for my Monday interview with the Jodie Foster, who stars in Touchstone’s latest suspense-thriller Flightplan, which opens on Nov. 9 in the Philippines.

But, I digress. Yes. I did talk to Nora Aunor!

The encounter was unplanned. The Superstar was with her manager Norie Sayo, when she visited Manny Bernabe, an influential Filipino-American business leader in California.

I happened to be visiting my friends who work in the same company that same day.

I approached Norie and introduced myself. I asked her if I could talk to Nora and Norie agreed only after I promise the interview will be totally "harmless." She gave me only 10 minutes!

I immediately scrambled for a sheet of paper to start forming my questions and fumbled for my recorder which was stuck somewhere in my backpack.

I waited for another 30 minutes before the Superstar emerged from her meeting with Bernabe. I felt unexplained sympathy when I caught sight of her. She was raccoon-eyed and seemed to have been crying.

She was dressed in plain purple leggings with her trademark black belt bag wrapped around her waist. She wore a plain Disney Princess top and looked very tired. I couldn’t see the elegant Nora Aunor, who, just two months ago, wowed the crowd in Pasadena when she performed in the ABS-CBN Caravan Show. If I said she looked haggard, it would be an understatement.

"Pasensya na po kayo," she kept repeating, trying to apologize for her scruffy look.

We settled in a vacant conference room for the interview. I couldn’t get myself started immediately as I was still reeling from the shock of seeing her, so un-Superstar like.

After gathering my thoughts, I reassured her I will not press on things that she doesn’t want to discuss. I just couldn’t bear hurting her anymore.

Here is Nora in her own words:

On her legal troubles:

"No, no. I am not allowed to talk."

I respected her request and discarded all my follow-up questions on the matter. She, however, obliged a wee bit of a smile when I enumerated to her what I would have asked her. I did ask her why she seemed to have been crying, to which she just gave a humble smile for an answer.

On her recent controversial "Best Actress" win:

To my question, "Did you win?", she replied, "I didn’t even know that. That’s what they said. Actually, they (referring to her supporters) were the ones who told me. I don’t know."

When I asked if she received a trophy or plaque for the award, Nora replied, "None. I don’t really know."

On the death of Matet’s child:

"Matet and I talked. She’s okay. She has accepted what happened. Of course, she felt bad. But she has accepted the situation."

On Lotlot and Monching:

"I cannot interfere with their affairs as husband and wife. But if they approach me, all I can give is my advice."

On her family:

"Okay naman. Frequent ang communication namin. They will be coming over in November because we will have a show – something like a Christmas show. Matet, Lotlot, Ian and the two kids, Kiko and Kenneth are coming. Tirso (Cruz III) and Boyet (Christopher de Leon) might join us.

On her loyal fans in the Philippines:

"I’d like them to know that I’m okay here. As for the reports, they must not worry. They shouldn’t believe any of them, as long as I’m not talking.

"I’m happy here. I want them to know that I still feel their love and I love them dearly as well. It warms my heart because I really feel what true admiration is."