Lawmaker seeks National Artist award for Nora Aunor

MANILA, Philippines — Once again, actress Nora Aunor is being put forward for conferment of the National Artist award – this time, through a possible nomination by Congress.

ACT-CIS Rep. Niña Taduran recently filed House Resolution No. 1352, seeking the nomination of the actress, dubbed as the “Superstar” in the Philippine entertainment industry, as national artist for her contribution to arts and culture.

“Ms. Nora Aunor’s time is now. Her recognition as national artist is long overdue,” Taduran stressed.

“She has been denied the recognition twice. We are not looking for a saint. We just want to honor someone for her amazing talent and work, which brought glory and inspiration to the country,” she added.

The lawmaker cited Aunor’s local and international recognitions in her five-decade career in local showbiz, including numerous best actress awards from the Filipino Academy of Movie and Arts Sciences (FAMAS), Gawad Urian, PMPC Star Awards, Metro Manila Film Awards, Luna Awards and Young Critics’ Circle Awards.

Taduran said Aunor has also been awarded best actress in the Cairo International Film Festival, Saint Tropez International Film Festival, Asian Film Awards and Venice International Film Awards and is the first and only Filipino actor to receive a Certificate of Honor in Cannes in 1981 and Berlin in 1983.

She said even the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has conferred Aunor the Gawad CCP para sa Sining for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2015.

The CCP and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are the institutions leading the search for national artist nominees.

“We should not judge Aunor on her personal mistakes. She should be recognized for her big contribution to the country’s film industry,” Taduran said.

The Order of National Artist is the highest national recognition given by the NCCA and CCP upon approval of the President of the Philippines. To date, there are only 73 recognized National Artists.

It is awarded every three years to individuals who excel in the different fields of art, especially those who have made significant contributions that helped develop national cultural identity and created new paths for future artists.