(From left) Nora Aunor and Matet de Leon. Images: Instagram/@misismatet, Facebook/Lotlot de Leon
Matet and Lotlot de Leon expressed their love for their mother, the late Nora Aunor, as they remembered how she touched the hearts of generations with her “unmatched talent, grace, and passion for the craft.”
Aunor, whose real name was Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, died at the age of 71 on Wednesday, April 16, just a month before her birthday. Her death was confirmed by Ian de Leon, her son with ex-husband and screen veteran Christopher de Leon. Her family has yet to fully disclose the details of her death, though it was initially reported that she was undergoing a medical procedure at that time.
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On Instagram, Matet shared photos of herself with her mother during her wedding.
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“I love you mommy,” she captioned her post.
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Meanwhile, Lotlot said her mother’s star will continue to shine even after her death. “Born on May 21, 1953, she touched generations with her unmatched talent, grace, and passion for the craft. Her voice, presence, and artistry shaped a legacy that will never fade.”
“She was a star not only on screen, but in the hearts of many,” she continued. “And stars like hers never stop shining.”
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In a joint Instagram post, Janine and Diego Gutierrez described Aunor as the family’s “treasure,” who had the knack for giving “immeasurable love” to her loved ones, fans, and the people she worked with in “onscreen, music, [or] in person.”
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“With sorrowful hearts, we share the passing of our grandmother, Mama Guy. A treasure to our family but truly always more the people’s than ours,” they said. “We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support. Please keep our family in your prayers, especially Mama, Uncle Ian, Ate Matet, Kuya Kiko, and Ken, as we say goodbye. We find comfort in knowing she, the one and only Superstar, will be forever loved.”
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‘Unique artistry and versatility’
Aunor’s longtime onscreen partner and former Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Tirso Cruz III took to his Instagram page to give a brief yet heartfelt tribute to the departed Superstar. Having starred in multiple projects together, the screen veterans were also known by the moniker “Guy and Pip.”
“Our heartfelt condolences to the family of Philippine cinema’s Superstar Ms. Nora Aunor. Praying for God’s comfort to be upon all of you in this season of grief. Your contribution to the industry will always be remembered,” his post read.
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Former ABS-CBN CEO Charo Santos-Concio, who served as an executive producer in the 1982 film “Himala,” looked back on the time she saw Aunor’s performance on “Tawag ng Tanghalan.”
“From the moment she stood on the ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ stage, I was already a fan. I followed her journey closely — how a simple girl from Iriga became the country’s most iconic actress. Her rise to superstardom was not just destiny — it was legacy in the making,” she wrote on Instagram.
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Santos-Concio also spoke highly of Aunor’s acting prowess, noting how every tear of hers felt “like a collective heartbreak” for viewers.
“Nora, salamat sa sining. Salamat sa puso. You were never just an actress. You were our mirror. Our voice. And always, our Superstar,” she said. “My deepest condolences to her family, friends, and to every ‘Noranian’ mourning this profound loss. May you find comfort in the legacy of love and greatness she leaves behind.”
On his X (formerly Twitter) page, filmmaker-writer Jun Robles Lana said Aunor was the “everyday Filipino” despite being on the face of superstardom. Lana and Aunor worked together in the 2014 film “Dementia,” where the former was the screenwriter.
Following her performance, Aunor bagged the Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film award at the 2015 edition of the St. Tropez International Film Festival.
“Nora Aunor was the everyday Filipino, even at the height of her superstardom. When she gained the power to produce her own films, she didn’t chase easy box office returns,” he said. “Instead, she illuminated the lives of those on the margins, giving voice to the silenced.”
Nora Aunor was the everyday Filipino, even at the height of her superstardom. When she gained the power to produce her own films, she didn’t chase easy box office returns. Instead, she illuminated the lives of those on the margins, giving voice to the silenced. She wielded her… pic.twitter.com/dVL1fFN08X
— Jun Robles Lana (@junrobleslana) April 17, 2025
Lana also described Aunor as a star who used her influence as a form of “defiance” and a “championing force.”
“She wielded her art as both a defiance and a championing force. Yes, she was the superstar, but she constantly reminded us that she was also one of us, who just happened to shine so brightly, a storyteller who dared to look where others wouldn’t,” he said.
Dingdong Dantes, who looked back at his working experience in the TV series “Pari ‘Koy” in 2015, said Aunor is “generous with her presence,” even at a moment where actors had to “wait and breathe.”
“It’s that kind of grace that stays with you. The kind that reminds you why people like her are legends—not just because of the work, but because of how they carry the weight of it with humility,” he said.
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“For me, it wasn’t just about the scene. It was about that ten-minute “standby actors” moment with Ate Guy on a chilly August night in 2015. And yes, I’m proud to say I shared it with a National Artist. With a Superstar,” he continued.
Aunor’s wake will be held at The Chapels, Heritage Park in Taguig City, where it will be open to the public on April 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meanwhile, other dates will be reserved for her family and friends.
Her internment will be held at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Tuesday, April 22, although details on her state funeral are yet to be disclosed.
