The Nora-Vilma rivalry is like a grand telenovela, parang walang katapusan, laging may extension. But like anything, one day it will end and this long lasting rivalry must settle for only ONE WINNER – no more TIES when the closing credits are shown.
Sad but true, powerful and influential people usually gets the upper hand and can manipulate and/or distort history for reasons beyond being true and honest. So what can we do to make sure that the TRUE WINNER emerges.
Looking back at history (both local and global), the people who made it to the books are not necessarily the ones who are good-natured. In most cases the more famous people were those who STOOD OUT, the ones who MADE THE DIFFERENCE. Nora Aunor is both and we all know this. The KEY is to make other people aware of this especially the young people who did not get the opportunity to witness the Nora Aunor spectacle.
Of course, the quest will be a lot easier if Nora will continue to come up with more bravura projects that will earn her more critical acclaim, quality awards and recognition. The more globally recognized the awards, the better. Commercial but of quality value projects for box-office success and popularity boost will also be a welcome treat. Wishful thinking?
The National Artist (NA) award has been tainted with political color but I believe it is still the highest recognition any Filipino artist can receive. So the race to this award is critical and the one who gets it first will have the advantage. Actually, the criteria for the NA award is very much the essence of making it to HISTORY so if Noranians will work together towards this, it could be hitting 2 birds with one stone.
Ideas…ideas…
1. A Nora Aunor documentary with focus on the events and achievements only witnessed and made possible during the Nora Aunor heydays. Everyone loves a fairy tale story so throw in Nora’s Cinderella-like rise to the top that made way to a very Filipino showbiz landscape. There was a year when she made 18 movies plus TV and recording, what a record! (Considering it is probably just about the number of movies the mainstream productions produced in a year nowadays). Spine tingling fan adulation (touches on the personal side - BKJ's book and old magazine articles have a lot of these extraordinary stories). Footages or photos of her jampacked personal appearances, shows, concerts, not to mention the stampedes. Airlifting to get through the crowd, her talk-of-the town debutante party. "Mamera kay Nora" drive. Komiks/mags with her on the cover week after week after week and even publication was named after her. The more prominent other half in the most popular Guy & Pip tandem. Maria Leonora Theresa, a doll of hers more famous than other known starlets. Stints in Cannes, international awards and wasn’t she also a judge in one international acting derby? What about her “inadequacies” and “misfortunes”? Throw them in as well. Recall of down and out, rise from the ashes events in Nora’s life will be inspirational. Coming out triumphant even after the long Sampaguita vs Tower battle over her services. BIR chases even during the wake of her brother. The “last card” pronouncements that turned out to be all aces. Remember Annie B, followed by Bongga Ka Day? Flor Contemplacion? Her first record breaking concert. And no one should forget the famous “Mamay mali ang hula nila” acceptance speech. Even her recent US “outlaw” incident, throw that in. She is still surviving and very much around doing shows in the US. She is not totally down and out now, is she? Her taking in of 4 kids as her own even if some people say that she was not fit to be their mother. How many of us would have done that? It was an act of goodness no matter what. Those kids needed a HOME and she provided that. Who can say for sure that those kids would have been better off without Nora’s interference? They are certainly not menace to society, are they? And of course the most important of all, her ARTISTRY. From the teeny-boppy no more than singing parts in her early movies, we saw her transformed to become an acting GREAT that she is now. The girl borne out of the masses and made commercial movies that endeared herself to the masses is the same lady who in the process of improving her craft had raised the level of awareness of the masses and made them appreciate critically acclaimed quality movies, most of which she starred in herself.
And ETC. ETC. ETC. Sorry for the mumbles here. I can go on and on but the idea is to make people realize that Nora Aunor is a phenomenon (they ain't seen anything like that yet and not anymore) and NO ONE ELSE comes close.
2. A book/documentation of great people annotating whom the great artist/actressis with emphasis on the criteria somewhat similar to the National Artist award. People who are well respected in their own fields and artists themselves attesting to ONE artist's brilliance will be very convincing. I am confident that “IT” will be Nora for these people. Past and present, non-living and living greats (habang buhay pa ang karamihan sa kanila). Include National Artists Brocka and Bernal's comments, these are valuable.
3. Use of modern technology for promotion of Nora’s artistry. We’d like to see big number of Nora “hits” when someone (an aspiring actor maybe) googles or searches the Net for acting greatness. More Nora on YouTube, websites, blogs, e-groups. Someday, these will become source of history.
4. Preservation of Nora’s recorded songs, movies, TV shows, concerts and stage plays videos, please. We should be able to show (not just tell) the NORA history.
5. New song from the heart. This is more of a "wish" rather than a "move to history". Kailan nga po ba ang huling recording ni Ate Guy? Matagal-tagal na rin po yata ano? I wish that she will record again. I'm not quite sure what type of song but something "magical". It has to be original, puwedeng Tagalog o English though I much prefer Tagalog and composed just for her. It will have that Nora's distinct voice but somehow has a different feel to it. Nice melody for easy recall and has to have meaningful lyrics (not so obvious but definitely relating to her). This song will be "hers" alone and will ease her way to the hearts of the Filipinos yet again. It will be the RECORD of the year and the years to come. Am I wishing for too much? I can dream, can't I? or should I just wake up? Calling on the group's musical geniuses. There must be some here, I'm sure.
And more… The race to history is on.
(written and posted October 2006)
Fast forward to 2012 ...
A true Nora Aunor believer would most likely not entertain such question anymore. I can almost hear the echoes from my Noranian friends: "There is no rivalry!", "You gotta be kidding, what competition are you talking about?", "Puhhhlease, hindi sila magka-level, noh?". And I must say, I totally agree. Multimedia si Ate Guy whereas the rival is hmmm... medya-medya? tho in fairness to her, she is a "hardworking" celebrity, o sige na nga actress na rin. But Nora Aunor is not just a singer/actress. She is a phenomenon and a genuine artist! World-class, saan ka pa? During her US hiatus, she managed to be recognized by CNN with her film 'HIMALA'' cited as one of Asia's greatest films and eventually won the CNN APSA Viewers Choice Award. CNN also sought her for a videotaped interview. Not long after, she got another citation for 10 Best Asian Actress of the Decade in the 2010 Green Planet Awards for which she came on top. Nora Aunor made history again!
So can we end the "rivalry" now? Not so fast, I'm afraid. Outside the "Nora" world and whether we like it or not, Nora and Vilma are still the most enduring rivals. Unfortunately, it is an accepted perception more than a well-researched argument.
And here we go again.. The National Artist award remains elusive. More controversies besieged it instead. When will they see the light of day? I worry not. Who are they fooling anyway? They can commit the most unforgivable sin of omission for not bestowing it on Nora Aunor but for me, Nora Aunor (NA) is already one National Artist (NA). Should I say it once more? The acronymn suits perfectly!
I have faith and I believe that on "judgement day", HISTORY will be kind and honest.
NORA AUNOR is a legendary ICON. No rival. No other. Only her is THE ONE.
PS> My No. 5 wish has been granted the first time I listened to Ate Guy's 'Habang Panahon'. 'Hope to hear the golden voice real soon.. crossing fingers too for the new international movie.. Never stops.. NORA AUNOR keeps writing HISTORY!
