Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the most deserving National Artist of them all?
Nora Aunor stirs a controversial topic yet again, amazingly without
her own effort. Just the mention of her name awakens the brilliant and
the shallow minds. A lawmaker filed a house resolution urging the
President, CCP and NCCA to confer on her the National Artist award.
Great! As a Nora Aunor believer, I was ecstatic to hear the news.
Thankful too for the independent and unbiased recommendation. After all,
I never heard nor read Rep. Anthony Golez rave about Nora Aunor before.
For him to stood ground and acknowledged Nora Aunor's immense
contributions on Philippine Arts, I wholeheartedly appreciate that.
Then
happy news turned sour. It's politics, what can I say? Another lawmaker
followed suit and urged to name Vilma Santos as National Artist as
well. Vilma Santos' senator husband also personally endorsed his wife.
Unbelievable! Have we got any more decency left in the Senate? Celebrity
lawmakers who don't know any better about the magnitude of this award
threw their 2 cents worth to include more artists in the list. Mr.
Dolphy should get the award first, they clamored. By virtue of
seniority? Oh please! Give the man due respect. Enough of the paawa
epek. Dolphy will most certainly not appreciate that. He has valuable
contribution to Philippine entertainment, nominate him for his own merit
and not his age, for bloody goodness' sake! Why only now express
support for him when there are many opportunities to do that many years
in the past? Is it because he is now older or because better it's him
or any one else huwag lang si Nora Aunor? Truth to tell, Nora Aunor
already surpassed the qualifications for this award (Care to read the
criteria, you great pretenders?) Nora earned it many years before too
but people who are quick to make judgment as if they themselves are holy
always attack and discredit her accomplishments on personal grounds.
Previous National Artists are no Saints either so why pick on Nora
Aunor? Mind boggling and utterly disgusting! I say Holy crap!
What
is happening now is a diversion from the true essence of the award
which is an injustice. The National Artist award is not like a queue for
a government agency service where there maybe preferential treatment
for the elderly, jumping on the queue if you have the right inside
connection or tagging along in the queue with someone who did all the
hard work to be next in line and has the appropriate documentation to
get through the line, fair and square.
The National Artist
title is very prestigious. Good enough artists are not good enough for
it. No one should get it by vote of popularity, by seniority, by seemingly nice image or just
because you are a rival of someone who you know is most deserving than
anyone. Only extraordinary and legendary artists deserve the title.
These
are the guidelines (in summary). Enough of politics! Let objectivity
rule! May the most deserving National Artist receive the award. So help
us God..
1) Filipino artists who have made significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the country;
Cultural icon. Nora Aunor Rating: *****
2)
Filipino artistic accomplishment at its highest level and to promote
creative expression as significant to the development of a national
cultural identity; and
Multi-awarded singer and actress, acclaimed films of true Filipino genre. Nora Aunor Rating: *****
3)
Filipino artists who have dedicated their lives to their works to
forge new paths and directions for future generations of Filipino
artists.
Trend-setter.. risk taker. A world-class artist. Nora Aunor Rating: *****
My National Artist
(Reposting a previous article - written and posted October 2009)
Film
It was 1972. Back then
as a 9-year old, I couldn’t care less. I watched Nora Aunor movies with
my Lola and whether Nora was playing cutesy or serious roles, I
enjoyed them regardless. I remember watching
And God Smiled at Me
that year. It must be fate. The year that Nora Aunor embarked on a
serious dramatic role and won her first acting award was the same year
that the National Artist award was created.
In the
following year, Nora Aunor was not just the singer and the actress but
also the movie producer. Her own NV Productions made three movies:
Carmela, Paru-parong Itim and
Super Gee.
She was 20 years old. Her contemporaries did not have the same mindset
(and talent). So young (so ambitious?) but already dead serious as to
what she wanted to become. Very early on, she realized that for her to
grow as an artist, she had to be in control. As well, her audience
deserved much better films.
So in between those light
“audience-friendly” movie projects, risky attempts for non-musical,
more dramatic, quality-made films would emerge. Eventually, her
audience acknowledged her refined acting talent. I did too. Nora
learned to make better films, I learned to appreciate them. She is a
Filipino, with typical Filipino looks and she portrays Filipino. When I
watch her, I embrace and understand Filipino.
Banaue, Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,
I watched these films intensely. I was quiet the whole time, afraid to
blink even for a second as not to miss an arresting acting moment
performed through perfect dialog delivery, minimal gestures, simple body
movements, facial expression and those round eyes that speak a
thousand words. Then came
Bona and
Himala. Even foreign audience took notice and they were in awe. There was no doubt in the world what Nora Aunor is capable of.
Nora
did not just get better at acting. She showed mastery of the craft.
When most popular actors were used to physical and “loud” acting, Nora
did the opposite. In-depth “silent” acting became her signature style,
the type that only a few artists can pull off with utmost credibility.
When Nora did it, it looked natural and effortless and yet, totally
affecting. One doesn’t see Nora Aunor in her films, you see her
character instead and at times … you see a piece of your own self.
Music
Nora
was first and foremost a singer. After all, that’s where everything
started. I grew up hearing Nora’s old songs but only later when I got to
really listen to them. Perhaps back then I was not paying much
attention to her early ballads. As a child, the catchy familiar tunes of
Pearly Shells,
Kusinera,
Darling etc. amused me more. It was not difficult to sing along with these songs too.
Week after week and almost two decades of viewing the
Superstar show got me hooked to Nora’s singing. In her show, I have listened and watched Nora interpret varied songs.
Kundiman and
Pinoy folk (in both Pilipino and regional dialects), English, pop,
Manila sound, jazzy, novelty, her own movie theme songs, even rock … you
name it, she sung it. Of course singing ballads had to be where she
excelled the most. She would sing them all from the heart. I remember
listening to her “Kapantay ay Langit” version which haunted me for days.
I watched her sing “What Now My Love?” in one of the film award
ceremonies and I was floored. It was an electrically charged
performance, hair-raising to say the least. Never seen and experienced
anything like that before.
Nora’s golden unique voice is a
given but it didn’t just rest there. She used her voice to touch
people’s hearts. She does not just sing the song, she performs it. Much
like her acting, her singing would bring out the right emotion that
stays with you long after the music has ended. It is just good natured,
pure, beautiful music. She does not even have to reach a single high
note.
Years had passed. The raw and pure voice has
matured, huskier but more full bodied. With age and experience, the
song interpretation only gets better. But old songs still take a grasp,
portal of sweet memories, not to let go and always … will be
remembered.
The Artist
Pioneering
and excellent acting skill, heartfelt and soothing music,
extraordinary talent which is highly regarded by peers and critics,
impressive and unparalleled body of work, local and international
awards and recognitions, but most of all, an artist and artistry that
created a deep-seated impact on the film and music industry, on
Philippine culture and the Philippines, as a whole. With all these
sparkling achievements and qualifications, pardon me if I have to ask:
Are these not enough for someone to be named National Artist? Or could
it be that she has overly exceeded the set criteria? By the way, she
was also a record-breaking concert performer and a standout theatre
actor, a complete multimedia artist.
More controversies
hound the National Artist choices this year and Nora Aunor missed out
again. Many have expressed despair and disappointment about the alleged
undeserving winners and mistrust of the deliberation and selection
process. Sadly though, people in the know refused to listen and to
continue with the argument seems a lost cause. In any case, it was
heartwarming to know that when a more deserving winner is mentioned by
the disgruntled (but nonetheless) respectable artists and writers, the
name Nora Aunor would always make the first cut. Not that there is a
need for any more revalidation or proof. No sitting on the fence for me
when it comes to Nora’s talent and artistry. No ifs and buts … just
true excellence!
I doubt it that the Office of the
President has watched many films and listened to a variety of music,
yet it has the ultimate power to confer a National Artist for Film and
Music. I am no President. I am just an ordinary citizen and definitely
not an art connoisseur. But I watch good films and listen to beautiful
music and I’d like to say that my own journey of appreciation for film
and music was greatly influenced by one artist. That artist is Nora
Aunor, my National Artist.
I will wait patiently for the
official conferment of her National Artist award but if this does not
happen in her lifetime or mine, it barely matters as I have long
considered it DONE anyway.
In the truest sense of the title, Nora Aunor is already one National Artist.
Nora Aunor (NA) is National Artist (NA). The acronym suits perfectly.
N.B. For 42 years, you have given us a legacy of films and music that will not be forgotten. Thank you, Ms. Nora Aunor.
(written and posted October 2009)
