NORA AUNOR: SA AKING PALAD

Hawak ko ba si Nora Aunor o ako ang nahahawakan niya?
Nasa palad ko ba ang maging tagahanga ni Nora Aunor or nasa kanyang palad na ako ay maging tagahanga niya?

Nitong mga nakaraang lingo, muli na namang pinaikot ni Nora ang kanyang makulay na daigdig. Laman siya ng mga balita sa dyaryo, tebisyon o maging sa radyo. Pinag-uusapan ang kanyang pagbabalik sa Pilipinas mula sa pitong taong pamamalagi sa Amerika.

Sa araw na ito, ika-2 ng Agosto, nakatakda ang pag-uwi ng tinaguriang nag-iisang Superstar ng Pilipinas. Mula sa Los Angeles, California, lulan ng eroplanong may flight number na PR 103, ihahatid siya sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport [NAIA] sa takdang oras na 3:38 ng umaga.

Nagbubunyi ang lahat lalong lalo na ang mga Noranians [tawag sa mga tagahanga ni Nora Aunor] at mga kanyang kaibigan sa loob at sa labas Philippine Entertainment Industry.

Maging ang panahon ay nakikiisa sa kanyang pagbabalik. Tulad ng orkestra, isang musika na may sariling ritmo ang kulog at kidlat at tagiktik ng ulan. Sa iba, ito ay tanda ng isang biyaya. Tama, isang biyaya ang pagdating ni Nora Aunor at isang biyaya sa kanya ang muling makapiling ang kanyang mga anak, kapatid, kaibigan at mga tagahanga.

Kasama ang aking mga kaibigan, tulad ng gabi, mahimbing ang paligid na dumating kami sa NAIA na sa ilang oras lamang ay magigising, magsasaya at magugulo ng isang Nora Aunor. Hindi nga ako nagkamali, ang NAIA ay naging Nora Aunor International Airport.

Inabutan namin sa NAIA ang mga ilang tagahanga ni Ate Guy [Nora Aunor] sa ilalim ng grupong Grand Alliance of Nora Aunor Philippines [GANAP]. Mababanaag sa kanilang mukha at maagang pagdating sa arrival area ng NAIA ang kanilang pananabik na masilayan muli ang kanilang hinahangaan. Dala-dala ang banner ng kanilang pagkakakalinlan at mga larawan ni Nora Aunor, pinagpipistahan sila nga mga cameraman at reporter mula sa estasyon ng telebisyon: Kapamilya [Chennel 2], Kapuso [Channel 7] at KAPATID [TV5].

Ilang sandali pa, dumating naman ang isang hukbo ng mga tagahanga ni Nora, ang Federation of Nora Aunor Followers, Inc.. Kung ang GANAP ay nakasuot na kulay bughaw, kulay luntian naman ang kasuotan ng mga taga-Federation. Kung paano pinagpistahan ang mga GANAP, gayundin ang Federation.

Sa mga naghihintay sa pagsalubong kay Ate Guy, may ilang grupo pa ng mga tagahanga at kaibigan na naroon. Ito ang International Circle of Online Noranians [ICON] at Nora’s Fans and Friends [NFF].

Naroon din si Kuya Germs [German Moreno] at ilang tao mula sa TV5 upang salubungin ang ating Superstar.

Isang oras bago ang pagdating ni Nora Aunor, nakapuwesto na sa kanilang lugar ang mga cameraman at reporter. Nakatutok ang mga kamera sa lalabasang pinto ni Nora. Nakahelera na rin ang mga Noranians sa kanilang lugar. Ang taong susundo sa kanilang mga kamag-anak mula sa ibang bansa, nakiisa na rin. Nakatutok ang mata sa tatlong TV screen sa kanilang harapan kung saan makikita ang paglabas ni Ate Guy. Di pa man dumarating, pangalang NORA ang sigaw na iyong maririnig sa paligid. Kahit ang ibang mga kapatid nating balikbayan ay kumukuha ng bidyo at piktyur sa mga eksenang nangyayari sa paligid.

Tahimik lamang ako nag-aabang sa isang sulok. Napapangiti at natatawa sa mga eksenang aking nakikita at naririnig. Ngunit, naroon ang excitement na hindi lamang makita in person si Nora kundi, tulad ng isang kapatid, sabik na makasama ang kapatid.

Ilang saglit lamang, niyanig ang lugar ng malakas na hiyawan, tanda ng parating na si Ate Guy. Nakita na namin siya sa TV screen kasama si Kuya Germs. Nagkagulo na ang mga cameramen. Pinaligiran agad siya ng mga ito sa kanyang paglabas ng pintuan. At dahil din sa kaliitan ni Nora, hindi na namin siya makita. Halos tumigil ang business sa NAIA. Lahat nakatutok kay Nora. Lahat gustong lumapit sa kanya.

Habang papalapit sa aming lugar, hindi ko alam ang aking gagawin kundi ang kuhanan siya ng larawan. Nang malapit na siya sa kinatatayuan namin at nang makakita ng butas na pwedeng lusutan, bigla siyang tumakbo at niyakap ang kanyang mga fans at kaibigan. Dito na nagsimula ang mga madamdaming tagpo. “Nora! Nora! Nora! Ate Guy! Ate Guy! Ate Guy!. . .” mga katagang maririnig mo habang niyayapos ni Nora ang mga tagahanga gayundin ng mga tagahanga si Nora.

Nakatutok ang mga kamera na para bang gustong kunan ang bawat detalye. Nakaalalay din kay Nora ang mga taong nasa likod niya. Tumulo ang luha ni Nora. Iyakan ang ibang tagahanga. Maaring dahilan sa pananabik sa isa’t-isa. Dahil mararamdaman mo ang pagmamahal ng Superstar sa kanyang mga taga-hanga. Dinala ang mga tagpong ito sa pagpasok ni Nora sa van na naghihintay sa kanya sa labas ng NAIA. Ngunit hindi dito nagtatapos ang lahat. Nagsisimula pala lamang dito ang isa nanamang yugto sa makulay na daigdig ni Nora at kanyang mga tagahanga at kaibigan.

Hindi lamang isang aksidente ang ako ay maging tagahanga sa nag-iisang Nora Aunor. Hindi rin isang aksidente ang ako ay maging bahagi ng buhay ni Nora, bagkus, ito ay plano ng Diyos, na siyang nagbigay ng talino at talento kay Nora. Ang unang nagpakita ng paghanga at pagmamahal kay Nora. Ang patuloy na nagibigay ng lakas ng loob upang sa pamamagitang ng talento ni Nora ay mapapurihan natin ang Diyos. Ika-2 ng Agosto, ito ang araw ng ginawa ng Panginoon upang tyo ay magsaya at magalak.

Si Nora Aunor man ang nagpapa-inog ng aking mundo, o ako man ang may hawak kay Nora, isang katotohanan ang babalik-balikan, na tayong lahat ay nasa palad ng Diyos. Siya ang nagpapagalaw kay Nora. Siya ang nagpapagalaw sa akin at sa iyo. Kaya. anuman ang kalooban ng Diyos, mangyari nawa ito sa atin.

NORA AUNOR: A FORCE IN THE RECORD INDUSTRY

By Tim Capellan

In 1968, a little girl from Bicol was contracted by Alpha Records upon the recommendation of Carmen Soriano. Her name was Nora Villamayor, known to *Tawag ng Tanghalan, a popular local amateur singing contest (Challenge of the Champions), followers as Nora Aunor.

This marked the beginning of the Golden Age of Local Recording. Although Nora's first singles were not major hits, she smashed all record sales with her series of hits which included "It's Time to Say Goodbye", "Silently", "Forever Loving You", "It's Not Unusual", and countless others. In her seven years with Alpha, she was able to set all-time high record sales which up to this day have not been surpassed. She had more than 100 hit singles, more than 15 hit albums, and several extended plays. At the height of her popularity as a recording artist, local records soared up to 75% of national sales.

The well-manicured lawn of a private villa and the breathtaking view of Taal Volcano could have been a perfect venue to conceptualize an excellent storyline. While there were no sexy bodies and white sands in my contemporary haven for the holy week break, it was nevertheless refreshing and stimulating stay. It was a week of abstinence but I never thought that my imagination and creativity would also be on a fasting mood. I suspect that the food prepared by the chef failed to stimulate my creative muscles. I should try avoiding organically grown lettuce, and maybe the pate is yummy for the bread but an antidote to one’s power to generate ideas. My editor is frantic for I have to submit an article about the contribution of the country’s one and only Superstar in the music industry. This is not an easy assignment because I am not an authority in the music scene. Also, the mere thought of writing about Nora Aunor sends differing signals to my spine.

I have confession to make: it is only now that I am beginning to collect the albums of Nora Aunor. Hey before you brand me an intruder in the Nora camp, let me explain. I was only one year old when the superstar stormed the Philippine music industry. My introduction to her music was when I was in grade one when our teacher taught us to dance “Pearly Shells.” After “Lupang Hinirang,” “Pearly Shells” was the next song that the entire class memorized. I would discover later on that in every school program, a Hawaiian number in the tune of Pearly Shells is a must -- no wonder a small cottage industry was developed: production and sales of grass skirts.

How do we define the music of Nora Aunor?

One critic posted that even if Nora Aunor is just delivering the most mundane line, she seems to be humming a tune. That her melodious voice soothes the senses. A diminutive woman, Nora Aunor is not a belter. She is not fond of making obstrusive body movements to win her audience. What she gives is pure magic which is unadulterated and simply captivating. Her numerous musical forays confirmed the views of experts that Nora Aunor need not do vocal calisthenics and don flashy outfits to connect with her audience. Few years ago, I was part of the supercilious crowd that trooped to the Captain’s Bar of Mandarin Oriental to watch her intimate lounge performance. The audience that evening was a far cry from the banner toting Noranians who would shout till their larynx collapses, but a performed set wanting to confirm if the golden voice of the brown Cinderella is still there. The verdict: the audience was mesmerized and convinced that indeed, the voice that catapulted her to prominence did not wane but in fact improved. It had a renewed timbre, a reflection of a more matured artists. She gave justice to her jazzy numbers, she had the audience dancing to their feet with her fast numbers, and she held everyone spellbound when she crooned a medley of emotion-filled songs.

It would be remembered that her sold-out concert Handog ni Guy in 1990 was her first live outing since the axing of her Superstar show. Weeks before the concert, she was terribly afraid if she could deliver. An insider even related that minutes before the big event, the Superstar was too terrified and was copiously nervous. However, when the strong 17,000 plus audience welcomed her with a standing ovation, her magic simply enveloped the sweaty coliseum, and again she connected well through her music. Few months after the mammoth event, her Handog ni Guy…Live album was given the gold record award. Clear manifestation that 20 years after she released her fist album her fans and believer still treasure her music.

Nora Aunor’s music is without doubt her passport to fame and success. Since winning the Liberty Big Show in 1964 in Camarines Sur to being declared 14 weeks champion of Darigold Bulilit Show in 1965 until her winning the Tawag ng Tanghalan in 1967, there was no looking back for the Superstar. She reshaped the Philippine music scene.

Since 1969 to date, Nora Aunor has recorded more than 500 songs and has won about 23 major music awards. She has recorded all types of songs ranging from native songs (Dandansoy, Sinisinta Kita, Sarungbanggi), Pinoy love songs (Buhat, Kapantay ay Langit, Superstar ng Buhay Ko), Visayan songs (Banikanhon and Gugmang Timawa), Christmas albums (Mama Cita, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus), country songs (Langit Pala ang Umibig), movie theme songs (Kahit na Konting Awa, Bongga Ka Day, Muling Umawit ang Puso) and duets with Tirso Cruz III, Christopher de Leon, Manny de Leon and Cocoy Laurel.

It would be noted that she was most prolific during the 70s churning out more than 40 albums. She holds the record of selling more than a million copies of a single song (Pearly Shells), a monster hit in 1971. It is a known fact that the music of Nora Aunor brought millions to the coffers of Alpha Records. This feat is unprecedented in the recording industry because it only took a single singer to build a recording empire. The 70s is characterized by political uncertainties with foreign singers dominating the airwaves. However, the entry of Nora Aunor changed the beat of that era by delivering million of sales for her records surpassing those of Beatles, the Supremes and Jackson Five. In the consumer’s hierarchy of needs, a Nora vinyl is included in the priority list. It is safe to say that it was Nora Aunor who helped fuel the micro-economy that is the music industry during that turbulent era. Until today, no single Filipino celebrity can claim to have affected the industry and the economy as a whole other than Nora Aunor.

A review of Nora Aunor’s discography revealed that while she slowed down in recording songs in the 80s, she never failed to release at least one album every decade. In the 90s, she had Handog ni Guy…Live (Wea 1991), The Power of Love (Big Record 1991), Langit Pala ang Umibig (Aguilar Records 1994), Superstar ng Buhay Ko (Vicor 1994), Muling Umawit ang Puso (Viva 1995), Viva Films Great Movie Themes (Viva 1996), OPM Timeless Collections (OctoArts 1998) and Thanks for Being a Friend (Alpha 1999). Her latest recording Heal our Land and Aking Mahal (Viva and Artistika Records 2001) still continue to enjoy brisk sales, a testament to her bankability as a recording artist.

A lot has been said about Nora Aunor, but to millions of Filipinos, she is already part of our nation’s history, and her legacy will forever be etched in our collective memory. As a singer, she has expressed and interpreted the many songs of our lives — joys, frustrations and aspirations. Her umbilical cord is attached to the millions of people that she has touched and inspired through her music. To review and analyze her reign as musical genius is to write an incomplete executive summary for she remains relevant and forever be a force in the music industry.

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**Tim A. Capellan is the Managing Director of InAsia Management and Consultancy, a respected retail and marketing consulting firm in the country. He is based in Manila, Philippines.

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Source: http://www.nora-icon.com/music_home.html

MGA MATA NI NORA

Nora Aunor

Katulad sa isang aklat na may maraming pahina
Ang mata nya'y maihahambing sa naroong kabanata
Iba't ibang kasaysayan ang doon ay mababadha
At sa iyong harapan ay bumubukas itong kusa

Basahin ang kanyang mata't may salitang inuusal
Tinig nito'y bumubulong mga natatanging bagay
Mga yugtong lumipas na't mga kahapong nagdaan
Ang ngayon at yaong bukas ay iyo ring matatanaw.

Hindi na nga kailangang bumukas pa kanyang bibig
At sa tainga mo'y idampi ang malamyos niyang tinig
Kamay man nya'y di igalaw o katawa'y itagilid
Mata n'ya ang mangungusap sa puso mo ay aantig.

Kayraming mga buhay nang nahipo ng kanyang mata
Kayrami ng nakaranas kalungkutan man at saya
Numingning man o lumamlam idilat man o isara
Tumatagos, umuukit sa diwa at kaluluwa.

Mata n'ya ang sa puso ko ay ang unang nagpatibok
Humabi ng pangarap at sa buhay ko ay lumilok
Magsara man yaong tabing at ang aklat ay tumiklop
Sa puso ko kanyang mata'y nakatayong parang moog.
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May Akda:  Mercy Masangcay

NORA AUNOR: A Library Section In Iriga

By Juan Escandor Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:49:00 03/16/2011



NORA AUNOR, the poor girl hawking water in the train station of Iriga in the 1960s, who rose to become the “superstar” of Philippine cinema, is now a section of the Iriga City Public Library (ICPL).

With an initial collection of 129 volumes of books and 68 compact discs (CDs) and DVDs on her life and work as a singer and actress, the Nora Aunor Section is a tribute to the most famous Irigueña whose story from obscurity to celebrity captivated the nation in the 1970s, according to Flora Salvador, ICPL librarian.
Aunor’s fans, connected in the virtual world of the Internet since 2000, initiated the compilation of books about their idol including films on DVDs and records of her songs in CDs to make up the section dedicated to her, says Salvador.

Collaboration


The Nora Aunor Section is a collaboration of the city government and the 600-member International Circle of Online Noranians (Icon), a Texas-based fan group founded by Leonel Escota.

Salvador says Icon was organized online to encourage the appreciation of Aunor’s body of work and preserve her contribution to the Philippine movie industry.

Prominently hung in the section is a sepia photo of the late Ricky Belmonte and Nora Aunor sitting on the hood of a school bus of the Mabini Memorial University (now the University of Northeastern Philippines) which was supposedly taken in the ’70s during the filming of one of her movies in her hometown.

Neatly tacked in the bookshelf are some titles like “Nora Aunor Through the Years,” “Nora Aunor Superstar” and “Unsinkable Movie Queen.” Her movies on DVDs and songs on CDs are arranged in another shelf.

Breaking records


“No other native of Iriga had made the name of the town a household word than Nora Aunor. In her heyday, the mere mention of Nora, who was born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in Iriga City on May 21, 1953, immediately associates her with Iriga and the PNR (Philippine National Railway) train station where she sold water in bottles to passengers of the train,” says Francisco Peñones, public information officer of the city.

Peñones says Nora Aunor became popular when the country’s consciousness about Bicol was only through the train (ironically named Bicol Express as it always arrived late); and the hot dish with which the train lent its name.

“While other Bicol movie personalities had preceded her in the industry, Nora can be said to have made the country more aware of Bicol,” he asserts.

Peñones says Aunor is an icon who transcended the social divide between the rich and the poor in the turbulent years of the ’70s, when the Philippine Free Press came out with its winning photo competition piece of socialites in Manila emerging from a posh hotel and being met by a group of placard-bearing protesters.


Superstar


Moreover, Aunor broke the mestiza syndrome in the industry. “Her following ranges from the burgis to the bakya. Her TV show, appropriately named ‘Superstar,’ an appellation obviously culled from the musical, is a testament to her staying and drawing power. At its end, it was the longest running TV show on Philippine entertainment history,” he adds.

Burgis was an adoption of a Marxist term bourgeoisie which means “well-to-do or rich” while the bakya referred to poor ordinary people which literally meant wooden clogs, explains Peñones.
According to Icon, Aunor’s “Pearly Shells” was a major hit in 1971, when songs were recorded and listened to in vinyl discs played in turntables.

“The ’70s was characterized by political uncertainties with foreign singers dominating the airwaves. However, the entry of Nora Aunor changed the beat of that era by delivering millions of sales for her records, surpassing those of the Beatles, the Supremes and Jackson Five. In the consumers’ hierarchy of needs, a Nora vinyl is included in the priority list. It is safe to say that it was Nora Aunor who helped fuel the microeconomy that is the music industry during that turbulent era. Until today, no single Filipino celebrity can claim to have affected the industry and the economy as a whole other than Nora Aunor,” according to Tim A. Capellan, managing director of InAsia Management and Consultancy, a respected retail and marketing consulting firm in the country.

Other record-breaking feat of this diminutive Irigueña are her 30 gold singles and 260 singles and recording of more than 500 songs.

The beginnings


Aunor began her career doing the rounds of amateur singing contests, under the tutelage of her aunt and uncle, Belen and Saturnino Aunor, who took her under their custody and from whom she got her screen name, the Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia-Filmrevealed.

“She emerged champion in the nationwide show, ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan.’ Her successful stint in Tawag as well as in ‘Darigold Jamboree’ led to her phenomenal rise as a major star of the Philippine movie industry, which accorded her the title ‘superstar.’ This led to Sampaguita Pictures contract with star builder Dr. Jose R. Perez who cast her in the films like “Way Out in the Country” (1967), “Cinderella A-Go-Go” (1967), “All Over the World” (1967), and “Ye-Ye Generation” (1968).”

It also cited Aunor’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences as a five-time actress awardee and other recognitions for her films done from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Recently, the Cable News Network entertainment website voted Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala” as the best movie of all time in the Asia-Pacific region in 2008 which starred Nora Aunor as a simple provincial lass turned healer.

Bernal’s movie outclassed such greats as Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” and Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon.”

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Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20110316-325865/Nora-Aunor-A-library-section-in-Iriga
Source Image: http://superstarstruck.weebly.com/,
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=205334306163137&set=a.166198193410082.38946.166167646746470&theater

NORANIANA COLLECTION

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Noraniana-Collection-Project/166167646746470

http://superstarstruck.weebly.com/1/post/2010/12/noraniana-collection-project.html

ANG KALULUWA NG GININTUANG TINIG NI NORA AUNOR

Ginto. Isang batong nakatago sa pagitan ng lupa at tubig. Pilit na hinuhukay sapagkat ito ay kayamanang nakabaon. Na kapag iyong pinakiaalaman, guguho ang mundo. Pinagkakaguluhan. Pumukaw sa damdamin ng mga may makasariling damdamin upang maging dahilan ng alitan. Buhay at salapi ang kapalit. Pinahahalagahan. Ilan lamang pinagkalooban ng ginto. Hindi lahat.

Ngunit, may isang taong tinuring na ginto. Siya ay may ginintuang puso at may angking ginintuang tinig. Siya si Ms. Nora Aunor. Ang kanyang tinig ay lumitaw at kumislap sa Tawag ng Tanghalan. Gintong bumighani sa madla. Tuluyang gumuho ang mundo ng showbiz. Pinagkaguluhan. Pinagkakitaan. Pinahalagahan.

Makalipas ang halos apat na dekada, patuloy pa ring kumikinang sa puso ng mga taong nagpapahalaga sa angking talento ni Nora, ngunit nakatago pa rin sa mga taong nabingi sa tinig niya.

Minsan ko nang narinig ang ginintuang tinig ni Nora sa panahon ng aking kabataan. At sa aking pagbibinata, naroroon ang pagkauhaw at paghahangad na muling mapakinggan ang boses ni Aunor. Isa sa ‘king mga inasam-asam ay ang matagpuan ang tinig ni Ate Guy. Sa aking paghahanap , dumating ang takdang sandali upang makita ang kayamanang kaylanman ay ‘di maglalaho. Natagpuan ko nga ang ginto na nagtatago sa mga estante ng “music bar” sa mga “malls”.

Sa tulong ng mdernong teknlohiya, napapakinggan ko ang ginintuang tinig ni Nora – 24/7.

Sa bawat sandal ng aking pakikinig, sumusuot sa bawat hibla ng aking ugat, humahalo sa aking dugo at tumatagos sa aking kaluluwa ang tinig ni Nora sa kanyang mga awiting punong-puno ng puso at kaluluwa, puspos ng pagmamahal at buhay na buhay.

Unti-unti akong natutunaw ng isang liwanag na tumatagos mula sa langit at sa pagbukas ng ulap, bumababa ang isang anghel na maghahatid sa isang pakikitagpo. Isang tinig na nagdadala sa aking katahimikan upang masambit ang mga katagang “Salamat Panginoon, sa isang Nora Aunor. Salamat sa ginintuang tinig ni Nora na iyong regalo para sa amin – na magpapakilala ng iyong kadakilaan at kapurihan.

Totoo na ang Diyos ay nagsasalita sa iba’t-ibang paraan. At siya ay naroroon sa tinig ni Nora. Nakatago. Kung hindi hahanapin ay di matatagpuan. Nasa tinig ni Nora ang diwa ng iyong mensahe. Nasa tinig ni Nora ang ginto . . . ang kayamanan . . . ang Diyos.