Celebrities, friends visit Nora Aunor's first night of wake

MANILA — Family and close friends of movie icon and National Artist Nora Aunor graced the first night of her wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig, on Maundy Thursday, April 17.

A mass was also held at around 8:00 p.m. which was attended by celebrities like Jericho Rosales, Janine Gutierrez, singer Imelda Papin, Ricky Lee, and other figures in the showbiz industry.

Nadia Montenegro, one of the close family friends of Aunor, fondly shares how the superstar played an important part in her decades-long friendship with Nora's daughter, Lotlot De Leon.

"I'm one of the ones that were blessed na talagang at such a young age mga 12 or 13 ay nakatrabaho ko na si Ate Guy. I'm proud to say na nakadalawang movie kami sa Regal. And with that, naging way 'yon para maging friends kami ni Lot. All our lives, naging friends kami 30-40 years, and syempre malaking ano si Tita Guy doon kasi nakilala ko si Lot at naging parte ng industriya," she said.

A Philippine flag was also placed on top of Nora Aunor’s casket as part of the honors accorded to her as a National Artist. The film icon was also given a military salute by a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The film icon's wake will be open to the public on April 19 and 20, while a state funeral is scheduled on April 22, Tuesday.