National Artist Nora Aunor to be given hero’s burial

Nora Aunor poses during the photocall of "Sinapupunan (Thy Womb)" during the 69th Venice Film Festival on September 6, 2012 at Venice Lido. Tiziana Fabi, AFP/File

The life and legacy of late National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor will be honored for the last time through a necrological service and state funeral on Tuesday, April 22, the Cultural Center of the Philippines announced today.

The program will commence with an arrival honor at the Arroceros Forest Park in Manila at 8:30 am, before it proceeds inside the Metropolitan Theater for the necrological service at 9 am.    

The CCP said the tribute will include eulogies from the national artist’s colleagues, including her fellow national artist and writer Ricky Lee. An audio-visual presentation honoring the national artist’s life and legacy will also be played.

CCP’s symphony orchestra Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra is expected for a tribute performance. 

Government leaders will also pay tribute through video messages, said the center.

The necrological service will be followed by the state funeral rites with full military honors 12 noon at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. 

The program is available to the public but seats are limited. CCP said the registration link will be dropped in the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and their social media pages today, April 21.

Aunor, who passed away on April 16, was conferred the Order for National Artist on 2022 for her significant contributions in the Philippine media and theater. Aside from being a distinguished actress, she was also a film producer and singer.

Nora Aunor, superstar of Philippine cinema, passes away

Some of her most acclaimed films are Bona (1980, Himala (1982), Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), and The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995).

This is not the first time that an artist was given a hero’s burial. The CCP noted that all deceased national artists were honored with a necrological service organized by the two art-focused institutions and buried in the national cemetery.

National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera was honored with similar services in 2022, as well as visual artist Arturo Luz in 2021 and Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio in 2020.