MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is set to confer the Presidential Medal of Merit to four Filipinas who passed away earlier this year, for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields, Malacañang confirmed Wednesday.

The Philippine leader will posthumously confer the award to Philippine National Artist Nora Aunor, music icon Pilita Corrales, screen veteran Gloria Romero, and Chef Margarita Fores in a ceremony in Malacañang on May 4, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a text message. 

According to Executive Order 236, the Presidential Medal of Merit shall be conferred upon an individual, Filipino or foreign national ”for gaining prestige for the country in an international event, in the fields of literature, the sciences, the arts, entertainment, and other civilian fields of endeavor that foster national pride and artistic excellence,” among others.

Aunor passed away on April 16 and was given state funeral rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Tuesday. 

'Paalam at salamat': Nora Aunor finally laid to rest

Proclaimed a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022, Aunor was hailed for her extensive filmography that is "exceeded only by the number of awards and citations she has received from local and international organizations," according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. 

Her death came just days after that of Asia’s Queen of Songs, Pilita Corrales.

Corrales was in the industry for six decades. She was a singer-songwriter widely known for her signature “liyad” or backbend stunt while singing. Throughout her career, she recorded 135 albums in different languages. 

The entertainment industry lost another icon in January with the death of movie and television icon Gloria Romero. 

Romero, who appeared in over 250 movies and TV productions, was widely regarded as the "First Lady of Philippine Cinema." Some of her most best-known works were for the movies Dalagang Ilocana (1954), Nagbabagang Luha (1988) and Tanging Yaman (2000).

Meanwhile, Forés was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016. She ran several restaurants and was caterer of choice for visiting dignitaries. She passed away in February.

— With a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News