“Superstar” Nora Aunor

Celebrated singer and actress Nora Aunor passed away on Wednesday evening at the age of 71.

“With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, we share the passing of our beloved mother, Nora C. Villamayor “Nora Aunor” who left us on today April 16, 2025 at the age of 71,” confirmed Nora’s son, Ian De Leon, through a Facebook post.

“She was the heart of our family—a source of unconditional love, strength, and warmth. Her kindness, wisdom, and beautiful spirit touched everyone who knew her. She will be missed beyond words and remembered forever,” he added.

The Superstar’s daughter, Matet De Leon, posted a short message on Instagram as a tribute to her mother

“I love you mommy,” she wrote.

The late actress’ cause of death has yet to be disclosed.

Meanwhile, the viewing and mass will be held from April 17 to 21 at The Chapels at Heritage Park. She will be buried on the 22nd at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, known famously as Nora Aunor, was born in Iriga City, Camarines Sur. She entered the world of entertainment in the 1960s as a vocalist with a rich, moving voice.

As an actress, Nora Aunor defied Hollywood-set beauty standards with her petite frame and warm complexion, standing in contrast to the most pale-skinned heroines who often dominated the screen.

Her performances garnered her great acclaim, such as in “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” (1976), “Himala” (1982), “Bulaklak sa City Jail” (1984), and “The Flor Contemplacion Story” (1995).

“Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” (Three Godless Years), set in World War II, stars Nora, who plays a schoolteacher assaulted by a Japanese-Filipino officer. Critics proclaimed the work one of the greatest Filipino films ever made; for her role, Nora was awarded Best Actress by the Gawad Urian and FAMAS in 1976.

In “Himala” (Miracle), Nora is a young woman who claims to have witnessed a marian apparition, or a supernatural appearance of the Virgin Mary, and becomes a faith healer. This film was also considered one of the greatest Filipino films of all time.

In “Bulaklak sa City Jail” (Flowers in the City Jail), she stars as a nightclub singer charged with frustrated murder and placed behind bars in the women’s section of the Manila City Jail. The film won a total of eight awards at the Metro Manila Film Festival, including Best Picture, with Best Actress going to Nora. She also won Best Actress in the 33rd FAMAS Awards and the Catholic Mass Media Awards for her role.

Nora played the titular role in “The Flor Contemplacion Story,” as a Filipina domestic worker in Singapore executed for supposedly killing a fellow maid and the young boy in her care. The controversial film, which was based on a true story, was screened in various film festivals globally. In the 19th Cairo International Film Festival, it earned the Golden Pyramid Award, and Nora was honored with the Princess Pataten Award for Best Actress.

These are merely a few highlights from her prolific career—one whose filmography, noted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), is “exceeded only by the number of awards and citations she has received from local and international organizations.”

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For her contributions to Filipino film, she was hailed a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022.