Actress Nora Aunor will be an immortal human being.
Her death will only be the beginning of many more memorable events to come.
As long as there is Philippine society where the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, the ghost of Nora will always haunt the Filipino people to rise up and fight for what is right for the betterment of the majority.
It is because Nora is the representation even in the great beyond and epitome of the ordinariness and uniqueness of the Filipinos in adversity—a lot who is complacent and willing to be hegemonized although ready to break free anytime they are pushed to the limits.
Just look at the adoration being posthumously thrown to her not only by her family but by hordes of fans in many occasions to mark her significance as a person, as an artist, as a national hero, the last, sans conferment, delineated only by her shared attributes with the common men.
They see in Ate (a term of endearment to an older woman by affinity and a sister by blood) Guy the mother hen, the reluctant leader of a liberation group and a perfect Filipino, vulnerable and confused, abused by fake news and misinformation.
During her post-death 72nd birthday held at the Walk of Fame in Eastwood City, her ardent fans who commanded a multigeneration of followers lighted candles, brought in flowers, offered prayers and showed love of various degrees and intensities.
To think that they were just reps of the millions who would want to spend the moment with her however in memoriam but couldn’t easily palpably join because of the social demands of survival.
The celebration of her natal day was a recreation of the Noramania in the late sixties, early seventies to the millennium.
They came in droves just like when she was being honored with a state funeral at the Heritage Park and Crematorium in Taguig City and a final, official curtain call at the Metropolitan Theater.
Her family also spent time with her birthday hour at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
More so, during the observance of her 40 days where loyal Noranians all over the world paid their tributes at the Eastwood Walk of Fame and at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
No, they didn’t interfere with the family scheduled visits but had their own sweet time praying and wishing her well in the afterlife.
Nora’s brood was composed of Ian de Leon and the other de Leons (Lotlot, Matet, Kikdo and Kenneth) and their scions were faithful to the Filipino tradition where they also offered flowers, lighted candles and said prayers of the repose of the soul of their matriarch.
It was akin to the b-day holy mass offered at the Pope John Paul II Parish Church, Rev. Father Allan Samonte had requested Nora’s fans to follow her footsteps of generosity, compassion, social responsibility and other good deeds.
At the fellowship night, not a few Noranians said they will also join rallies if needed to air grievances and protests against social injustice and exploitation as what Nora did when she participated in the mass actions in the past organized and led by the progressive blocs in the socio-political spectrum.
Nora Aunor is an eternal happening of the everyday.
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