It was award-winning filmmaker Adolf Alix who noticed her.
An old woman who was coming back and forth just to gaze at the remains of Superstar and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts at the Chapel 9 of the Heritage Park and Crematorium in Taguig City on the last day of the wake.
Adolf finally called and asked the woman where was from. “Taga-Siniloan, Laguna po (From),” she replied
“Anong oras ka po pumila (What time did you line up?).” Alix followed up his question.
“Alas onse pa po. Wala na po ‘yong (At about eleven in the morning. It was already over) vigil,” Aling (a term of endearment to an older woman) Flor answered.
“Anong oras ka po umalis sa inyo (What time did you leave your place?),” inquired the film director.
“Madaling araw po (At the break of dawn),” she said.
According to Aling Flor, she purposely queued up again and again and was able to view, and to pay her last respects to her idol twenty-one times over.
Here’s Adolf’s account on the conspicuousness of the elderly Noranian:
“Noong public viewing, napansin namin si Nanay Flor na paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa pila para masilayan si Ate Guy. Nilapitan namin siya at tinanong kung nakailang silip na siya. Pang-16 pa lang niya noon. Sasagarin daw po niya hanggang alas-kuatro kung maka-kailangang balik siya (During the public viewing, we noticed Mother Flor who was coming back again and again in the queue to take her last gaze on Ate—a term of endearment to an older woman by affinity or sister by blood—We approached her and asked how many times had she glanced at Ate Guy. She said she was able to look at her for sixteenth times. She said she would take advantage of gazing at Ate Guy until four o’clock in the afternoon no matter how many returns she’d had).
“Ayaw niyang maupo. Kasiyahan daw niyang makita sa huling sandali ang kanyang idolo. Nawala raw ang sakit ng tuhod habang nakapila siya at lumakas. Biniro ko siya na napagaling siya ni (She didn’t want to sit. She said she is proud and happy she had the chance to gaze at her idol for the last time. She said her joint pain disappeared and got stronger while she was queued. I joked that she was healed by) Elsa.
“Umabot si Nanay Flor ng 21 na beses. Sumakto sa araw ng kaarawan ni Ate Guy “All in all, she got twenty-one gazes on her idol. They matched the numeral date of Ate Guy), May 21.
“Pinaupo namin siya at hinayaang namnamin ang kanyang mga sandali kasama ang kanyang hinangaan “We asked her to sit down and let her savor every moment with her idol).
“Nanay Flor is only one of the millions of Filipinos whose lives were touched by Ate Guy. And who will continue to tell her legacy.”
Since Day One of the wake, hundreds of thousands of Noranians endured the heat of the summer sun just to get a glimpse of the Superstar who died of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on Maunday Thursday.
It was reminiscent of the height of the Nora Aunor popularity in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and up to the millennium where long lines of Nora fans had to line up just to watch her TV or live shows.
Aside from the fans, many show people paid their last respects to the actress who was laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on April 22, 2025.
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