Nora Aunor didn't die during surgical procedure, says her son Ian de Leon
Nora Aunor's son Ian de Leon said that the veteran actress died "peacefully" and it didn't happen in the middle of an operation as some earlier reports suggested.
Reading his family's official statement about the Philippine superstar's death to the press on Thursday, April 17, De Leon said his mother "passed away peacefully last night, April 16, surrounded by those who love her the most."
They referred to Aunor as their "beloved mother, National Artist, and the greatest actress in the history of Philippine cinema."
He said De Leon was someone who always put others first. "Uunahin niya ang ibang tao bago ang sarili. Hinayaan niyang maging inspirasyon sa karamihan 'yung ginagawa niyang pagkakanta, paggawa ng pelikula," he continued. "Ginusto niya 'yun gawin dahil gusto niya iparating sa mga tao na ang tao rin ang nagbibigay ng lakas sa kanya. Tao rin ang nagbibigay ng pagmamahal sa kanya."
"Kaya siya naging Superstar, kaya siya naging National Artist. Dahil 'yun sa pagmamahal, dahil 'yun sa binigay na biyaya ng Panginoon at paniniwala kay Hesukristo," he added.
De Leon told the media that Aunor didn't die during her latest surgical procedure. "She was being operated on and after that she had a hard time breathing and eventually all things went downhill from there, and that's why they had to do another procedure after that."
De Leon announced Aunor's passing in a Facebook post late Wednesday, April 16.
Known as the "Superstar of Philippine Cinema," Aunor became known for the filmsTatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976), Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo (1976), Himala (1982), Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), and Thy Womb (2012).
During her five-decade career in acting, Aunor got over 200 acting nominations and awards here and elsewhere, the most for an actor in the Philippines. She was nominated at the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences or FAMAS Awards a record 17 times. She was also bestowed the Gawad CCP for Film and Broadcast Arts by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2015. Her acting prowess was also recognized abroad, including in Africa, Europe, Australia, and North America, while her singing talent bagged her several Awit Awards and Philippine Recording Distributors Association Awards.
She was named National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022.
Aunor was married to veteran actor Christopher De Leon. They have one biological child, Ian, and four adopted children: Lotlot De Leon, Matet De Leon, Kiko, and Kenneth. Their marriage was dissolved in 1996.
