Joel Lamangan confirms plans for Nora Aunor biopic
Filmmaker Joel Lamangan revealed that he is working on a biopic featuring the late Nora Aunor.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Lamangan shared a tribute to the actress who starred in six of his films, and he celebrated her remarkable talent.
"Katunayan ang mga 'best actress' awards na natanggap niya sa halos lahat ng films na ginawa namin," he shared.
He also revealed that he is set to work on a film based on the life of Aunor with National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee on board.
"Meron kaming pinagusapan sanang importanteng pelikula na isusulat ng kaibigan naming si Ricky Lee—ang Nora Aunor Story," he shared.
Lamangan continued that they have already talked to the producer and are just waiting for the right moment to work on it.
"Sayang wala na si ate Guy pero itutuloy namin yon," he promised.
In the same post, Lamangan also highlighted Aunor's kindness, recalling instances of her helping those in need—be it a member of the crew or a random stranger.
"Mabait si ate Guy sa lahat ng ka trabaho niya. Ayaw niya ng may naaapi, o naaagrabyado lalo na sa mga crew na maliit lang ang bayad. Sa last day ng filming tiyak meron siyang ibibigay na tulong na pera sa lahat. Tuwang tuwa ang mga mangagawa sa kabutihang loob niya," he said.
He also remembered that time after shooting the Flor Contemplacion movie at the Sta. Cruz City Jail in Laguna, saying Aunor had the inmates line up for cash, and that moment when the actress saw an old farmer sitting under a mango tree during the filming of Sidhi.
"Lunch break noon, lumapit sa akin si ate Guy at itinuro ang isang matandang Magsasaka na nakaupo sa ilalim ng punong manga," he started. "Lumapit siya sa matanda dinalahan ng lunch at nagtanong, 'Bakit mag-isa Tay’ at bakit ka malungkot?' Tumingin [a]ng matanda sa kanya at [n]agsabing 'Namatay kasi ang kalabaw ko wala na akong magagamit na pan saka.'"
He shared that Aunor asked about the price of a carabao, and upon learning from the farmer that it cost P15,000 and was beyond his means, she gave money.
"Tinawag ni ate Guy ang kasama niya at humingi ng 15 thousand, ibinigay sa matanda. 'Ito tulong ko sa inyo, bumili kayo ng bagong kalabaw, huwag niyong ipagsabi na galing sa akin,'" Lamangan revealed. "
Maluhaluhang tinangap ng matanda ang pera at nagpasalamat! Ilan lamang yan sa mga kabutihang na saksihan ko, kung gaano kalaki ang puso niya sa mga naghihirap!"
Aunor died "peacefully" on April 16. His son Ian 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."
Aunor and Lamangan worked togeether in six films including Muling Umawit ang Puso, Flor Contemplacion, Bakit may Kahapon Pa, Sidhi, Hustisya, and Isa Pang Bahaghari.
