3 weeks Ago
Writer and actress Bibeth Orteza reminisced about her decades-long friendship with Nora Aunor , giving a glimpse into the Superstar's brilliance and humility as an actress and friend. In an interview with Susan Enriquez on "Unang Balita" Monday, Bibeth shared that she was one of the writers of Nora's show, "Makulay na Daigdig ni Nora," back in the '70s. Because she worked late as a writer, her producer friends in the studio would ask her to take on bit roles in their drama shows, which was how she eventually met Nora.
Bibeth recalled a despedida party she held for their friend, Baby K Jimenez, around 2017 or 2018, where Nora arrived in a taxi cab. "There was a time na nandito siya sa bahay kasi nagkaroon kami ng despedida party para kay Baby K Jimenez," she shared. "True to form, [si] Guy, kinumbida, mamayang konti andito na 'yung ibang bisita, sabi sa 'kin ng driver ko, 'Ma'am parang si Nora Aunor ho yata 'yung nasa labas sa taxi.
'" "Lumabas ako, 'O, Guy ba't hindi ka pumasok? Ba't di mo sinabi wala kang masakyan? Sana pinasundo kita?' Sagot niya, 'Ayokong makaabala eh.' I mean can you imagine?" Nora also took her acting roles seriously. According to Bibeth, she once asked Nora how she concentrates in her scenes and internalizes her character's emotions.
"Sabi niya, 'Naka-focus lang ako, nakatuon lang ako.' Sabi ko ibig mong sabihin kahit anong gawin ko, di ka madidistract sa eksena?'" she said. Nora had told her she wouldn't, so Bibeth tried to distract her by making faces at her while the former was doing a heavy scene where she had to break down.
"Binigay pa rin niya 'yung kailangan ng eksena, umiyak pa rin siya. Nung cinut, ako ngayon 'yung umiyak kasi nahiya ako, na-realize ko I shouldn't have done that," said Bibeth. "I mean, you have no right to distract a fellow actor from doing 'yung dapat niyang gawin kahit pa pumayag 'yung artista na 'yun.
" Bibeth is set to attend Nora's state funeral tomorrow, April 22. The state necrological services for the National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts will be held at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, starting with arrival honors and a tribute program. The rites will continue with a state funeral at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.
The event will also be livestreamed on Facebook. Nora died of acute respiratory failure on April 16. She was 71.
In the wake of Nora's passing, many celebrities took to social media to honor her memory and unimpeachable legacy. —CDC, GMA Integrated News.
