Filipino actress and politician Nora Aunor has died aged 71, according to her family. Nora's son, actor Ian De Leon, broke the news in an emotional Facebook post late on April 15. "We love you ma. God knows how much we love you.. Rest in peace, Mom.. You are always here in our hearts and minds," he penned. 'I love you mommy," Nora's daughter Maret added. A cause for Nora's death has not yet been disclosed, but it's believed that she died in the upscale district of Pasig City in her native Philippines. While a cause of death hasn't been shared, it's known that Nora was suffering from a long battle with ill health in recent months, resulting in her stepping back from public events.
Nora Aunor, who became one of the biggest stars of Philippine cinema during a career that spanned seven decades, has died. Aunor died Wednesday, according to social media posts from her children. She was 71.
A cause of death has not been given for Aunor, who was described as the top 'superstar' of Filipino cinema. But she had hinted at health troubles in February 2023, when she claimed she'd died for three minutes after suffering an oxygen shortage. Aunor said afterwards: 'What happened, I don't know, no one helped. They didn't rush to give me oxygen. 'I went to bed [and] I don't know what happened. When I woke up, I was in the ICU.' It is unclear if Aunor's death was connected to that health scare. Aunor was born in the Philippines Iriga City and started her career as a singer during the 1960s. She was famed for her powerful voice, ABS CBN reported. Aunor then became an actress and was hailed for her quintessential Filipino looks during a time when many of the country's leading actresses sought to portray a paler, more westernized appearance. Aunor hit her acting peak during the 1980s and early 1990s with roles in 1982's Himala, 1984's Bulaklak sa City Jail and 1995's The Flor Contemplation Story. She was named a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts by the Philippines National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2022. That is the highest honor that can be granted to an artist by the country's government.
