Vilma Santos did not seek public office in 2022 and her life remained relatively peaceful during the year. Her only exposure was through her YouTube channel, which is steadily gaining a lot of following in the world of social media.
Her collaborations with son Luis Manzano are very funny and are quite popular with internet users. But other than Vilma trying to conquer a new platform like the YouTube, everything seemed quiet in her side of the world in the year that is about to end.
In contrast, rival Nora Aunor was very much in the news in 2022. It was a bittersweet year, however, for the superstar.
Her biggest triumph was having been named National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts – at last! Nora had been in the running for this most prestigious honor since more than a decade ago. But her name was shot down during the time of the late President Noynoy Aquino.
Nora always breezed through the three levels of the selection committee that was made up of academicians, journalists, literary writers, including those who had earlier been named National Artists. But when it came to getting Malacañang’s approval, she would be denied of the award.
She likewise failed to get it during the early term of President Rodrigo Duterte. But shortly before Duterte stepped down from office last year, he finally gave it to her like a souvenir from his administration.
Nora’s victory, unfortunately, was blanketed by health issues. Her medical condition was so bad, she had to be hospitalized. While her camp didn’t exactly specify what kind of ailment she had, it was reported that she became very weak that time and had difficulty breathing.
Due to her hospital confinement, Nora was unable to attend the award ceremonies in Malacañang. Children Ian, Matet, Kenneth, and Kiko accepted the award on her behalf.
Mercifully, she recovered from her illness. As soon as she was up and about, she took time to visit the Palace to thank President Duterte for the award.
After getting the National Artist nod, she scored another achievement when her film, Kontrabida, was named Best Asian Film at the 6th Hanoi International Film Festival. Appearing in Adolf Alix’s Kontrabida last year, incidentally, was a new challenge for her: It was the first time she played villain – so different from the stack of underdog roles that made her a superstar.
Shortly before Kontrabida won in Hanoi, her family made movie history after daughter Lotlot de Leon was voted best supporting actress in the 45th Gawad Urian. Lotlot won for the Erik Matti film, On the Job: the Missing 8.
In 2020, Lotlot’s daughter, Janine Gutierrez also won the Urian best actress trophy for Babae at Baril. With Lotlot’s win, the Gawad Urian now has three generations of acting winners.
Of course, everything started with Nora Aunor, Gawad Urian’s first ever best actress awardee. To date, Nora has seven Urian best actress trophies, three for actress of the decade and one for lifetime achievement (Natatanging Gawad Urian). That’s a total of 11 trophies from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
Sadly, instead of ending the year with a happy note, Nora went through another seesaw ride. She and Matet de Leon had another fight – over gourmet tuyo (dried fish) of all things.
As per Matet’s version, her gourmet tuyo business was already in place when Nora decided to also come out in the market with a similar food product. This move by Nora made them direct competitors.
Matet didn’t mince words when she expressed her disappointment over her mother’s decision to compete with her. As expected, she was lynched online by fans of her mother.
A lot of things perhaps can be said about the mothering style of Nora Aunor. Surprisingly, however, her children turned out to be okay – yes, even Matet, who is basically a very nice and sweet person. Whatever hurtful statements she made were most likely said at the height of her anger.
Nora’s recent tiff with Matet isn’t the first one. She already had a lot of falling out with her and even with the other kids in the past. But as in previous quarrels, they always kiss and make up in the end. May that happen this 2023.
Too bad it didn’t happen last Christmas. Nora hosted noche buena in her house, but only Ian and Kenneth de Leon showed up – plus a whole caboodle of grandchildren and the usual hangers-on. Will her family finally be complete on New Year’s Eve?
Here’s wishing Nora Aunor all the best in 2023!
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