Nora gets a dose of her own medicine

Nora Aunor shows up early on her first shooting day?

Himala!

But, the superstar seems bent on showing she’s changed her ways when she was the earliest arrival last Monday, August 8, on the set of “El Presidente,” a new movie on the life of General Emilio Aguinaldo.

According to Nora’s close friend and confidante German Moreno, who now acts as her manager, Nora was on the Kawit, Cavite set even if her scenes were only shot starting at 3 p.m.  But, she didn’t mind waiting, “Kuya Germs” added.

So, has Nora Aunor gotten a dose of her own medicine?

It is well-known in local entertainment circles that during her heyday, Nora Aunor caused gargantuan headaches for producers like Mother Lily Monteverde of Regal Films and movie and TV directors for always being tardy. There were times she never appeared on the set at all.

Apologies and thanks

But during the press conference held to welcome her back in the Philippines August 2, the 58-year-old admitted her past errors and faults and even asked forgiveness from those she had hurt, including former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada. Nora was reported to have had a romantic liaison with Erap, campaigning for him when he ran for president but eventually leaving him in the cold during the 2001 EDSA 2 uprising that ousted him from the presidency.

She vowed to change her ways so those who helped her in her comeback bid wouldn’t be put to shame. “Ayokong mapahiya si Kuya Germs, ayokong mapahiya sa TV5 na nagtiwala at nagbigay sa akin ng pagkakataong makabalik. Ang TV5 lang ang sumugal sa akin at nagbigay ng magagandang proyekto sa akin. And, of course, si Governor ER Ejercito na nagbigay naman sa akin ng… ‘El Presidente’ na isang makabuluhang pelikula, isang historical epic kaya tinanggap ko kahit ako ay second choice lang at hindi ako ang lead character.”

Ejercito, a nephew of former President Estrada, plays Aguinaldo in the movie. He said the role of Maria Agoncillo, the second wife of the general, fits Nora Aunor to a T. “She’s not actually just a second choice,” the Laguna governor explained. “I said from the start that I like Vilma Santos or Nora Aunor for the role, kung sino sa kanila ang may time to do this movie. Nagkataon na puwede si Ms. Aunor, at si Ms. Santos naman ay hindi.”

Clearing the controversy

The movie, which is being produced by Scenema Concepts International to the tune of around P100 million, (with Mylene Enriquez as executive producer and Tikoy Aguiluz as director), is a dream come true for Gov. Ejercito.

“The late general’s story was very controversial – there are questions to be answered, some issues to be cleared about him,” he said. “I am very fortunate that the late general’s family entrusted me the right to film his life story.”  Aguinaldo ordered the arrest of fellow revolutionary Andres Bonifacio for treason, which led to the latter’s execution.

“El Presidente” is the first full-length film about the governor, who lived till age 95 in the 1960s.  “The film tells the story of the man behind the legend, from the time he led the resistance against two superpowers: Spain and the United States,” Ejercito said.

Inner struggles

It was the general’s second wife, Maria Agoncillo, portrayed by Nora in the movie, who created the Philippine Flag. The general himself helped create the National Anthem and draft the first Philippine Constitution.

According to the governor, Aguinaldo “was the first central figure in unifying the different regional factors in the struggle for Philippine independence.”

“El Presidente” will not only touch on the political in-fighting and intrigues that happened during the Philippine Revolution, it will also explore the inner struggles of Aguinaldo as husband and father. Governor Ejercito said that the movie will also show the “agonizing moments of the general when he makes his life-or-death decisions in the interest of security and national unity.”

“El Presidente” is the result of a painstaking 11-year research on the life of the general, the governor revealed.