Lea Salonga asks why Nora Aunor has not yet been honored as a National Artist

Despite Nora Aunor’s considerable contributions to the entertainment industry over the last five decades, it has left everyone wondering why she hasn’t received yet the prestigious National Artist Award which honors those “having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine art.”

Among those who expressed concern over the country’s Superstar’s case is Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga who believes that Nora Aunor qualifies as a National Artist notwithstanding the truth that she has had her fair share of ‘troubles’ in the past.

“Here’s a question for you all: Why hasn’t Nora Aunor been honored with the National Artist Award? I ask sincerely, because, given her talent and body of work, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet, her previous troubles aside. Thanks,” she wrote.Administered by the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), National Artist Awards were given recently to filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, playwright Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio, and Maestro Ryan Cayabyab among others

Having been dropped in the list of National Artist nominees for the second time in a row, the public still recognizes Nora Aunor as the ‘People’s National Artist.’