After being quiet for more than two weeks regarding the National Artist controversy, the Superstar and supposed to be candidate for National Artist recognition Nora Aunor finally breaks her silence and revealing her dismay to Malacanang after she was dropped from the list. In the statement that she gave to Ricky Lo, she said that she was hurt after knowing that she was removed from the list but thankful to those who showed sympathy and love for her. She also thanked those who placed her as National Artist in their heart where no trophy can match.
Here’s the official statement of Nora Aunor:
“Inaamin ko pong nasaktan ako sa mga nagyari. Pero ang dagsa ng suporta na nakita ko at nararamdaman mula sa aking mga kababayan ay sapat-sapat na upang maramdaman kong maski wala mang tropeo o karangalang igawad sa akin ang mga nasa kapangyarihan, iniluklok naman ako ng mga kababayan ko habang buhay sa kanilang mga puso bilang artista ng bayan.
Ang pagsuportang ito ang lalong nagbibigay sa lakas ng loob sa akin, at ng walang kapantay na inspirayon, upang lalo kong pagbutihan ang aking sining, upang lalo kong sipagin sa pagbabahagi ng kung anumang talento meron ako at upang lalo ko pang pag-ibayuhin ang maging mabuti at marangal na mamayang Pilipino. Maraming salamat po at pagpalain po kayo ng Diyos.”
The controversy started last June 20 where Aunor was not included in the list of National Artists named by Malacanang whereas she’s one of the artists included by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to consider. After Malacanang disregards, supporters and friends of Aunor showed their disapproval on what happen including National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera who expressed his disappointment on the said decision. Even the NCCA chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. also shared his dismay to the decision of Malacanang and wanted them to explain what made their decision. Which he said that during the deliberation of NCCA board of commissioners at CCP board of trustees that Aunor gained high ratings for being artistic role model.
Meanwhile directors including Jose Javier Reyes, Joel Lamangan and Gil Portes showed their sympathy to Aunor in the Malacanang decision. This was the second controversy in less than 5 years in connection with the National Artist selection where in 2009 Director Carlos J. Caparas was considered for the National Artist of the Philippines for the category of Visual Arts and Film.
Read: Questions arise from Nora Aunor’s drop in the National Artist list
National Artists proclaimed by Malacanang last June 20 were Alice Reyes for dance, Francisco Coching (posthumous) for visual arts, Cirilo Bautista for literature, Francisco Feliciano and Ramon Santos for music and Jose Maria Zaragoza for architecture.
