Charo Santos-Concio shares life as a Noranian
MANILA, Philippines — Charo Santos-Concio paid tribute to National Artist Nora Aunor in her eulogy at the state funeral of the "Superstar" held in Metropolitan Theater in Manila earlier today.
In her speech, Charo said she's truly a full-blooded Noranian even before joining showbiz.
"Walang himala. Pero mayroong nag-iisang Nora. Ang kanyang tunay na buhay ay isang pagpapaptunay na walang imposible. Kahit para sa isang bata na nagtitinda ng tubig at mani sa riles ng tren.
"Ang kanyang tunay na buhay ay nasalamin sa buhay nina Elsa, Corazon, Delia, Flor Contemplacion, at marami pang iba. But Nora Aunor was even bigger than all her roles.
"Higit pa sa mga karakter na kanyang binigyan ng buhay, binigyan niya ng buhay ang pangarap ng milyung-milyong Pilipino."
Charo said Nora gave her hope to join the industry.
"Kahit saang probinsya ka man manggaling, ano mang hirap mo, Nora gave millions of Filipinos the most important gift — hope, pag-asa.
"'Kung kaya ni Ate Guy, kaya ko rin.'
"Kabilang ako sa mga Pilipino na nakita ang sarili nila kay Nora. Una kung nakita si Nora sa telebisyon sa 'Tawag ng Tanghalan.' Noon pa man, nabighani na ako sa kanyang boses at sa kanyang presensya, sa kanyang ganda.
"Hindi pa man alam ng bansa na siya ay magiging isang phenomenon, to me, she was not just a star, she was our 'Superstar.' Siya noon ay 14 years old, ako ay magdodose pa lang, at tulad niya, isa din akong probinsyana."
Charo said that she's one of Nora's "bakya crowd."
"May mga fans na umaakyat ng bakod, hinihimatay. Nag-aalay ng kwintas ng sampaguita hanggang wala nang makita sa leeg ni Nora.
"We were called the bakya crowd and we were proud of it dahil may 'Superstar' kami na isa sa amin.
"Philippine showbiz has never seen that level of adulation until Nora came and never again after Nora. Ganu'n pa man, si Ate Guy ay nanatiling simpleng probinsyana at heart."
For Charo, Nora is "raw, real, authentic and she doesn't act, she becomes, she transforms."
"Hindi lang siya artista, siya ay alagad ng sining. May lalim, may tapang, may puso. It was part of her process, her magic, her madness.
"Alam mong may pinaguhugutan, may lungkot, may apoy, may madness. But within that madness, there was genius. And when she is in her element, when the camera starts rolling, she is unstoppable.
"'Himala' was very memorable for us. Isa ito sa piling-piling projects ng Experimental Cinema of the Philippines noon. At ito rin ang kauna-unahang pelikulang ni-restore ng Sagip Pelikula ng ABS-CBN.
"Award-winning ang mga roles at pelikula ng ating minamahal."
RELATED: The real ‘miracle’ of ‘Himala’: Peque Gallaga’s anecdote on Nora Aunor’s iconic performance
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