Palace: Nora Aunor not named National Artist to save her from emotional, psychological torment

Malacañang said Thursday President Rodrigo Duterte actually did Nora Aunor a favor when she was excluded from the list of National Artists this year because bestowing her the distinction would only “torment”  her.

Presidential spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the Palace remains optimistic the 65-year-old veteran actress will be named National Artist in the future especially since she is “still young.”

“In God’s perfect time we are optimistic that she will be proclaimed as a National Artist. Her non-inclusion does not diminish her iconic stature as the country’s Superstar and her significant contributions to film, theater, television and music industries,” Panelo said at a news conference.

“Her non-inclusion is to spare Ms. Nora Aunor from the emotional and psychological torment coming from the barrage of mixed reactions the award will bring,” he added.

Panelo also cited Aunor’s statement that said the respect she gets from her fellow artists is already enough recognition.

“Her phenomenal rise to movie and musical stardom that counted a generation of shrieking and adoring fans unparalleled in the movie and music industry is a walking testament to her mesmerizing artistry and singing voice and the people’s acceptance. She truly is the crowned people’s artist,” he said.

The Palace official, however, could not say whether Aunor’s exclusion stemmed from her previous involvement in illegal drugs, which former President Benigno Aquino III used to deny her the honor in 2014. Duterte, meanwhile, was voted into office on a campaign platform to eradicate the drug menace in the country.

“I’m not aware of that,” Panelo said. “But of course, the power and the privilege to appoint rest on the President, so discretionary iyon.”

A Supreme Court ruling in 2013 stated that the President has “the authority to alter or modify or nullify or set aside” the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ recommendation for National Artist awardees.

The same decision, which invalidated the conferment of National Artist awards to four personalities including film director Carlo J. Caparas, said that the President cannot add any names to the list submitted by the NCCA and the CCP.

Duterte on Wednesday honored seven new national artists in their respective fields: Lauro “Larry” Alcala for Visual Arts, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio for Theater and Literature, Ryan Cayabyab for Music, Eric de Guia also known as Kidlat Tahimik for Film and Broadcast Arts, Francisco Mañosa for Architecture and Allied Arts, and Resil Mojares and Ramon Muzones for Literature.

Established in 1972, the Order of National Artist is the highest recognition bestowed on a Filipino artist who has made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and culture. — MDM, GMA News