And what a tribute it is. All over the place are blown up fotos of Ate Guy in the various stages of her career plus posters of her past films. She came on stage escorted by award-winning writer Ricky Lee, then daughter Matet said a prayer to formally start the affair and she cried as she thanked Ate Guy for being a very caring mother to her children. Then a video presentation was shown, tracing Ate Guy’s life from being a poor child selling water at the Iriga train station, her joining singing contests like Darigold Jamboree and Tawag ng Tanghalan that became her ticket to showbiz. She was then paired with Tirso Cruz III and the Guy & Pip love team became the most successful teen tandem in local film history. It showed her transition from being a singing teen star to a much awarded actress winning trophies even internationally, also her stay in the U.S. and how TV5 helped revive her showbiz career.
There were also video greetings from her son Ian de Leon, ex-hubby Christopher de Leon (but Lotlot is conspicuously missing), balae Pilita Corrales, former leading man Victor Laurel, Geleen Eugenio, Boy Abunda, Dawn Zulueta, Gabby Concepcion, Eric Quizon, Dante Mendoza, Alice Dixson, Gary Valenciano, Judy Ann Santos and the hosts of “Good Morning Club”. TV5 stars who got to work with her performed a dance number: Vin Abrenica, Nadine Samonte, Eula Caballero and Edgar Allan Guzman. Her special friend John Rendez also did a song number.
Kanta Pilipinas winner Chadleen Lacdoo and Star Factor runner up Morisette Amon then sang “People” (Nora’s signature song) and 60 Noranians went up on stage to each hand their personal gift to Ate Guy. After the gift giving, Jaya appeared and continued singing “People”.
Nora has just finished a film for TV5’s CineFilipino filmfest, “Ang Kuwento ni Mabuti”. Mes de Guzman, its director, came onstage to show scenes from the movie. She plays a farmer in Nueva Vizcaya whose lines are all in Ilocano and whose peaceful life gets complicated when she finds a bag with millions of pesos in it. Supporting her in the film are Arnold Reyes and Mara Lopez as her children, with Sue Prado as they mysterious man with the bag of money.
Direk Joel Lamangan also went on stage with producer Joann Banaga to announce that Nora will be reunited with Tirso in a movie, “When I Fall in Love”, to be shown in TV5’s “Pilipino Espesyal” that will be showing original movies made for TV. The story is inspired by “The Notebook” but it’s Pip who’ll have dementia and it’s Guy who’ll care for him. Playing their kids are Nadine, Edgar Allan and Marvin Agustin. Chadleen and Kanta Pilipinas recruit Carlo David then sang the theme song.
“Pag lumabas itong magandang-maganda, we intend to show it muna in commercial theaters before airing it on TV,” says Joann Banaga.
The press was allowed to question her during a brief open forum. Who among the men linked to her is nearest to her heart? “Dalawa. Yung first love ko (Pip) at yung pinakasalan ko (Boyet).” What’s her birthday wish? “No more wishes. Wala na kong mahihiling pa. Gusto ko lang pasalamat sa TV5 kasi napakabait nila sa’kin. Inaalagaan ako ng husto. Tinatanaw kong malaking utang na loob sa kanila ang pagbabalik ko sa showbiz.”
Current TV5 boss Rey Espinosa was on hand to personally greet her. New prexy Noel Lorenzana, who’ll take over on June 1, sent a video greeting along with TV5 top honcho Manny Pangilinan. Creative head Perci Intalan directed the whole affair ably hosted by Arnell Ignacio. They said they don’t intend to show the birthday bash on TV but press people urged them to show it as a special as it’s not every day that local filmdom’s Superstar turns 60 years old.
