The death of cinema icon and Superstar Nora Aunor at the age of 71 has renewed interest in her extensive filmography, which spanned more than 5 decades.
A Tawag ng Tanghalan grand champion at 14 years old, Aunor was not just a voice that moved the masses but an acting titan who won numerous local and international acting awards in her long and storied career.
Here are just some of Nora Aunor’s top movies streaming free on YouTube.
Himala
Directed by Ishmael Bernal with a screenplay by Ricky Lee, Himala tells the story of Elsa, a young woman who claims to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary and becomes a faith healer. It premiered at the 1982 Metro Manila Film Festival where it won a slew of awards including Best Film and Best Actress. Himala is the first film to be restored as part of the ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project.
Banaue: Stairway To The Sky
National Artist Gerardo de Leon's 1975 epic, Banaue: Stairway to the Sky is a cinematic masterpiece for the ages. Set against the awe-inspiring Banaue Rice Terraces, it tells the story of Banaue (Aunor), a fearless chieftain's daughter fighting to protect her tribe from rival conquerors.
Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos
Mario O'Hara’s 1976 masterpiece Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos tells the story of Rosario, a schoolteacher whose fiancé left to fight the Japanese during World War II. Rosario then enters a forbidden relationship with a Japanese soldier, Masugi, played by Christopher de Leon.
Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo
Directed by Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara, Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo tells the story of Corazon dela Cruz (Aunor), a young nurse planning to emigrate to the US but whose plans are derailed after her brother is shot dead by an American soldier from a nearby military base. The film was digitally restored by the ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project in 2018.
Iconic line: “My brother is not a pig. Ang kapatid ko ay tao, hindi baboy damo.”
Bulaklak sa City Jail
Directed by Mario O'Hara with a screenplay by Lualhati Bautista, Bulaklak sa City Jail tells the story of Angela, a pregnant nightclub singer who is arrested for attempted murder and must survive inside the city jail. Released in 1984, it was digitally restored and remastered by the ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project in 2019.
T-Bird at Ako
Released in 1982, T-Bird at Ako is a crime drama that starred Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos, two of the Philippines' most prolific actresses at the time. The movie is one of the earliest portrayals of LGBT themes in Philippine cinema.
The Flor Contemplacion Story
Directed by Joel Lamangan with a screenplay by Ricky Lee and Bonifacio Ilagan, The Flor Contemplacion Story tells the story of a Filipina domestic helper who was hanged in Singapore for allegedly killing a fellow maid.
Ina Ka ng Anak Mo
Nora Aunor’s first movie under the direction of the legendary Lino Brocka, Ina Ka ng Anak Mo tells the story of Esther (Aunor) and Luis (Raul Aragon) and their struggle to conceive while living in the home of Esther’s mom Renata, played by the Queen of Philippine Drama Lolita Rodriguez.
Minsan May Isang Ina
Directed by Maryo J. Delos Reyes, this 1983 drama tells the story of a matriarch and her troubled relationship with her 3 daughters.
Mga Uod at Rosas
Johnny Delgado, Nora Aunor and Lorna Tolentino light up the screen in this 1982 flick that shows a painter’s frustrations with his art and how it affects his relationship with his wife and model.
Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak
Another Nora Aunor-Mario O'Hara collab, Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak is the Philippines' own version of Hollywood flick Three Men and a Baby, with a Pinoy twist. The dramedy tells the story of Baby Doll and her three moms - Au (Nora Aunor), Claire (Gina Alajar) at Belle (Celeste Legaspi).
Mahal Mo Mahal Ko
Directed by Elwood Perez, Mahal Mo Mahal Ko explores the love triangle among Aunor and her frequent leading men Tirso Cruz III and Christopher de Leon.