NORA AUNOR: THE SEVEN GOLDEN YEARS (1976-82)

Himala (1982)- Hailed by fans and critics as her finest film

Trivia: Director Ishmael Bernal had seven assistant directors to handle Himala crowd scenes. Along with the town's residents, hordes of Noranians who had come to visit their idol were prevailed upon to swell the crowd scenes. Instead of chanting "Nora! Nora!," they were made to shout "Elsa! Elsa!"

1976 – Nora starring in two critically acclaimed movies established her as an acting heavyweight. Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos bagged Nora her first Best Actress trophies --- from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Gawad URIAN) and from FAMAS: and Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo, which garnered five FAMAS awards including Best Picture of the year.

1977 – Nora starred in the movie, Little Christmas Tree with the King, FPJ; and Bakya Mo Neneng with Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada, which won the year’s FAMAS Best Picture.

1978 – Nora starred in Ishmael Bernal,s Ikaw ay Akin, with Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon, that earned her second URIAN nomination. It was the film, Atsay, a film by Eddie Garcia and 1978 MMFF entry that gave her the Filmfest’s Best Actress.

1979 – Nora made a film opposite drama icon Lolita Rodriguez under the direction of Lino Brocka. Ina Ka ng Anak Mo was praised by critics and won for her the MMFF and FAMAS Best Actress awards.

1980 – The troika of Brocka, Nora and actor Phillip Salvador made two movies, Nakaw na Pag-ibig and Bona. For the latter, Nora got her second URIAN.

1981 – Mario O’Hara directed Nora in Bakit Bughaw ang Langit? which won for Nora her first Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA) Best Actress trophy.

1982 – Nora starred in Mga Uod at Rosas, T-Bird at Ako and the much critically acclaimed Himala. Ishmael Bernal megged Himala in which Nora played the role of a faith healer, Elsa. It has been hailed by fans and critics as her finest work. But for this film, Nora received only one Best Actress Award, from the MMFF, and one nomination from the FAP. A decade later, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino included Himala in its list of the 10 Best films of the decade (1980-89).

See Nora Aunor- Early Years in Showbiz

Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo (1976)

Panakip Butas (1977) with singing idol Hajji Alejandro

Pag-ibig Ko'y Awitin Mo (1977) with Eddie Rodriguez

Little Christmas Tree (1977) with FPJ

Bakya Mo Neneng (1977) with Joseph Estrada

Sapin Sapin Patong Patong (1977) with Tirso Cruz III

Pinagbuklod ng Pag-ibig (1978) with Vilma Santos, Romeo Vasquez and Tirso Cruz III

Bakekang (1978)- From the story by Carlo J. Caparas

Atsay (1978)- a film Directed by Eddie Garcia

Ang Tsimay at ang Tambay (1979) with Rey Malonzo

Dobol Dribol (1979) with basketball legend Robert Jaworski

Si Mahal Ko...Nakialam Na Naman (1979) with Ronald Corveau

Nakaw na Pag-ibig (1979)- A film by Lino Brocka

Anak ng Atsay (1979) with child star Julie Vega

Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (1979) - Director Lino Brocka paired Nora with the great Lolita Rodriguez and they played mother and daughter who shared the same man, Raoul Aragon. Nora is unforgettable in that scene where she discovers that her own mother is having an affair with her husband and she cries: "Mga hayop! Mga hayop!"

Ikaw ay Akin (1979) with Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon / A film by Ishmael Bernal / Two versions of movie ads came out during its theatrical release, one with Vilma Santos and Christopher DeLeon. This was to avoid any billing problem between the two superstars.

Reyna ng Pitong Gatang (1980)

Bona (1980) with Phillip Salvador - Once again directed by the late Brocka, Nora played the title role of a slum girl who is an avid movie fan of a struggling stuntman (Phillip Salvador). She serves him like his personal alalay and when she finds out that he is just using her, she takes revenge by pouring boiling water on him.

Bakit Bughaw ang Langit? (1981) with Dennis Roldan

T-Bird at Ako (1982) with Vilma Santos / Look at the ad on how they resolve the billing of the two stars

Palengke Queen (1982)

Annie Sabungera (1982) with Ace Vergel and Rey Valera