NORA AUNOR’S NO. 1 CELEBRITY FAN

It's a general knowledge that popular TV host Boy Abunda is a die-hard and ardent fan and known supporter of Superstar Nora Aunor. He's always there to protect and defend his idol.

Here's a short and amusing account of Mr. Abunda's first encounter with Ms. Aunor. The date- sometime in the 70s.

As told by Boy Abunda, TV host

One summer in the early seventies, Tatay announced that I could take my summer vacation in Manila with my Tiyang Estring’s family in Malibay. His announcement was like nothing I had ever imagined. I figured that I would have one great chance to see Nora Aunor, icon of my youth. I was ecstatic. So off I went to the city where Nora lived, my clothes in a small sturdy maleta, and feeling decadently rich with the P 200 Tatay gave me. I was confident I could meet my queen in person.

One day, it was announced in “Superstar” (Nora’s television show) that Ate Guy would make an appearance at KBS (Kanlaon Broadcasting Station) along Roxas Boulevard, 5 pm, on a Tuesday--- I can’t remember the exact date. At 5 am of D-Day, I and four other neighbors left for the most exciting trip of my life. We brought along folding chairs. “Kailangan maaga tayo at may sariling bangko dahil pag late tayo, sa may dagat tayo pupuwesto,” explained my aunt, the battle-scarred Nora follower. I didn’t bother asking her why we needed to make a 12-hour allowance for a 5 pm appearance.

At 5:30 am, the grounds fronting KBS were already teeming with Nora fanatics: women, young girls, old women, a lot of gays, a sprinkling of men, vendors, pickpockets, Bisayans, Kapampangans, Ilocanos, Warays, Manobos, Igorots. I had never seen so many people in my life.

At 2 pm, it started to rain. No one moved. No one wanted to lose his space. Seasoned Tiyang Estring forgot to remind us to bring umbrellas. An hour later, the rain stopped, and we of the Malibay contingent were soaking wet, but like everyone else, we hung on to our chairs as though we were hanging on for our very lives.

A few minutes after 8 pm, my goddess was gazing down at the crowd from the penthouse of the KBS building. People stretched their hands out, and Nora photos and magazines were up in the air in rhythmic motion. We screamed her name, we pledged allegiance to her! And she waved back at us, gave us a flying kiss. She looked so fragile and pretty. Even if she was almost a kilometer away, I know she could see me, I knew she knew how devoted I was.

Photos of Ate Guy started falling from the sky like manna from heaven. There was pandemonium. A photo fell into my hand and I fell off my chair. My four neighbors scampered for safety. It had been fifteen hours since I had first set foot on Roxas Boulevard, and I was deliriously happy.

Source: A Movie Album Quizbook by Jessie B. Garcia/ 2004