Manila: Veteran actress Nora Aunor, or Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in real life, passed away on Wednesday night. She was 71. Aunor's death was confirmed by her son, actor Ian De Leon, who expressed profound grief, stating, "She was the heart of our family - a source of unconditional love, strength, and warmth. Her kindness, wisdom, and beautiful spirit touched everyone who knew her. She will be missed beyond words and remembered forever." De Leon noted that details of his mother's wake would be "announced tomorrow (April 17)." According to Philippines News Agency, Nora Aunor, known as the "Superstar" of Philippine cinema, was born on May 21, 1953, and starred in 170 films. She garnered numerous awards and citations from local and international organizations. Aunor bagged her first Best Actress awards at the Gawad Urian and the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards (FAMAS) for her performance in the film "Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos". She was elevated to the FAMAS Hall of Fame in 1992 and received t he Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Lifetime Achievement Award the following year. Aunor was also celebrated for her roles in iconic films such as "Bona" (1980), "Himala" (1982), "Bulaklak sa City Jail" (1984), and "The Flor Contemplacion Story" (1995). In 2022, she was honored as National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts under Proclamation 1390 signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte. Her final film appearance was in the horror movie "Mananambal", which was released in cinemas in February. She had initially planned to run as the second nominee of the People's Champ Guardians Party-list in the May 2025 midterm polls but later decided to withdraw her candidacy.