28/04/2025
Before her death, Nora Aunor looked forward to reunion movie with Hilda Koronel
'She was trying to get stronger because she was excited to do that project,' says director Adolfo Alix Jr., who worked with the actress in several of her recent films
MANILA, Philippines – Nora Aunor and Hilda Koronel, two giants of Philippine cinema, were supposed to do a reunion movie.
Director Adolfo Alix Jr. on Saturday, April 19, said Aunor had shown enthusiasm about working with Koronel again before her death, which brought her legion of fans and the entire country to mourning.
Appearing in the public viewing for the “Superstar” at The Chapels at Heritage Park in Taguig, Alix said they had planned to start shooting in June.
“She was trying to get stronger because she was excited to do that project,” Alix said in Filipino.
Alix directed Aunor in several of her recent films, including Padre de Familia (2016), Pieta (2023), and her last locally released movie, Mananambal (2024), a horror picture wherein the National Artist portrayed the role of a healer.
He said Aunor, who died of acute respiratory failure on Wednesday, April 16, at the age of 71, was already dealing with health issues when they shot Mananambal.
“Actually, the doctor prohibited her [from working] because of her condition, which, I think, made it difficult for her to breath when she was around a lot of people. So, as much as possible, we limited that,” Alix said.
“She was trying to get stronger before because there were plans for her condition. There were rehabilitation and operation for her to be better.”
Aunor and Koronel starred in the 1985 film Beloved, which also featured Christopher de Leon, to whom Ate Guy was married for two decades.
“Elsa” and “Insiang” were also together in Tisoy! (1977) and Nakaw na Pag-ibig (1980).
“What a big loss to our industry,” Koronel wrote on Instagram in one of her tribute posts for Aunor. “But you will never be forgotten.”
Alix hopes for a local release of Kontrabida (2021), which shows Aunor in her first antagonist role and won the Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema Prize for Best Asian Film in the 2022 Hanoi International Film Festival.
“It has been shown in festivals in different countries, but we’re looking for the right timing [to show it here,” Alix said.
“So, I told the producers that this can probably be a fitting tribute because this is the film where you’ll see Ate Guy in her best form.”
