An exhibit of Nora memorabilia

I know of people who collect bus tickets, chewing gum wrappers and restaurant receipts (not for tax shelter, but for sentimental reasons) and arrange all these neatly in albums.

On the part of celebrities, they are well-advised to collect their newspaper and magazine clippings because these may be very useful not only for them to thumb through during their twilight years, but also as research materials for future generations.

I salute for instance Joey de Leon because he has collected not only posters of his countless films, but also contracts of television shows (44 as of last count) he had done in his more than 30 years in show business.

Movie queen Gloria Romero also had bound newspaper clippings that chronicled her glorious film career, but lost all these to termites.

Another Gloria – Diaz this time – couldn’t care less about mementoes.

This international beauty queen didn’t even bother to keep her Miss Universe trophy because when she was on her way back to Manila from her Miami triumph in 1969, she found herself being charged for excess baggage and the first thing she gave up was her trophy, which – when last heard of – was still in the PAL office in San Francisco. Still looking lovely to this day, I guess she needs no trophy to remind her of her reign as Miss Universe.

Gloria Diaz is really no different from superstar Nora Aunor, who didn’t even bother to collect her diploma when she finished elementary at the Mabini Memorial College in her hometown of Iriga.

For somebody who is never overly sentimental about mementoes, it is great wonder that an exhibit of her memorabilia had been put up (starting today) at the front grounds of the Folk Arts Theater off Roxas Blvd.

Nora has her fans to thank for this exhibit – particularly Albert Sunga, who owns practically 50 percent of the collection.

Neatly arranged in three air-conditioned tents, the exhibit is divided into five parts – all chronicling the superstar’s life and career.

Part 1 covers the years 1953 (the year Nora was born) to 1966. Included here are the superstar’s childhood photos – including some that were taken when she joined amateur singing contests as a youngster in Bicol.

Actually, majority of the photos in this section were reproduced from the book Ang True Story ni Guy by Baby K. Jimenez, who went to Iriga many years back to research on the life of Nora Aunor.

Other sources of pictures were relatives and friends of Nora from way back. Albert Sunga came into contact with them when he and other Noranians went to Bicol in 2001 to campaign for the superstar who was then running for governor. To their surprise, these people just approached them and gave them childhood photos of Nora Aunor. The most precious find, however, was the elementary diploma of Nora that was given to Noranians by the superstar’s former classmate in grade school. (How the diploma fell into the classmate’s hand, no one can tell.)

Part II of the exhibit that covers 1967 to 1975 traces the early years of Nora’s showbiz career. Here, you will see Nora’s Tawag ng Tanghalan trophy, which had survived at least two fires during the time it was exhibited at the Music Museum.

Also included in Part II is a copy of Nora’s first album, Nora Aunor Sings (again, from Albert Sunga’s collection). Then, there’s also a certificate of nomination when Nora was nominated for Best Actress (in the film Nasaan Ka, Inay? – with Gloria Sevilla) by the now-defunct Citizens’ Council for Mass Media (CCMM).

An interesting piece of trivia here would be a picture of Nora Aunor in her junior-senior prom (at the Centro Escolar University in Parañaque) where she is seen dancing with an escort whose name she herself no longer remembers.

For the fans, they would probably be thrilled to see Nora in her early films – with her name still billed below the title – like in Sampaguita Pictures’ Tampuhan Paminsan-minsan. Unfortunately, no one was able to produce not even an old newspaper ad of Nora’s first starring role in Musical Teenage Idol (for Tower Productions). But there are posters of the Singing Filipina (with Indian actor Sajid Khan) and Young Love with Tirso Cruz III, Vilma Santos and Edgar Mortiz.

The 1976 to 1986 section covers more of Nora’s career achievements like her Urian and FAMAS trophies for Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos – plus a collage of Nora’s photos with her leading men – Tirso Cruz III, Eddie Peregrina, Manny de Leon and even Ricky Belmonte.

Christopher de Leon’s photo, of course, also appears there and this includes one with him during his beach wedding with Nora in La Union.

The 1987 to1997 portion highlights Nora’s Best Female TV Host trophy (tie with Vilma Santos) during the first Star Awards for Television and her trophies from the Cairo International Film Festival (for Flor Contemplacion Story) and other filmfests abroad.

The final phase of the exhibit – from 1998 to 2004 includes posters of her ABS-CBN hit soap, Bituin – plus her concerts at the Music Museum and tours abroad. It is also here where you will see her Gawad Siglo or centennial award from the CCP, which has honored her for her contributions to film in this country.

The exhibit opens today at 10 a.m. after the 8 a.m. Mass. It will be open to the public up to 11 p.m. The following day, the exhibit will be closed at 6 p.m. in preparation for Nora Aunor’s Through the Years Concert at the Folk Arts Theater.

After the exhibit had been dismantled at the FAT grounds, the mementoes will soon be transferred to its permanent home at the Ace Entertainment office (owned and operated by Nora’s manager, Norie Sayo) at the 8th Ave. in Cubao.