Nora, Pilita, Gloria to receive Presidential Medal of Merit

The late National Artist Nora Aunor, Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales and movie queen Gloria Romero will be posthumously honored with the Presidential Medal of Merit, Malacañang confirmed yesterday.

The honorees will also include internationally acclaimed chef Margarita Forés.

The awarding ceremony, to be spearheaded by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will be held at Malacañang Palace on May 4, as reported by ABS-CBN News’ report from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Established under Executive Order 236, the Presidential Medal of Merit is awarded to individuals — Filipino or foreign — for achievements that bring “prestige for the country in an international event, in the fields of literature, the sciences, the arts, entertainment, and other civilian fields of endeavor that foster national pride and artistic excellence.”

Personalities and artists from the Philippine showbiz that received the Presidential Medal of Merit in the past included Broadway and West End star Lea Salonga, Black Eyed Peas member Apl.de.ap and classical pianist Cecile Licad.

Nora, dubbed as the Philippine entertainment industry’s “Superstar,” passed away on April 16 at the age of 71 due to acute respiratory failure. She was laid to rest with state funeral honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Tuesday, April 22, which was also declared as by President Marcos Jr. as a Day of National Mourning.

In 2022, through Proclamation 1390 signed by then President Rodrigo Duterte, Nora became the first female actor to be inducted to the Order of National Artists, the highest honor given to Filipinos who have made distinct contributions to Philippine arts.

Just a few days before Nora’s passing, the nation mourned the death of Pilita, dubbed the “Asia’s Queen of Songs.” Known for her signature “liyad” or backbend pose while performing, Pilita captivated audiences with timeless hits such as Kapantay ay Langit and A Million Thanks to You, and a career that spanned over 60 years, during which she recorded over 100 albums in various languages.

In January, the entertainment industry also bid farewell to Gloria, often referred to as the “Queen of Philippine Cinema.”

She starred in films now regarded as classics, such as “Kasintahan sa Pangarap” (1951), “Dalagang Ilocana” (1954), “Nagbabagang Luha” (1988), “Tanging Yaman” (2000) and Rainbow’s Sunset (2018). With a successful TV and movie career spanning seven decades, she received multiple acting and lifetime achievement awards.

Chef Forés, who passed away in early February, was a known figure in the local culinary scene, recognized for promoting Filipino cuisine globally and honored as Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016.