(AUG. 20)—Nora Aunor is the 10th recipient of the UP Gawad Plaridel, the highest award given by the University of the Philippines to an outstanding media practitioner. In the case of Aunor, she is cited for her excellence in film and television.
Prior to the UP Gawad Plaridel, Aunor has already been the lifetime achievement awardee in the two media. For film, she was awarded by the Film Development Foundation of the Philippines Haligi ng Industriya (1997) and the Film Academy of the Philippines (1994). For television, she received the Helen Vela Award (2004), Ading Fernando Award (2001) and Vic Silayan Award (1997).
While her numerous acting awards in the Philippines and abroad are publicly known, Aunor has also produced critically acclaimed films through NV Productions and NCV Productions. Among these are “Carmela”, “Paru-parong Itim,” “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,” “Bona,” “Condemned,” “Andrea” and “Pacita M.”
She also holds the distinction of working with four directors who eventually became National Artists for Film—Lamberto Avellana (“Fe,” “Esperanza,” “Caridad;” “Esperanza” episode), Gerardo De Leon (“Banaue”), Lino Brocka (“Bona,” “Ina Ka ng Anak Mo” and “Nakaw na Pag-ibig”) and Ishmael Bernal (“Ikaw ay Akin,” “Bakit May Pag-ibig Pa?” and “Himala”).
The UP Gawad Plaridel consists of a trophy, specially designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva, which will be awarded to Aunor on Aug. 27 (Wednesday), 2 p.m. at the UP Film Institute Film Center’s Cine Adarna. Established by the UP CMC, the annual UP Gawad Plaridel recognizes outstanding Filipino media practitioners and who have performed with the highest level of professional integrity in the interest of public service.
The UP Gawad Plaridel’s past recipients are Ms. Eugenia Duran-Apostol (2004, print), Ms. Vilma Santos (2005, film), Ms. Fidela “Tiya Dely” Magpayo (2006, radio), Ms. Cecilia “Cheche” L. Lazaro (2007, television), Mr. Pachico A. Seares (2008, community print), Mr. Kidlat Tahimik (2009, independent filmmaking), Ms. Eloisa “Lola Sela” Canlas (2011, radio), Ms. Florence “Rosa Rosal” Danon-Gayda (2012, television) and Mr. Jose “Pete” Lacaba (2013, print).
The award is named after Marcelo H. del Pilar (Plaridel), the selfless propagandist whose stewardship of the reformist newspaper La Solidaridad gave voice to nationalist sentiments and libertarian ideas in the 1890s. Like Plaridel, the recipient of the award must believe in a vision of a Philippine society that is egalitarian, participative and progressive, and in media that is socially responsible, critical and vigilant, liberative and transformative, and free and independent.—