SUPERSTAR - A Nora Aunor painting by Francis Tanseco (2005)

I was there in the audience during Nora Aunor's first major solo concert on May 18, 1991 at the Araneta Coliseum. Her birthday concert and her offering to her beloved fans.

Oh what a night to remember!

That night was magical, her tone was crisp, her diction was crystal clear, her voice was soothing, her singing was golden, the people were excited, happily clapping and enjoying the night of music. She was standing there in a circular stage with no back panel so that the audience can see her in all angle. A 360 degrees of visual.

The lights seems to be emanating from her rather than from the spotlight projected into her. The masses who were there came not to watch a concert but to shower love to this star they collectively declared a - SUPERSTAR.

The concert did not start on time as scheduled. People were getting impatient while waiting and some were ready to throw invectives at her but when she finally showed up, all the impatience and anger were obliterated with love and by her presence on stage. The waiting wasn't good but in the end it was worth it.

They came from all over the Philippines. Some even travelled from the provinces arriving in jeepneys and buses full of excited Noranians just to be in that concert to witness this small, petite, short girl - a woman - sing her hearts out to her adoring fans.

Many years earlier, back in Catbalogan, Samar where I was born and grow up, I am reminded that I was only watching her in those brown boxes called a television or TV on her weekly - every Sunday show "Superstar". I didn't know her at all or perhaps who she was did not register in my childhood memory yet - all I know is that she sings so beautifully like an Angel.

TV was a status symbol during my childhood years in the 70's in Catbalogan and my family does not have one initially so that to watch a tv show is to go to your neighbors house and peep through their window to see a tv program. Your lucky if the neighbor is in good mood for if they are otherwise, you'll find that they will close their window to you and your company of fellow children who just want to see what a tv magic can do to inspire a child. I was one of those curious child.

Watching her from that brown box of my neighbors TV in black and white made me connected to her through her singing, her voice, her songs and perhaps that is one reason why years later I would be sitting happily in one of those chairs at the Araneta Coliseum waiting for Nora Aunor to appear on stage patiently. Suddenly, I was officially a Noranian that night I guess for that is a category the media loves to label to those who appreciates her artistry. I really don't know how I became a Noranian, perhaps because my mother - Rosalinda would listen to her songs while she was pregnant. The details is not important, what is important is I found someone to admire who has the same concept of social justice as I do which were portrayed in her films and music while mine are in paintings and in the lyrics and songs I write.

And once she did appeared on stage, in what seems to be a luminous white dress, and started singing "people, people who needs people", she would capture my imagination and admiration. Little did I know that past forward to more than ten years later I would eventually be making her my muse in my three series of paintings portraying her as an enigma.

I was already living and working in London, the United Kingdom when I started painting my first series with Nora Aunor as my muse in a concept of promoting anything Filipino while giving tribute to my muse Nora Aunor and at the same time appreciating the important contribution of women in our society and thus a Nora Aunor series was born titled Filipinism, La Aunor, Woman. A series which touches on social justice.

This painting in the photo I titled "Superstar", is a realization of the magic of that night in 1991 during her concert "Handog ni Guy". One of 12 in a series from "Filipinism, La Aunor, Woman".

Rest in power, my SUPERSTAR.

In memoriam

Nora Aunor
Philippines National Artist for Film and Broadcast Art
May 21, 1953 - April 16, 2025