On Nora Aunor - "She's a Saint!" says John Rendez.

 Part 2

Nora Aunor - the case for Sainthood?

The case and the road to Sainthood for Nora Aunor? 

On May 14, 2025, I published the first part of this series Nora Aunor - case for Sainthood as a question after her death because it seems to me that most of the eulogy about her is about her kindness, humility, generosity and humanity.

I was looking and researching for more reasons to answer my own question of "Nora Aunor - the case for Sainthood?" and can't seem to find anyone who would say or think the same way I do of my impression that Nora Aunor in my own humble opinion and observation is a Saint.

Then came the day when Nora Aunor's birthday celebration was upon us - May 21, 2025 her 72nd if she lived,  there were left and right tributes to honor Nora's contribution to the Philippine cinema and cultural diaspora. A feed showed up in my YouTube channel of an an interview of John Rendez by Julius Babao (click here) and so I watched it. I was shocked when he mentioned in the interview and stated that  "She is a Saint" as an answer to a sensitive question.

l was shocked that John Rendez would categorize Nora Aunor as such. "A Saint" because whereas I am writing about Nora's Sainthood like attributes, I am writing it from a distance, from a place as a fan that came to be known as Noranian, an observant without a personal and close friendship with Nora and that I have not known Nora Aunor on a very personal level but John Rendez is different. He said what he said from a standpoint of someone who shared very personal information, someone who spent moments away from the prying eyes of the media and fans alike if not intimately but at least on a very personal level with Nora Aunor.

Who is John Rendez?

John Rendez or John Robert Porter Jr. is a Filipino-American rapper and actor. Some movies to his credit are the following Sindak (1999), Batang .45 (1999) and Madaling mamatay, mahirap mabuhay (1996).

He stated during the interview with Julius Babao that his friendship with Nora Aunor lasted for thirty-four years (34), a tried-and-tested, three decades long friendship with the Superstar.

"Ako lang ang tumagal sa kanya" Rendez emotionally and proudly stated during the interview. He takes pride over the fact that his friendship with the National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts in the Philippines withstood the test of time till the very end of Nora's last breath when he was there.

John Rendez also starred in NA Film Productions (a Nora Aunor Film Production) movie titled "Tomacruz..Sa Puso Ng Isang Anak" alongside Snooky Serna, Bembol Roco, Irma Adlawan, Ian De Leon, Matet De Leon, Beverly Salvejo, Dexter Doria and Kenneth De Leon. It is unclear if this film was ever released in cinemas or other platform.

Was Nora Aunor a Servant of God during her lifetime?

What is a servant of God? Who can be a servant of God? I am no expert but information out there characterizes servants of God as those with dedication, humility, and willingness to serve others. This characterization does not limit it to any specific industry for all of us can be characterized as such regardless of the industry we belong to. In Nora Aunor's case, the above characterization has been very obvious after her death in the numerous eulogies I have heard, read about her.

Mr. John Rendez also stated during the interview with Mr. Julius Babao that Nora Aunor is devoted and fears God, that she does not fear men but she does with God. Mr. Rendez characterization of Nora Aunor in the interview is that of a Nora Aunor who is ready to act as God inspires her to act and it is clear in his interview that Ms. Aunor understands that service is about meeting the needs of others, not a personal gain but a selfless love and help that Mr. Rendez describes her kindness and generosity "to a fault".

Perhaps in the innermost thoughts of Nora Aunor that she does what she does in order to strive to please God and follow His teachings, she did not utter any of these characterization however it is very obvious that her actions speaks louder than her un-uttered words with how the people in her wake describes a Nora Aunor they came to know.

To be continued...

Here below is a song created, written and produced by Francis Tanseco to honor Nora Aunor.

Here below is a song from Francis Tanseco musical on Nora Aunor.

Here below are some of Francis Tanseco artwork on Nora Aunor as muse.

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