NORA AUNOR - Cocoy Laurel's "Mona Lisa"?

June 25, 2025

Did Cocoy Laurel painted Nora Aunor to rival Mona Lisa in 1970?

As far as I know, Cocoy Laurel have painted a Nora Aunor portrait about three times. Click here for info of the three paintings with Nora Aunor as muse by Cocoy Laurel.

Nora Aunor portrait edited by Francis Tanseco.

Look at the photo above of Nora Aunor portrait painted by Cocoy Laurel in 1970??? This image above is a photo I took from the Nora Aunor and Cocoy Laurel movie "Lollipops and Roses" which was shown on cinemas in 1971.

Where is the original of this painting? Some report says that it used to hang on the wall of Nora Aunor's house in 1971.

Himayin natin ang Cocoy Laurel 1970 portrait of Nora Aunor.

To begin with, I think the image is enigmatic. The subject is the muse Nora Aunor who is Cocoy Laurel's soul mate and love interest perhaps in reel and real life? The painting was used as an admiration creation by a painter in the character of Cocoy Laurel as 'Victor' in the movie which as it turned out the admiration of the painter on the subject is not only for reel but also for real. A love story of Greek tragedy proportion, a Makrothymia "suffers long" in Greek. A love that waits a lifetime but not consumed, perhaps a love that will be travelling through time and onto another cycle of life.

The subject popularity is one of phenomenon to say the least.. Nora Aunor's advent is an enigma in itself.

In an era of Philippines post colonial past wherein only the mestiza are worthy of the lights and splendor of the silver screen comes a diminutive lass from the province whose presence captured a nation, where presidents use her as a political weapon, and whose golden voice rings a heavenly tune to the generations that her sound touches.

Now, this Cocoy Laurel 1970 masterpiece of a portrait of Nora Aunor is missing? That surely add up to the mystery of this painting for it has been featured in the movie "Lollipops and Roses" and yet its whereabout is now a mystery?

How about it's artistic merit? Well, from the photo of the painting one can tell that it is a beauty, an art worthy of a secured wall, a painting worthy of adulation of millions of visitors in an otherwise dustless and temperature controlled room, the subject's facial expression is timeless and the painter? Well, he is a Madrid, Spain trained painter.

The cultural impact of the painter, the subject, the art, the muse, the expression portrayed in a Filipino film in an international setting, what impact are we talking about here? Isang National Artist lang naman ang muse na ito.

The photo of the painting is lifelike, alive, enigmatic, with a life of a subject worthy of an epic film.

Cocoy Laurel's 1970 Nora Aunor portrait is soft, realistic, intriguing with a muse facial expression of enigma.

The identity of Nora Aunor seems to her audience one of familiarity and yet nobody knows the real Nora Aunor but herself. For even her own children seems not too familiar with who she really is as a person and as an artist.

Whereabout of this painting.

Whose house is it hiding, where is it? Whose walls is it gracing? Is it dusty somewhere? or is it in state of decay?

The subject cultural impact is not a matter of debate at all anymore. This author also painter here Click here to see my paintings of Nora Aunor. Similarly, this author also wrote a song titled "Nora Aunor" which you can watch in the video below. Nora Aunor as a cultural icon impacted the art scene, literature, music and film. Her story is one that is forever.

I wonder what complex interplay will result from this Cocoy Laurel 1970 Nora Aunor portrait, what circumstances will transpire for it to become a popular image among art critic and lovers and what stories will unfold from this painting?

Only time will tell.

I wish to see this portrait in person in a beautiful wall in an exhibit and in a celebration of Cocoy Laurel's masterpiece. I honor your work Mr. Cocoy Laurel.

Listen to the song I wrote, produced and dedicated for Nora Aunor below.