Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71
Aunor's death on Wednesday was announced by her children on social media, but no further details were provided about her cause of death.
"She touched generations with her unmatched talent, grace, and passion for the craft. Her voice, presence, and artistry shaped a legacy that will never fade," her daughter and actor Lotlot de Leon said on Instagram.
Born into a poor family in the city of Iriga, Aunor established a career in television, music and film over seven decades. She was named National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022 - the Philippines' highest honor for the arts.
She rose to stardom as a singer in the 1960s before moving to the screen, where she amassed more than 200 credits in film and television.
One of her most memorable performances was in 1995's The Flor Contemplacion Story, a film about a Filipino maid executed by Singapore for murdering her fellow domestic helper.
Aunor won local and international awards for her portrayal, along with dozens of other acting honours over her career.
She was married to Filipino actor Christopher de Leon from 1975 to 1996 and they had five children.
Her son Kristoffer Ian De Leon remembered his mother as a "source of unconditional love" in a Facebook post.
"She was the heart of our family. Her kindness, wisdom, and beautiful spirit touched everyone who knew her," he wrote.
Aunor was most recently seen in the 2024 TV series Lilet Matias, Attorney-at-Law and filmed a special cameo for the musical Isang Himala. — BBC
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
20 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
'Ketamine Queen' to plead guilty in Matthew Perry overdose case
LOS ANGELES — A woman dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" has agreed to plead guilty to selling the drugs that ultimately killed Friends actor Matthew Perry. Jasveen Sangha, 42, will plead guilty to five charges in Los Angeles, including one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death or bodily injury, according to the Justice Department. The American-British dual-national originally faced nine criminal counts. Federal prosecutors called her Los Angeles home a "drug-selling emporium" and found dozens of vials of ketamine during a raid. Perry was found dead in a back yard jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home in October 2023, with an examination finding his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine. Sangha is one of five people - including medical doctors and the actor's assistant - who US officials say supplied ketamine to Perry, exploiting his drug addiction for profit, and leading to his overdose death. They include: Dr Salvador Plasencia and Dr Mark Chavez, two doctors who sold ketamine; Kenneth Iwamasa, who worked as Perry's live-in assistant and both helped purchase and inject the actor with ketamine; and Eric Fleming, who sold ketamine he'd gotten from Sangha to Perry. All five have since agreed to plead guilty to charges in the case. Sangha's criminal trial had been pushed several times and currently was scheduled to begin next month. She is expected to appear in federal court in the coming weeks to formally enter her guilty plea as part of the agreement with federal authorities. Her attorney, Mark Geragos, told the BBC in a statement that "she's taking responsibility for her actions". Jasveen Sangha's social media Jasveen SanghaJasveen Sangha's social media She plans to plead guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distributing ketamine, and one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Sangha faces a maximum sentence of 65 years in federal prison, according to the Justice Department. Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It can distort perception of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control. It is used as an injectable anaesthetic for humans and animals because it makes patients feel detached from their pain and environment. The substance is supposed to be administered only by a physician, investigators say, and patients who have taken the drug should be monitored by a professional because of its possible harmful effects. Perry's death and the investigation into how he obtained so much of the drug over multiple years offered a glimpse into Hollywood's ketamine drug network, which one doctor called the "wild west" in an interview with the BBC. As part of her plea agreement, Sangha also plead guilty to selling ketamine to a man named Cody McLaury in August 2019, who died hours after the purchase from a drug overdose, according to the justice department. Federal authorities accused Sangha of supplying ketamine from her "stash house" in North Hollywood since at least 2019, alleging in an indictment that she worked with celebrities and high-end clients. More than 80 vials of ketamine were allegedly found there in a search before her arrest in March 2024, along with thousands of pills that included methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax. The home, called the "Sangha Stash House" in a federal indictment, was where she is alleged to have packaged and distributed drugs. Sangha is said to have mixed with celebrities socially, with one of her friends telling the Daily Mail she attended the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Her social media presence depicted an extravagant lifestyle, including parties and trips to Japan and Mexico. —BBC
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
'Skibidi' and 'tradwife' among words added to Cambridge Dictionary
LONDON — "Skibidi", "tradwife" and other slang terms popularized on social media are among thousands of new words to be added to the Cambridge Dictionary this year. Skibidi is a gibberish term coined by the creator of a viral animated video series on YouTube, while tradwife is a shortening of "traditional wife" – a married mother who cooks, cleans and posts on social media. More than 6,000 new words are included, including those that relate to remote working and tech giants. "Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary," said lexical programme manager Colin McIntosh. Skibidi is defined in the dictionary as "a word that can have different meanings such as 'cool' or 'bad', or can be used with no real meaning as a joke". An example of its use is "What the skibidi are you doing?" Reality TV star Kim Kardashian revealed her familiarity with the phrase when she posted a video on Instagram showing a necklace engraved with "skibidi toilet" – the name of the YouTube well as new phrases, some shortened versions of existing terms have been added, including "delulu" – a play on the word "delusional", with a similar definition: "believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to".An increase in remote working since the pandemic has seen "mouse jiggler" – a device or piece of software used to make it seem as though you are working when you are not – gain its place in the composite terms such as "broligarchy" have also been added. Merging "bro" and "oligarchy", it means "a small group of men, especially men owning or involved in a technology business, who are extremely rich and powerful, and who have or want political influence".It was used to describe tech leaders Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg attending Donald Trump's inauguration in January. — BBC
Arab News
23-07-2025
- Arab News
TV director accuses UK culture secretary of ‘bullying' BBC over Gaza coverage
LONDON: Acclaimed TV director Peter Kosminsky has accused UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy of attempting to 'bully' the BBC over its coverage of the Gaza conflict. In a strongly worded letter, Kosminsky — known for the BBC historical drama 'Wolf Hall' — likened the government's actions to those of a 'tinpot dictatorship' and warned against sustained pressure on BBC Director General Tim Davie. 'Could I respectfully suggest that you stop trying to bully the BBC, the nation's primary public service broadcaster, over its coverage of the war in Gaza,' wrote Kosminsky in the letter, reported by The Guardian. He argued that politicians should not 'police the individual editorial decisions of the BBC,' stressing the broadcaster must, above all, maintain public trust. His letter echoed warnings from veteran BBC figure Richard Ayre, who described Nandy's direct intervention as 'outrageous.' Nandy has been a vocal critic of the BBC, pressuring the broadcaster to withdraw its Gaza documentary 'How To Survive a Warzone' after it emerged the young narrator was the son of a Hamas official. She also criticized the broadcasting of a Glastonbury Festival segment featuring the punk-rap duo Bob Vylan chanting anti-IDF slogans. 'For its part, the BBC must ensure that its output is balanced. But this means balanced across the totality of its output,' said Kosminsky, cautioning that past conflicts between government and BBC had ended tragically and citing the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly in 2003. Meanwhile, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has acknowledged recent 'serious failures' at the BBC but framed Nandy's criticism as justified accountability on behalf of license-fee payers. A spokesperson reiterated that editorial independence remained paramount. The controversy comes amid crucial discussions over the BBC's future funding and charter renewal, adding further pressure on its leadership — particularly Davie, who faces mounting scrutiny and internal dissatisfaction over perceived lapses in impartiality and editorial oversight.
