My mama and la Aunora

G-SPAT
Grace Bandoy
(Writings from Rowe Naval Bandoy)

My mom is a huge fan of Nora Aunor, when my parents were newlyweds, my mom would go watch a Nora Aunor film, my dad on the other hand would see a Charles Bronson film and they would meet again in a restaurant after they’ve watched their preferred movies.

My mom said the only film they’ve watched together was “Banawe” (obviously because of the setting of the film that was probably the only reason my dad agreed to watch the film, the setting of the movie, Igorot pride). Later on, already with three kids, same thing, only this time it would be on three different theaters, my mom would watch her beloved idol, my dad still can’t let go of his western fantasies, and us (the kids) laugh our hearts out on Tito, Vic and Joey films.

My mom would walk us inside the theater and instruct us not to change seats; she picks us up after the film (or until she cried her out and sympathize with her idol in another theater). The only Nora Aunor film I’ve ever watched with my mom was “Mga Tinik sa Dibdib” co-star Philip Salvador and Dina Bonevie, the story as I remember is about a young couple, sharing a house with the male character’s family (including his step mom, whom he has an illicit affair with), but the dialogue “aking mga tinik sa dibdib” was towards Nora Aunor’s ailing angry dad.

It was a film of course I cannot at all relate with, I believe nor is my mom. But still she cried and cried and sympathized with Nora Aunor’s plight as a sacrificing daughter and as a wife who knows nothing of her husband’s affair with his step mom. My dad used to call her “bakya” and mom would call him dreamer of America.

At home we can only watch soap operas like “Flor de Luna” or “Anna Liza” when my dad is not at home, but in his presence we were only allowed to watch the news or “Dallas”, “Falcon Crest” or “Knots Landing”, Jay R’s (Larry Hagman) character of course is my dad’s favorite (and his prime influence in his fashion and temperament), then later on McGyver and 21 Jump Street.

Every Sunday of course is “Superstar” night co-hosted by German Moreno and Jograd de la Torre, my dad would simply go inside their bedroom and from time to time makes sarcastic comments about my mom’s idol inside their bedroom or he pretends to get a drink just so he can go out of their bedroom and make more gnarly comments on Nora Aunor.

My mom is a huge Nora Aunor defender, still sympathizing with her walk through life; when Nora Aunor’s love relationship fails, my mom blames Nora’s children and alalays for not being supportive enough; when Nora’s entrepreneurial attempts / financial status fails, my mom blames Nora’s business associates for taking advantage of her lack of education; when La Aunor lost the gubernatorial race, my mom blamed the politicians who took advantage of Nora’s stardom and was not supportive of her political ambitions; when Nora Aunor’s singing prowess died down, my mom blamed the producers who made Nora worked tirelessly; and when Nora Aunor’s career turned cold, my mom blamed the press for writing negative write ups about her.

Nora Aunor had truly battled with life’s reality from her humble beginning in Bicol to her struggle to become a star in Philippine Cinema that’s been for years pinag-harian ng mga mestizo and mestiza. The very same years when my mom struggled defending her (Nora Aunor) against my father’s westernized ideology of entertainment.

When asked why I chose to pursue my education on Philippine Studies and Philippine Literature, I give credit to my mom. My Filipinism and Igorotism were developed only in my adult life, an identity I struggled as a child and as a teenager whose life and activities revolves around John Hay, cabled television, Hollywood movies, and around people all struggling and planning to live life in the states.

My mom introduced me to Nora Aunor, the Filipino audience, to Filipino komiks, and the facts of Filipino life outside the glam of Hollywood movie screen and boob tube. My mom like many is a “bakya” fan, for me she is an educator who educated me about Philippine Literature, Philippine Sociology, Philippine Movies, the Filipino audience and Philippine Identity.