In his June 30, 2014 opinion piece, Inquirer columnist Antonio Montalvan II gives his own take on the exclusion of Nora Aunor from the latest list of new national artist awardees.
After taking pains to explain the serious steps involved in the grueling nomination process, all of which Miss Aunor hurdled, Montalvan questions Malacañang’s “personality to distrust” the nomination process and, most importantly, the “propriety to exclude Nora.”
Unlike his predecessor Gloria Arroyo, President Aquino made no additions to the list of national artist nominees submitted to him. However, adds Montalvan, the President, did “play politics.” He took issue with Miss Aunor’s having campaigned for Arroyo in past elections.
Montalvan then pointed to the “mole-in-the-face” similarity between President Arroyo and Miss Aunor.
Naturally, Mr. Aquino would advance the point of morality, but morality has long since been dropped from the criteria for nomination. No doubt this criterion has been found specious and irrelevant.
No, I am not a Noranian, or, for that matter, a Vilmanian. I used to act on stage, though, with Repertory Philippines during the group’s initial and some subsequent seasons, plus an accommodation for bit parts in two of friend Peque Gallaga’s films.
This qualifies me to say that I’ve observed Nora Aunor to be (a) serious in her work; and (b) a good learner in the acting craft. Her clear and pleasant singing voice is a bonus, yet part of her acting talent.
Nora Aunor does not deserve to be simply shunted aside. She deserves to be rewarded for her work by being bestowed the honor of national artist.
—BOBBY G. KRAUT,
Pasay City