Nora Aunor honored with UP's Gawad Plaridel Award

She may not have been included in this year's list of National Artists but Nora Aunor received the University of the Philippines' Gawad Plaridel Award, the highest award handed out by the state university to an outstanding media practitioner, on Wednesday at the UP Film Center.

Nora Aunor / Twitter (alexavillano)

The superstar was recognized for her excellence in acting. She was the 10th to be honored with the recognition, with her onscreen rival, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, getting the award in 2005.

"Isang malaking karangalan at hindi ko makakalimutan," Nora said in an interview with ABS-CBN News after the awarding ceremony. "Isa ito sa pinaka-importanteng nangyari sa buhay ko. Sa karangalan ng taga-UP ay parang nakatapos na din ako."

Nora admitted that she only went as far as Grade 2 in her studies and that's the reason why she felt nervous in going to UP.

"Ang nararamdaman ko ngayon ay iba, e. Iba kapag UP ang nagbigay sa iyo ng karangalan. Sabi ko nga kanina, hanggang Grade 2 lang ako pero pagtayo ko sa stage ng UP ay parang graduate na din ako ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas," she said.

When it comes to being snubbed by Malacanang in the National Artists of the Philippines, she said she's quite happy that the people and the students of the university were the ones who gave it to her.

"Nakakatuwa dahil sa hindi man ako ni-recognize ng ibang tao, ang taumbayan at mga estudyante at guro ay nagbibigay sa akin ng parangal," she said.

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