Nora Aunor and Ricky Lee are one of the newly announced National Artists of the Philippines.
On June 10, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) chairman and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) president Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso announced Nora Aunor and Ricardo Lee as National Artists for film and broadcast arts, Fides Cuyugan Asensio for music, Gemino Abad for literature, and Agnes Locsin for dance.
In an interview with ABS-CBN on June 10, Ricky Lee said that he dedicates the award to the people who accepted him.
“It’s been a very long journey mula nang lumayas ako sa Daet at lumuwas ng Maynila para makipagsapalaran. Pero all this time, sa lahat ng mga highs and lows, never akong tumigil magsulat para sa ibang tao.
“Lagi kong iniisip na mas mahalaga sila kaysa sa akin, kaya kailangan ko silang kuwentuhan.”
Lee worked as a screenwriter and has written over 180 film screenplays which received multiple awards from prestigious award-giving bodies such as Cinemanila International Film Festival, Gawad Urian, and PMPC.
He was also one of the recipients of the CAMERA OBSCURA awards from the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
On the other hand, Aunor expressed her gratitude to her family and fans who supported her.
“Wala pa akong maisip na sasabihin ko sa ngayon dahil sa labis na kasiyahan sa aking puso para po sa lahat na nanalangin po at nakipaglaban hanggang sa huli para maibigay sa akin ang kanilang pinangarap na ako’y mahirang na isang National Artist for Film.
“Higit po sa lahat, walang katapusang pasasalamat sa ating Panginoon, sa Mama at Papa ko, sa aking pamilya at mga anak, lalo na sa mga pinakamamahal kong mga fans at mga taong nasa tabi ko sa oras na kailangan ko sila mula noon hanggang ngayon. Maraming salamat po sa ating mahal na pangulo na si President Rodrigo Duterte at mga taong nasa likod ng napakataas na karangalang ito,” said Aunor.
The Superstar has been in the showbiz industry since 1967. She has starred in various films with a highly acclaimed performances such as Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976), Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo (1976), Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (1979), Himala (1982), Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), and Bona (1980).
She was nominated 21 times for the Gawad Urian Awards and made her the most nominated actress in the history of the said award-giving body. She won seven out of her 21 nominations.
She also won awards from PMPC Star Awards, Metro Manila Film Festival, Luna Awards, Young Critics Circle Awards, Cairo Film Festival, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, and Asian Film Awards.
