MANILA, Philippines – Superstar Nora Aunor was emotional as she accepted this year’s Natatanging Gawad Urian from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Tuesday, June 16 at the 38th Gawad Urian Awards.

In her speech, Nora thanked her fans, family, and trusted friends who stood by her from the start of her career, through the bumps she experienced along the way.

“Iisa lang po ang ibig sabihin nito, na dapat po akong magsipag lalo at gumawa ng mas marami pang pelikula.Gusto kong gumawa ng mga pelikulang makapagbibigay po ng aral sa ating mga kabataan sa kasalukuyan. 

(This means one thing, that I should work harder to do more films that will teach important lessons to today’s youth.)

“At ito po ay sasabihin ko sa inyo, makakaasa po kayo hinding-hindi po ako mapapagod, lalo na at nandyan palagi ang aking mga tagahanga …pumuti man ang kanilang buhok, may mga sumakabilang-buhay …kung mahal ninyo po ako, mas mahal ko kayong lahat.”  

(And I will say this to all, you can expect that I will not tire, especially because of the fans who have always been there. Some of them now have gray hair, some of them are already gone…If you love me, I love you more.)

“Kung wala po kayo, wala pong Nora Aunor na nandito sa inyong harapan,” she added.

(If it were not for you, there would be no Nora Aunor in front of you.)

She also thanked the film and movie outfits who continue to trust her despite the problems she’s encountered.

“Hindi naman po kaila sa inyo na madalas po akong madapa. Pero dahil po sa mga naniniwala, sa lahat mga totoong tao na naging kaibigan ko, at nagtitwala po sa akin ay muli po akong bumabangon,” Nora said. 

(It’s no secret that I’ve fallen so many times. But with the people who believe in me and my true friends who trust me, I was able to rise again.)

“Kapag nadapa, kailangang bumangon.  Gumawa na isang magandang pelikula para po maipakita po uli ang binigay ng Diyos na talento na mapaghanggang ngayon ay ipinagpapasalamat ko po…Sa lahat ng mga direktor ko po, sa lahat ng mga nakasama ko sa pelikula maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyo at sana magkasama pa rin tayo muli.” 

(We can’t let things go. You fall and then rise again, do a good film, so you can show God-given talent, which I am very thankful for up to now… to all the directors, artists I’ve worked with, thank you so much to all of you and I hope we can work together again soon.)

The Natatanging Gawad Urian is the latest achievement by the actress. Last May, she won the Best Actress award at the St. Tropez International Film Festival in France for her role in Dementia. She was also given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) last April. She also starred in Taklub, which earned the Ecumenical Jury-Prize Special Mention at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival last  May. – Rappler.com