Nora Aunor, Brillante Mendoza win awards in Italy

Superstar Nora Aunor and multi-awarded auteur Brillante Mendoza romped off with special awards at the recently concluded 69th Venice International Film Festival (VIFF) in Italy.
This prompted Bacolod City representative Anthony Rolando T. Golez, Jr. to file on Sept. 10 House Resolution No. 2764, commending the achievements of the esteemed actress and the famous director. 
Manila Bulletin’s Rowena Sanchez reported on the awards of the two celebrities and the resolution in Congress to honor them.
The measure entitled, “A Resolution congratulating and commending Ms. Nora Aunor and Mr. Brillante Mendoza for their work in the Filipino film, ‘Thy Womb,’ and winning several awards in the 69th Venice International Film Festival,” according to the report
A copy of the resolution was posted on some Facebook fan pages for the Superstar, such as “Nora Aunor For National Artist” and “THY WOMB Starring Ms. Nora Aunor.”
The acclaim that Mendoza and Aunor received abroad “is a testament to the talent of Filipinos in film and art,” as well as “a great source of pride for all Filipinos,” wrote Golez.
“It gives immense inspiration and motivation for other Filipinos to also succeed in their respective fields,” he added.
Aunor’s performance in Mendoza’s “Thy Womb (‘Sinapupunan’),” her comeback film, earned her the Bisato d’Oro Award (The Golden Eel), from the Premio Della Critica Indipendente, a jury of independent film critics in Italy. She is the first Filipino to receive such recognition.
The film, meanwhile, won the La Navicella (Venezia Cinema Award), and the P. Nazareno Taddei Award (Special Mention) at the VIFF. Although “Thy Womb” did not snag the prestigious Golden Lion, it was nevertheless well-received at the film fest, reportedly getting a five-minute standing ovation after its screening last Sept. 6.
Golez was the same legislator who filed the resolution in April urging President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to confer the National Artist award to Aunor.
Acknowledging Aunor’s countless achievements here and abroad, Golez dubbed her a “national treasure.”
“The Filipino people is now entangled with so many public issues like the seemingly uncontrollable rise of prices of fuel and commodities but we should not lose hope. There are a lot of things going for our country and the enshrinement of Ms. Nora Aunor as a National Artist is a sure feel good thing that the Filipinos can hold on to,” said he.