Of resurgence and reunions

"Very powerful." Or so the critically acclaimed actor/scriptwriter/director Mario O'Hara describes the role of Ms. Nora Aunor in her much-awaited TV series Sa Ngalan ng Ina. Deviating from her tried-and-tested portrayals as an underdog, Aunor will play a governor who exerts her influence to avenge the death of her husband. After the superstar's eight-year hiatus in the United States, O'Hara is raring to reaffirm Aunor's stature as a world-class actress in a story of epic proportions "tungkol sa mayamang donya, at ang kanyang struggle amidst the political turmoil in her hometown, matapos ma-assasinate ang kanyang unang asawa..." (Click here for more details.)

With a bang for her career comeback, Aunor's resurgence as the country's premier actress is seen by many as a foregone conclusion in hands of O'Hara. Reminiscent of other creative collaborations among the best of world cinema--France's Isabelle Huppert with director Claude Chabrol, China's Gong Li with director Zhang Yimou, and Japan's Toshiro Mifune with director Akira Kurosawa--the Aunor-O'Hara tandem is a class all its own. 

Together, they have chalked up a filmography considered as hallmarks of Filipino filmmaking since 1976  when they came up with Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, considered by critic Noel Vera as "the best Filipino film ever made." (Click here for the complete review of the film and here for Vera's list of the 12 Great Filipino films.)

Thus, televiewers are up for a primetime treat with the Aunor-O'Hara cocktail in Sa Ngalan ng Ina, which also reunites Aunor with her TTWD costars: her ex-husband Christopher de Leon and Bembol Roco. The project also marks, literally so, a family reunion as the former couple's only son, Ian de Leon, is also in the cast, among others. (Click here and here for more information on the reunion and other plot details.)

Talk about a powerful viewing experience, and this much is true: To see is to believe.


Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon cuddle the toddler Ian de Leon during a break on the set of Mario O'Hara's  "Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos" in 1975.



Ian de Leon, flanked by her parents and erstwhile couple Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon,
                                   at the story conference of "Sa Ngalan ng Ina."