Perking up Philippine television with the Superstar's return

After being absent from the local entertainment scene for nearly eight years, Nora Aunor-- inarguably the greatest actress to have graced the big and small screen around these parts--is back in the Philippines to do a special miniseries with TV5.

To the packed house, Nora, now based in the US, said, “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa TV5 sa kanilang tiwala na kunin ako para sa itong mini-serye na inihahanda po para sa mga manonood. At siyempre, nagpapasalamat rin ako kay Kuya Germs na palagi pong andyan para sa akin. (I would like to thank TV5 for having trusted me enough to tap me for this miniseries. And of course, I'd like to thank Kuya Germs who has always been there for me.)

“Si Kuya Germs po ang nakipag-ayos sa TV5 para sa gagawing kong mini-serye. Alam ko po na meron sigurong mga fans na nag-tampo nung hindi natuloy yung scheduled na pag-balik ko mga two weeks ago, pero kaya po ipinagpaliban yun e dahil inaayos nga po ni Kuya Germs itong gagawin ko para sa TV5.” (It was Kuya Germs who arranged everything with TV5 for this miniseries. I know some fans were upset when my scheduled return two weeks ago didn't push through, but this is precisely why it was postponed. Kuya Germs was fixing everything for this project with TV5.)

For his part, Percy Intalan, who proclaimed himself to be a Noranian, said that working with Nora Aunor has been on TV5's wish list. “We thought it would be nothing more than just a pipe dream, and so when Kuya Germs told us that Nora was flying back to do a movie (a historical biopic with Governor ER Ejercito, titled El Presidente), we didn't think twice about signing her to an exclusive contract.”

The miniseries "SA NGALAN NG INA" is going to be directed by the multiawarded Mario O'Hara, also Nora's director in one of her most acclaimed films and one of the classics of modern Philippine cinema, Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos. Reportedly, TV5 is putting in a lot of money to ensure that the miniseries will not only break new ground but also most fitting for Nora's stature. When asked if TV5 would allow Nora to appear in interviews on rival networks, Percy Intalan said, “Nora Aunor is too important and too big an artist not to be shared with the rest of the entertainment industry.” Also being already planned is a movie with Lily Monteverde's Regal Films.

To her fans and the entertainment press, The Superstar said, “Si Nora Aunor pa rin po ako. Hindi pa rin po ako nagbabago. Medyo nagluluka-lukahan paminsan-minsan, pero ang pinapangako ko po ay seryoso kong paguukulan ng pansin ang gagawin kong mini-serye para sa TV5.” (I'm still Nora Aunor. I haven't changed. I've gone a little crazy on occasions, but I promise that I will seriously give my all to this miniseries with TV5.)

-- from InterAksyon.com