PNoy: Nora Aunor's Drug Use Reason why not belong to National Artists

PNoy: Nora Aunor's latter use of drug is the reason why she's not belong to National Artists list.

MANILA - President Aquino has finally answered questions on why he excluded multi-awarded actress Nora Aunor from the list of National Artists.

Speaking to reporters, Aquino said he removed Aunor from the list because the latter was convicted for using illegal drugs.

Aunor was arrested for shabu possession in the United States in 2005. She evaded imprisonment by undergoing a six-month drug rehabilitation program.

"First of all, for the record, my father is a fan of Nora Aunor. Ako rin ay humahanga sa naabot niya. Nagtitinda sa bus station nung araw. Napunta dun sa Tawag ng Tanghalan at mula dun siya ay naging Superstar. Singular Superstar."

"Noong humarap sa akin itong mga nominations, isa lang naman ang tanong: Ano ba ang titulo? national artist. At sa aking pananaw iyong National Artist iyong binibigyan natin ng honor na ito, puri na ganito, dahil gusto natin sabihin malaki ang inambag sa lahing Pilipino at dapat tularan."

"Ang naging problema ko lang doon, alam naman natin lahat na iginagalang ko ulit si Binibining Nora Aunor, na-convict po siya sa drugs. Na-convict at naparusahan at ang tanong ngayon dito, pag ginawa ba nating National Artist may mensahe ba akong maliwanag na sinasabi sa sambayanan?"

The President said illegal drug use is a growing problem in the country, with Mexican and West African drug syndicates trying to set up operations locally.

He said choosing Aunor, who was convicted for drug use, as a National Artist would send the wrong message.

"Ayokong magkaroon ng mensahe na kung minsan pwede iyong illegal na droga. Or acceptable. Iyong dapat iyong mensahe it is always bad and illegal drugs do nobody any good...Kung ginawa ko siyang National Artist, may kabilang panig namang magsasabing: 'Paano siya as a role model?'"

"Ginagalang ko siya, kinikilala ko iyong kanyang trabaho at saka mga obra pero ang problema ko mukhang mas mataas iyong prayoridad na maliwanag na may mensahe iyong droga zero tolerance tayo dito. Mali all the time."

Malacanang earlier named the next set of National Artists. They are:

Alice Reyes - Dance
Francisco Coching (Posthumous) - Visual Arts
Cirilo Bautista - Literature
Francisco Feliciano - Music
Ramon Santos - Music
Jose Maria Zaragoza (Posthumous) - Architecture, Design, and Allied Arts

Aunor has thanked those who continue to support her. She, however, admitted that she was hurt by the President's decision.

"Inaamin ko pong nasaktan ako sa mga nangyari. Pero ang dagsa ng suporta na nakita ko at naramdaman mula sa aking mga kababayan, mga katrabaho ko sa industriya, mga fans at mga kaibigan, mga pari at madre, mga guro at iba pang taga-akademya, mga taga-media, mga National Artists, mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan dito at sa ibang bansa, ay sapat-sapat na upang maramdaman kong maski wala mang tropeo o karangalang igawad sa akin ang mga nasa kapangyarihan, iniluklok naman ako ng mga kababayan ko habang buhay sa kanilang mga puso bilang isang artista ng bayan,” she added.

Aunor, who is dubbed as the country's superstar by her fans, said she would rather not dwell on the fact that she was not proclaimed a National Artist.

“Para sa akin po ay mas totoo at mas masarap ang karangalang ito dahil taus-pusong nanggagaling sa mga taong siyang dahilan kung bakit ako nagpapakabuti bilang isang artista -- ang mga mamamayang Pilipino,” she said.

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