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Nora’s real comeback

Indeed, the Superstar is back.

When Nora Aunor decided to return to the Philippines last year, a lot doubted that she would succeed. But, nearly a year after she left the U.S. for Manila, she has proven her detractors wrong.

Nora is again a winner.

Though she lost the major acting award in the recently concluded Venice International Film Festival, she wowed critics who gave her the Bisato d'Oro Award. The Premio Della Critica Indipendiente cited Nora for her portrayal of an infertile Badjao midwife who sought to find a nubile partner for her ailing husband in Brilliante Mendoza's "Thy Womb."

What Nora really is

This sterling "comeback" highlighted Nora for what she really is: one of the best actresses the country has ever produced.

Her celebrity, personal dramas and so-called "bankability" (or not) are the white noise that surrounds her, the angle by which showbiz stories are bought and sold. Stripped off all that, Nora is, at her core, Nora is an artist.

For those who threw big bucks at her, the reality is more circumspect. Her first vehicle upon her return, the TV5 mini-series "Sa Ngalan Ng Ina," achieved modest success. She embarked on other projects including an earlier movie, Mark Meilly's "El Presidente." There is talk about another movie with Mendoza, which will co-star perennial screen rival, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and Coco Martin.

Best choice

Still, she made the best choice in saying yes to working with Mendoza. She is again recognized in the international film festival circuit. And Venice is just one stop amongst the other festivals around the world where she is sure to shine even brighter.

Perhaps Nora should continue on her path of starring in independent movies that highlight her peerless talent. Maybe mainstream movies—or the little that's left of it—will follow suit and challenge our younger actors by casting her in their midst.

Or maybe Nora could also opt to just concentrate on the indie scene indefinitely.

What do you think?

Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed. Yahoo! Philippines OMG! welcomes opinions—and the occasional wisecracks—that enrich and highlight new angles on its stories. Below-the-belt rants may be a fact of online life, but that doesn't mean you should turn into a troll. You can speak your mind without bashing anyone. Keep it clean, folks.