John Rendez, with Nora Aunor when she was confined to the hospital
John Rendez, deeply grieved over the passing of his friend Nora Aunor.
The public wants to know the reaction of rapper-actor John Rendez to the passing of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts and multi-awarded actress Nora Aunor.

John is one of the closest people to Nora, as their friendship has been for more than three decades. He was with the superstar when she was in the U.S. and now that she is in the Philippines.

On Holy Tuesday, April 15, John was among those who mourned the Superstar at The Medical City.

When Nora was taken from her life on Holy Wednesday night, April 16, John said on his Facebook Live that he wished she would die too.

John’s return home to Angeles City, Pampanga, is the latest news that reached Cabinet Files.

PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) gathered that, at the time of Nora’s death on the night of Holy Wednesday, the only ones inside the hospital room were her children Ian, Lotlot, Matet, and Kenneth. The only one who was not there and was still in Bataan was her son Kiko.

Also in the hospital room were Ian’s wife, Kenneth’s wife, and National Artist Ricky Lee, who was not only Nora’s close friend and co-worker but also the stepfather of Nora’s children.

John was not inside the hospital room at the time of the Superstar’s death.

JOHN RENDEZ ACCEPTS NORA AUNOR’S AWARD IN JAPAN
On the other hand, John’s last public appearance was when he attended the World Class Excellence Japan Awards (WCEJA), held on April 10, 2025.

John accepted the World Class Global Icon of Philippine Cinema 2025 award for Nora.

The official Facebook page with the account name “Nora Aunor National Artist” shared a photo of John attending the WCEJA awards night.

Nora and John’s friendship went through many trials, but it seems they overcame them all.

And until the last moment of the award-winning actress’s life, they remained togetherNORA AUNOR ON JOHN RENDEZ
It was almost two years ago when Nora gave a message about John.

In a report by PEP Troika on May 21, 2023, Nora’s request was for her children to love John as she celebrated her 70th birthday.

This was part of Nora’s statement during her 70th birthday celebration on May 20, 2023 at Seda Hotel, Vertis North, Quezon City.

“John, you know what happened to him. Let’s not exaggerate what other people say.

“Let’s think about it, your mother, no one left her for years.”

She also said of the natural occurrence of children having their own lives: “You all disappeared, you had a family, the one who is there, John.”

She added, “That’s why I can’t help but defend the man, eh. And I want you to know that.”

Nora also begged the children to “love” John.

“Let’s love. Let’s love the man. Like that, he was here earlier, but he didn’t show himself much, because he knew my family was here. He didn’t want the man to say anything to him again.

“That’s why he didn’t show up for a long time, he left. But I know, in his heart, he wants to talk to you, at least one of you.

“I just want us to love each other,” the Superstar requested.

Nora also clarified her relationship with John.

Nora continued: “As for John’s relationship… we don’t have a relationship, right? That’s all… there was just… I just want everyone to know that I’m defending the person, not for anything else.

“I hope I can see you love each other. Because I’m old, eh.

“Let’s be grateful to him that from then until now, he’s still there.

“So, that’s all. I just want people to know that we understand him, let’s understand him.

“Let’s give him a chance to show the talent that God gave him.

“He can’t show it, eh. Because, recording, coming out, people can say something, eh.

“John hasn’t left me for so long. We don’t have a relationship, because people will say we have a relationship, like I said he’s the one who hits the child, right? I have a conscience.”