In the wake of the shocking and heartbreaking passing of the Philippines’ one and only Superstar Nora Aunor, emotions continue to run high — not just within the entertainment industry, but especially among her loyal fans. Among the loudest whispers and online chatter is a controversial claim: Was John Rendez, long rumored to be close to Ate Guy, truly there for her in her final days?

As tributes continue to pour in, two of Nora Aunor’s children, Matet and Lotlot De Leon, have finally spoken — and their statements are sparking a wave of reflection, heartbreak, and speculation.

A Question That Won’t Go Away

In the days following Nora’s passing, countless fans took to social media to express sorrow and disbelief — but alongside the grief were questions. Many pointed out John Rendez’s noticeable absence during key moments of Nora’s declining health and even during the early days of the wake.

“Ate Guy gave him everything. Why wasn’t he there when she needed someone the most?” one netizen wrote. Another added, “Ang daming tinulungan ni Ate Guy, pero nung siya ang nangangailangan, nasaan sila?”

John Rendez, a rapper-actor and one of Nora’s closest companions for years, has yet to publicly comment. His silence has only deepened the mystery and ignited stronger reactions.

Matet Speaks: ‘This Is Not the Time to Blame’

In a brief but emotional interview, Matet de Leon addressed the issue without naming names but left enough for fans to reflect on.

“I understand the pain and the questions. But Mama wouldn’t want us to blame or point fingers right now,” she said, holding back tears. “We all cope differently. We all love her in our own way — even if we don’t always show it the same.”

Though she remained composed, her words were laced with pain — pain of losing a mother, and pain from a family that has long dealt with both public adoration and scrutiny.

Lotlot’s Gentle Reminder: ‘She Was Loved’

Lotlot de Leon, who had been visibly present during the wake and memorial services, also gave her take when asked if she felt disappointed by those who “vanished” during Nora’s weakest moments.

“She was never truly alone,” Lotlot said, choosing to focus on the positive. “She had people who stood by her. Family. Friends. Fans. I won’t dwell on who wasn’t there. I choose to honor those who were.”

Still, fans read between the lines — was that a subtle response to John Rendez?

A Mother, A Legend, A Final Goodbye

No matter the controversies, one truth remains: Nora Aunor touched lives — deeply and unforgettably. Whether she was guiding John Rendez in his career, embracing her adopted children, or performing on stage with unmatched brilliance, she was a giver. A woman of strength. A mother.

As the nation continues to mourn, questions like these will inevitably surface. But as Matet and Lotlot gently reminded everyone — what matters now is remembering the love she gave, not the love she didn’t receive in return.

‘I feel like I’m adopted!’ Matet, feels betrayed by mother Nora Aunor’s ‘imitation’ of her business
Character actress Matet De Leon’s seemingly rant post, which although no name was mentioned, can be inferred to be for her mother Superstar Nora Aunor or Ate Guy, has garnered various reactions and comments.

Matet’s resentment has swirled over Ate Guy’s alleged competition with her gourmet tinapa and tuyo business. She said her mother knew about her products, so why did she even start this business?

According to Matet’s IG post this December where the comment section is closed, “Would you do this to your children? HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER. HOW? How can I do that now? Ay, I AM AN ADOPTED.”

“One night, I was told to just resell my mother’s products. We were struggling to sell. Why all of a sudden, I was just surprised, my mother released a direct competitor to my product.” “She knew I had a product like that.. I had a lot of tapings. What do you think I should do now? What would be good to do? If you have children, WOULD YOU DO THIS TO YOUR CHILDREN?”

On his YouTube channel, Matet conducted a live broadcast on Sunday night, December 4, to explain his side of his rant post.

Matet said he was really surprised that his mother had approved of his business. He said he didn’t expect that he would be able to compete with Superstar. He said that he was sent a photo of Ate Guy’s new gourmet tinapa and tuyo business on Messenger, and his first reaction was that his mood immediately went down. He even hyperventilated.

Matet clarified that she is not sure if Nora herself made the decision or someone close to her, who was found to be her partner, John Rendez. Matet has not yet posted her rant on Instagram. She first called her brothers Lotlot De Leon and Ian De Leon to consult them on what to do.

Until Matet was forced to vent her frustration on social media when details of how to buy Ate Guy’s product surfaced on a social media page. When an acquaintance asked Nora why she and Matet had the same product, she said that the actress already knew about her mother’s plan.

This is where Matet became angry, admitting that she has been diagnosed with “bipolar disorder”.

Her brother “Kenneth” also allegedly told her to just resell Ate Guy’s product, something that Matet could not accept.

“This. My brother Kenneth, are you my brother? You’re an idiot. That’s crazy, eh. Well, he’s not my brother because he’s just adopted. They said, if Mommy wants to do business, I’ll just leave him alone. I’ll just resell Mommy’s product and we’ll work together.”

Matet’s point is, she and her husband Mickey Estrada were the first to start gourmet tinapa and gourmet tuyo, so why would they be told to just resell?

“How do I feel about it? I feel very sad. I feel betrayed. I feel like a Trinidadian. I feel like… seriously, I feel like an adopted child right now, guys. The power of adoption is what they did. The power of adoption, I can feel it when I’m adopted. No one would do this to their child. So, this means, they don’t really treat me like a child. They wouldn’t do this if they loved us, I just realized it now,” Matet’s emotional statement.

He said he thought the rift between him and his mother would never be resolved, because it seemed to be deep-rooted and rooted in the past.

“It seems impossible, because I don’t know how you can do that to your child? We are siblings, we are going through a very difficult time. My sister, my brother, just keep doing it. When Mommy does something wrong, then we resist, you say we are worthless. What is it? What do you want us to do here? I don’t understand.”

“It’s like we are tied up, like we are gagged and you are slapping us all over. We are tied up, we can’t do anything, we are gagged, we can’t say anything, you are slapping us all over, we are worthless, adopted children.”

Because of this, Matet allegedly blocked his mother on social media.Meanwhile, Nora Aunor’s camp has not yet responded, reacted, or made a statement regarding the issue, as have the aforementioned personalities in her live broadcast.