In a moment that moved both fans and family alike, Lotlot De Leon and Matet De Leon came together to pay tribute to their beloved mother, the iconic Nora Aunor, in a deeply emotional celebration that no one saw coming.

But the real surprise? ABS-CBN, the network where Nora Aunor’s star once shined brightly, pulled out all the stops in an unexpected gesture that left fans in awe — proving once again that “The Superstar” remains one of the most treasured and revered figures in Philippine entertainment history.

A Tribute Like No Other

Held in an intimate but beautifully staged setting, the tribute was filled with tears, laughter, and nostalgic memories. Lotlot and Matet took turns sharing personal stories of their childhood with Nora — moments rarely shared with the public.

“We grew up watching her not just as the Superstar, but as our Nanay,” Matet said with emotion. “She loved with quiet strength and sacrificed everything for us.”

Lotlot added with teary eyes, “There were so many things we didn’t understand when we were young. But now, as mothers ourselves, we realize how much she carried… alone, most of the time.”

The ABS-CBN Surprise That Left Everyone Speechless

Just when the audience thought the tribute had reached its emotional peak, ABS-CBN made a surprise video presentation that included rare footage from Nora’s earliest years in the network — from her humble beginnings as a singing champion, to her unforgettable performances in Flor Contemplacion Story, Himala, and more.

A voice-over from Charo Santos-Concio narrated Nora’s rise from a small-town girl to a global cinematic icon, while celebrities like Vilma Santos, Piolo Pascual, Lea Salonga, and Liza Soberano appeared onscreen to give their heartfelt messages.

“You showed us that you don’t need height to reach the stars,” said Lea.
“You gave voice to the voiceless,” added Piolo.

Fans in the audience were seen wiping their tears, while netizens flooded social media with hashtags like #NoraAunorTribute and #ForeverSuperstar.

A Moment of Healing and Unity

It’s no secret that Nora and some of her children have had complicated relationships over the years, often played out in public. But during this tribute, all walls seemed to fall away.

For the first time in a long while, the De Leon family stood united — not as fractured headlines, but as a real family embracing their shared legacy.

“This is not about the past,” Lotlot said. “This is about honoring a woman who gave everything to her craft, and still gave us love even when it wasn’t perfect.”

Fans React: “ABS-CBN Finally Did It Right!”

Longtime supporters of Nora Aunor took to social media to express their joy, saying that ABS-CBN’s tribute was long overdue.

“She deserved this years ago. But better late than never. Thank you, ABS-CBN,” one fan tweeted.
“Lotlot and Matet showed so much grace. This healed a lot of wounds,” said another.

Even younger fans, many of whom only knew Nora through memes or old YouTube clips, were stunned by the depth and artistry she brought to Philippine cinema.

The Superstar Lives On

Though Nora Aunor wasn’t able to attend the tribute in person due to health reasons, she reportedly watched the entire special from home and sent a quiet message of gratitude:

“Thank you, my children. Thank you, to all who never stopped believing in me.”

This tribute wasn’t just for Nora Aunor — it was a reminder to an entire generation that legends don’t fade. They evolve. And when their light seems to dim, the people who truly love them find a way to make it shine again.

Lotlot de Leon on Nora Aunor and Matet’s fight: ‘Nothing can’t be fixed, eh, family is still family’
At the press conference for That Boy In The Dark, the launching movie of Joaquin Domagoso, Lotlot de Leon gave a reaction to the current conflict between his mother Nora Aunor and brother Matet de Leon, which only stemmed from the sale of their respective gourmet tuyo. He said that he did not take sides with either of them.

Lotlot is one of the cast members of That Boy In The Dark, which also includes Glydel Mercado and Aneeza Gutierrez. The film is directed by Adolf Alix and will be released in theaters starting January 8, 2023.

“You know when it comes to that, there’s no winner, right? There’s no… there’s no winner there.

“I guess it’s just a matter of looking at the bigger picture. You know there’s a reason for everything. I guess that’s how I like to look at it and I hope that eventually things will be okay,” began the award-winning actress’ reaction. Since she didn’t take sides, Lotlot also clarified that she didn’t intervene in the fight between her two family members.

“It’s just like that, I don’t have any siblings who are bad-tempered. All my siblings whether Ian, Matet, Kiko, Kenneth, they all have very good hearts. Because mommy also teaches them to have good hearts.

“So, whatever good that we all have in us because it was taught to us also and we saw it from our parents. And my siblings are all good people. They’re all willing to sacrifice for love,” she said.

Lotlot continued, “Ian, he eats his pride just to show you that he loves you. Matet, even if he cleans the bathroom, he just makes you feel that he loves you.

“Kiko is the same. If you need him to do something, or even if all he can do is offer to listen to whatever you want to say, he will listen. Kenneth, the type that when you order something, no matter what, it’s always yes.

“My siblings are like that. Although we all have different personalities, we all love the same. And I just hope that… I said, there’s no winner in that, especially if the words you say are maybe out of pain or you just want to release a grievance or resentment. No matter who you are, it happens to us all.”

Lotlot also believes that the problem between Matet and their mother will be resolved and fixed.

“We are mommy’s children, we all know our place in her heart, in her heart. So, sometimes, that’s it, when there are words that are said, or feelings that have been hidden for a long time. But family is still family and at the end of the day, nothing can’t be fixed, eh,” she said.

“Sometimes Mommy and I, there are things that we don’t… I guess, we just understand that all of our children, that’s how she is, eh. So there are things that don’t need to be explained,” the actress added.

According to Lotlot, Matet also understood this, and on this issue, she said they knew that they were siblings and that they would still be a family in the end.

“Matet, he knew that we were siblings, we always… Will always be, I guess, no matter what the trials are, at the end of the day, we are still a family,” Lotlot finally said.