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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-18/nora-aunor-2.webp" alt="Nora Aunor" loading="lazy" />
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(The young Nora Aunor holding one of her tropies)
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When Nora was growing up, her grandmother Lola Theresa taught her to sing; the first song she learned was "The Way of a Clown". Her aunt, Belen Aunor, taught her diction, interpretation, and expression while singing, and gave her her screen name "Nora Aunor". 
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Before her fame, she lived a poverty stricken childhood, selling peanuts and cold water on buses and in front of the Bicol Express Train Station to make ends meet. 
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Nora Aunor went to Mabini Memorial College (1959 to 1960) in Eriga (present day University of NorthEastern Philippines) but transferred to Nichols Air Base Elementary School. She finished high school at Generosa de Leon Memorial College in Parañaque, a branch of the now Centro Escolar University.
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She started her career by joining singing contests, becoming a champion at the Darigold Jamboree radio singing contest, singing her winning piece "You and the Night and the Music".  She won in another radio singing contest, The Liberty Big Show. She entered the national singing contest, "Tawag ng Tanghalan", was defeated on her first try, but became a champion on her second attempt. The Grand National Finals of Tawag ng Tanghalan was on May 29, 1967, where she sang "Moonlight Becomes You."
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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-18/nora-aunor.webp" alt="Nora Aunor in Philippine postage stamps" loading="lazy" />
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(The likeness of Nora Aunor in Philippine postage stamps)
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After winning Tawag ng Tanghalan, she made a first appearance on stage as a guest singer on Timi Yuro's Araneta Coliseum concert and then made her TV debut as a guest in "An Evening with Pilita" hosted by Pilita Corrales and "Carmen on Camera" hosted by Carmen Soriano.
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On October 2, 1967, Aunor signed an eight-picture non-exclusive contract with Sampaguita Pictures, with the assurance that she would be given a singing part. Aunor made several youth-oriented films like "All Over The World" and "Way Out of the Country".
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From September to December 1967 Aunor had supporting and minor roles in six films. Meanwhile, she made several singles like "Moonlight Becomes You" and "There's Just Forever" for Citation Records, and "No Return, No Exchange" and "You are My First Love" for Jasper Recording. The year 1968 was a less busy time; she only had minor roles in three films, mostly for musical numbers.
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Tower Records gave Aunor her first starring role opposite Tirso Cruz III, the "D' Musical Teenage Idols" by Tower Productions, directed by Artemio Marquez, was shown on September 23, 1969.
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May 21, 1953: Nora Aunor, the Philippine cinema's Superstar, was born in Iriga, Camarines Sur