Recollections of my Dad Working with Nora Aunor on Superstar

By Johanne Climaco

The Golden Voice Behind the Scenes

For a celebrity as big as Nora Aunor, it’s impossible to write something that hasn’t been written about her. After all, she had become a public figure around the time she was only 14 years old. Not only that, she became arguably the biggest and most prominent public figure in Philippine Showbusiness. Her life on and off the set/stage had become an open book for her fans and critics alike.

And for a career that spanned nearly seven decades (which is mind-boggling to think since she was only 71 when she passed), she had worked with countless of key figures both in the Philippine film and music industries. All them would have their fair share of stories working alongside Nora – stories that would’ve been picked up by the media eager to produce content for higher ratings.

Hence, when asking my dad, Sammy Climaco, about what it was like working with Ate Guy, he took time thinking of what to share. ‘What hasn’t been said about Nora Aunor?’

But upon reminiscing his experience working as the Musical Director of Superstar from 1982 – 1988, he realized he was among those privileged to see the version of Nora beyond the celebrity image shaped by the gossip columns of entertainment media. Perhaps, the biggest tribute he could give her is to share insights on the person underneath the image.

One of his enduring memories with Superstar was when they performed abroad. They had a show scheduled in California and their entry was in San Francisco.

It didn’t take long for some commotion to happen upon their arrival. However, it wasn’t the usual suspects of Filipino fans waiting to greet their idol with zealous fervor. Instead Ate Guy got stuck with airport security asking her numerous follow up questions.

Unlike other celebrities who would look the part with their clothing and jewelry, Ate Guy looked mundane outside the stage. The purpose of her travel was to perform. But somehow, those screening arrivals at SFO didn’t recognize that she was actually the star of the show.

Nora Aunor could’ve defended herself and shown proof that she was the biggest star in the Philippines. Instead, she was soft-spoken, almost timid at times when answering follow up questions. Her mannerisms fueled even more doubt to those screening her.

It took other members of the show to speak up and vouch for Ate Guy and to reassure Airport security that yes, the person they were doubting was indeed the biggest star in the Philippines.

Perhaps, this is why Nora Aunor became the Superstar she did. No matter how successful she got, deep down, she was still the same humble girl joining singing contests to earn extra money to survive. She was genuine and easily relatable to the masses.

Dad remembered her love to party after hours. She may be tired from rehearsals and taping, but she would find time to spend time with the crew. She may be Superstar, but she made herself very much part of the crew.

It’s this attitude that endeared her to the public. And when you couple that attitude with her immense natural talent in both singing and acting, well, it shouldn’t be a surprise why she was branded as THE Superstar of Philippine Showbiz at the peak of her career.

It is unfortunate that there are some among the younger generation that don’t quite appreciate Nora Aunor’s singing. Some comments on the Climaco Archives YouTube channel would read: “pangluma lang sya – di sya makakasabay sa mga kantahan ngayon” or “ang baba pala ng boses nya. Di nya makakaya mga kanta ngayon”

Many young listeners today have gotten used to singers who specialize in belting high notes. With techniques like the "whistle falsetto," modern pop stars can reach pitches well beyond their natural range. As a result, there's a common perception among younger fans that vocal prowess is defined by how high someone can sing.

Nora Aunor, on the other hand, had a natural Alto 2 range, so she didn’t belt the way current pop stars do. But as Dad pointed out, great singing isn't just about hitting the highest notes.

He also explained that a musical director’s role includes arranging songs to suit a singer’s unique vocal range. That means the songs tailored for Nora would naturally differ from those written for vocalists with higher ranges. Judging Nora based on songs meant for a different kind of voice doesn’t provide a fair or accurate comparison.

But if we were to focus on actual singing ability, according to Dad, Nora was indeed an excellent singer with good technique. She didn’t need to depend on power to hit the top of her vocal range, relying instead with vocal placement. This allowed her for better singing dynamics and expression. This was what gave Nora’s singing that distinct cool sound.

During Dad’s time at Superstar, he was also a firm believer of having at least three voices for blending. He liked completing the chord for thicker harmony, and would add a third voice if the original only had two voices for blending.

Many singers are good at singing the melody. But when you task them to sing the second or third voice, they get lost, unable to blend and sing in harmony. This struggle is amplified if the original recording doesn’t have a third voice and the singer has no peg on how to sing the third voice.

Nora never had those problems. She had a solid understanding of chords and harmony. Dad could give her the second or third voice and she would immediately get it. Much like her acting where she could nail a scene on the first take, Nora was the same when being given vocal assignments. For the Superstar with the “Golden Voice”, it was effortless.

It’s incredibly rare for a celebrity to be equally good as an actor and as a singer. But in the case of Nora Aunor, she wasn’t just good but excellent at both.

At a time when celebrities were expected to look a certain way, Nora Aunor broke boundaries. She wasn’t tall and she wasn’t mestiza. She didn’t look like what audiences expect a leading lady in movies to look like. Yet, she became the hottest ticket both in film and in concerts. Her path to fame is a testament on the natural talent she possessed.

But beyond the talent that got her discovered, Nora didn’t forget where she came from. The same 14-year-old girl the audience fell in love with after becoming the Tawag ng Tanghalan grand champion was always there no matter the galactic heights she achieved in her career. And for Dad, he was a witness to that.

 In memory of Ate Guy
by Johanne Climaco