Nora Aunor was not just a celebrity.
She was someone who commanded the devotion of thousands—treated like royalty by fans not just in her prime but for a lifetime.
Her loyal supporters, the Noranians, braved the scorching sun and pouring rain just to catch a glimpse of her, to cheer for her, and to follow her.
They had defended their idol fiercely; some even named their children after her.
As a Superstar, she lived a life so public and vivid that even her relationships became a national fascination.
And the tales surrounding them? They often blur the line between myth and reality.
Here’s the first of three unforgettable "urban legends" about her.
When Don Johnson Met Nora Aunor
In 1971, Nora did the movie Lollipops and Roses.
Produced by Premiere Productions, it was touted as one of the most expensive films of its time.
It was shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, and featured foreign talents.
When the movie was finally shown in the Philippines, it was an instant box-office hit.
The film made history as the first Filipino movie to break into not just "masa" cinemas, but also to premiere in the first-class theaters of Greenhills and Magallanes, which traditionally screened only Hollywood films.
It ran for six months in cinemas nationwide, earning substantial profits for Premiere Productions—and cementing the box-office power of the one and only Superstar, Nora Aunor.
Fast-forward to the ’80s, the hit U.S. detective series Miami Vice was all the rage among fashion-savvy, music-loving, trend-chasing youth, who copied the way the characters talked, moved, dressed.
One of the show's lead stars was Don Johnson.
NORA-DON ROMANCE RUMORS
Veteran showbiz writers—and especially fans of Nora Aunor—recognized Don as one of two U.S.-based talents hired by Premiere Productions to star alongside then 17-year-old Nora in Lollipops and Roses.
The other Hollywood star was Davy Jones, lead singer of the ’60s rock ’n’ roll band The Monkees.
Don portrayed the son of the foster parents of Nora’s character in the movie.
The two shared many scenes together, and even sang a duet of The Carpenters’ "Close to You."
His character developed a crush on the female lead, calling her "a brown doll."
He tried to win her heart, competing for her attention against his rival in the film, Filipino actor Victor "Cocoy" Laurel.
Some showbiz reporters and fans insisted that "The Don" truly fell for "The Superstar."
There were claims that the two became a couple while Nora was in L.A., nursing a broken heart after her breakup with Tirso Cruz III—her reel and rumored real sweetheart during her time at Sampaguita Pictures.
According to the rumors, Don was in the right place at the right time. He courted Nora, and they had a brief fling, which ended before she returned home.
Nora Aunor reigned as the Philippines' Superstar from the late '70s to the early '90s, while Don Johnson, after struggling to make a name for himself in Hollywood, found major success with his TV role in Miami Vice alongside Philip Michael Thomas.
When Miami Vice ended in 1990, Don starred in several movies, enjoying some moderate hits.
In 1996, he made a TV comeback with the police drama Nash Bridges, but after the show concluded in 2001, he once again went low-profile.
These days, he still makes occasional appearances in both television and film.
He is also known to the present generation as the dad of Hollywood actress Dakota Johnson.
As for Nora, was her romance with Don a real relationship or just an urban legend?
INTERVIEW WITH A NORANIAN
Nestor de Guzman, a bonafide Noranian, shed light on the Nora-Don romance rumors.
Nestor is the editor of the book Si Nora Aunor Sa Mga Noranian: Mga Paggunita at Pagtatapat, a collection of stories he compiled from various hardcore Noranians who shared their memories and experiences.
He told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an interview in July 2008:
"Hindi totoo. Urban legend lang talaga dahil hindi naman naging sila ni Don Johnson.
"Si Don Johnson ay co-star lang ni Nora Aunor sa pelikulang Lollipops and Roses, starring Nora and Victor 'Cocoy' Laurel.
"Kasi dahil superstar nga si Nora, idolo ng mga masa, na galing lang sa mahirap na pamilya na sumikat at naging Superstar nga, gusto nilang makita kung ano ang reaksiyon ng mga tao kung ipapareha si Nora kay Cocoy Laurel, na isang mayamang elitista at anak ng isang senador."
Lollipops and Roses, he added, was just one of two movies Nora made during her stay in the U.S.
The other was The Singing Filipina, produced by Tower Productions, a film company co-owned by Artemio Marquez.
Direk Artemio—affectionately known as Mang Temyong—directed both films.
Incidentally, he is the father of comedian Joey Marquez and former beauty queen Melanie Marquez.
Continuing, Nestor said, "Nora left the for the U.S. for Premiere Productions' Lollipops and Roses and Tower Productions' The Singing Filipina, on November 12, 1970. She stayed there until January 15, 1971.
"Pag-uwi niya rito sa Pilipinas, ipinalabas na ang Lollipops and Roses.
"Actually, meron pang mas sikat na co-star si Nora sa Lollipops and Roses, si Davy Jones [credited in the movie as Davey Jones] ng The Monkees.
"Siya ang mas type pa ni Nora kesa kay Don.
"‘Tapos nung ginawa niya yung The Singing Filipina, ang nakasama niya roon, si Sajid Khan, isang Indian international actor."
Read: Indian actor Sajid Khan passes away at 71
Sajid Khan was an Indian teen sensation in Hollywood during the 1960s.
According to Nestor, he and Nora Aunor had "parang MU" or mutual understanding
"Parang nagkaroon sila ng ‘something' ni Sajid.
"In fact, sinundan pa nga siya ni Sajid dito sa Pilipinas nung 1971, after nilang gawin yung The Singing Filipina.
"Kaya lang pagdating ni Sajid sa Pilipinas, hindi na siya nilabas ni Nora. Dinedma na siya."
Poor Sajid.
According to Nestor, Sajid left the country without even getting to see Nora.
Why?
Find out in Urban Legends Part 2: Nora Aunor’s Lucky 12 and Operation: Kumbento.