Four distinguished Filipinas who passed away earlier this year will be posthumously honored with the Presidential Medal of Merit in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Philippine arts, culture and cuisine, Malacañang confirmed on Wednesday.
The honorees include late National Artist Nora Aunor, OPM icon Pilita Corrales, cinema legend Gloria Romero, and internationally acclaimed chef Margarita Forés.
The awarding ceremony, spearheaded by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will be held at Malacañang Palace on May 4, 2025, as reported by ABS-CBN News’ report from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Established under Executive Order 236, the Presidential Medal of Merit is awarded to individuals—Filipino or foreign—for achievements that bring “prestige for the country in an international event, in the fields of literature, the sciences, the arts, entertainment, and other civilian fields of endeavor that foster national pride and artistic excellence.”
Aunor, dubbed as the “Superstar” in the Philippine entertainment industry, passed away on April 16 and was laid to rest with state funeral honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Tuesday.
In 2022, through Proclamation 1390 signed by then President Rodrigo Duterte, Nora became the first female actor to be inducted to the Order of National Artists, the highest honor given to Filipinos who have made distinct contributions to Philippine arts.
Just days before Aunor’s passing, the nation mourned the death of Corrales, dubbed the “Asia’s Queen of Songs.” Known for her signature “liyad” or backbend pose while performing, Corrales captivated audiences with timeless hits such as “Kapantay ay Langit” and “A Million Thanks to You”, and a career that spanned over 60 years, during which she recorded over 100 albums in various languages.
In January, the entertainment industry also bid farewell to Romero, often referred to as the “Queen of Philippine Cinema”. Her performances was well regarded in classics such as Kasintahan sa Pangarap (1951), Dalagang Ilocana (1954), Nagbabagang Luha (1988), and Tanging Yaman (2000), and Rainbow’s Sunset (2018) from which she received multiple acting and lifetime achievement awards.
Chef Forés, who passed away in early February, was a known figure in the local culinary scene, recognized for promoting Filipino cuisine globally and honored as Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016.
