To separate fact from fiction in the many urban legends surrounding Nora Aunor, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) interviewed true-blue Noranian Nestor de Guzman, also the editor of the book Si Nora Aunor Sa Mga Noranian: Mga Paggunita at Pagtatapat.
The interview happened in July 2008.
Through him, the often-repeated tale about Nora having a brief romance with then-Hollywood newcomer Don Johnson—later famous for Miami Vice and Nash Bridges—was debunked.
Read: Urban Legends Part 1: Nora Aunor's fling with Don Johnson
However, Nestor revealed that another international star, Indian actor Sajid Khan, once carried a torch for the Superstar.
Read: Indian actor Sajid Khan passes away at 71
Sajid rose to fame in the United States as a teen sensation, even before the global rise of Bollywood.
In 1971, he starred opposite Nora Aunor in The Singing Filipina, a film produced by Tower Productions and directed by its co-owner, Artemio Marquez.
According to Nestor, Sajid was so smitten by Nora that after filming wrapped, he flew to the Philippines in May 1971—hoping to pursue the “special friendship” that had blossomed between them on set.
But Sajid failed to see Nora.
When The Singing Filipina premiered, the Superstar was nowhere in sight—absent from the promotions and the spotlight.
Sajid left the Philippines without so much as a glimpse of the little brown girl with the golden voice who had captured his heart.
WHY NORA AUNOR WAS MISSING IN ACTION
It was later revealed that the reason behind Nora’s absence had something to do with the boy she once refused to star with in a movie just months prior.
He was none other than Tirso Cruz III, or “Pip” to the devoted fans.
Guy (Nora's nickname) had been meeting Pip in secret.
They had a pretty, blonde, child-sized doll named Maria Leonora Theresa.
But their budding romance hit a rough patch after an argument, sparked by rumors linking him to tall, beautiful, fair-skinned starlets.
Nestor recalled: "But during those times, Nora and Pip must not be seen together.
"Nora was in the middle of a legal battle.
"Nagdemandahan kasi ang Sampaguita Pictures at ang Tower Productions over which production outfit should really have the right to get Nora's services as talent in their movies."
Guy originally started as a Sampaguita Pictures talent in 1967 and played supporting roles in its films.
It was Tower Productions that catapulted her to full stardom in 1969 with D' Musical Teenage Idols.
In her succeeding films with Tower, Nora was paired with the studio’s contract star, Manny de Leon.
Nestor said, "Galit kasi sina Guy and Pip noon nung lumipat na si Guy sa Tower, kaya ang pinush na love team ng Tower, yung Nora-Manny na."
According to Nestor, after Tower learned of the frequent secret rendezvous of Nora and Tirso, the management put a tight security on the Superstar.
"Understandably, bad for business yun. Kasi si Tirso nasa Sampaguita at yung Nora-Manny love team, maiiwan na talaga sa ere kung mawawala si Nora sa Tower.
"Kaya binantayang maigi si Nora ng mga taga-Tower at ni Mamay Tunying [Nora's mother] na kampi sa Tower."
Just when Guy and Pip fans thought all hope was lost, news broke that Nora had returned—both to Sampaguita and to Pip’s arms—thanks to "Operation: Kumbento" and the efforts of the "Lucky 12."
What is Operation: Kumbento?
On December 6, 1970, while filming The Singing Filipina in the U.S., Nora sent a letter to her close friend, the reporter and radio broadcaster Inday “Ate Luds” Badiday.
Their friendship had grown strong since Ate Luds’s interview with Nora shortly after the latter emerged as Tawag ng Tanghalan grand champion in 1967.
In her letter, Nora poured out how much she missed Tirso.
Nestor recounted: "Ipinagtapat niya sa sulat na si Tirso ang kanyang unang pag-ibig kaya hindi niya ito malimot.
"Nasabi ni Nora na kung di rin lang magiging sila ni Tirso, pipiliin niyang pumasok na lang sa kumbento.
"Classified ang sulat, pero binasa ito ni Inday sa kanyang radio program sa DWUL.
"Ito ang ugat ng ‘Operation Kumbento,' led by Inday with the members of Lucky 12, composed of the most fanatic Guy and Pip fans."
WHAT THE LUCKY 12 DID FOR GUY AND PIP
Nora "Tita Noy" Calderon was Tirso Cruz III's publicist from 1970 to 1980.
She witnessed firsthand the unwavering dedication of the Lucky 12 in supporting Guy and Pip.
Tita Noy told PEP: "Sobrang die-hard yung Lucky 12 na yun.
"After nilang maitakas si Guy from Tower at maibalik sa Sampaguita at kay Tirso, parang sila yung naging special bodyguards nina Guy and Pip.
"Sobrang loyal sila, lalo na kay Nora.
"Naghahalinhinan nga sila kung magbantay kay Pip nung araw.
"Kasi si Nora, selosa masyado, so sila, binabantayan nila si Pip sa mga shows, sa shooting ng mga pelikula.
"Hanggang sa bahay, nakabantay sila, inaalam nila kung sino yung kinakausap ni Pip sa telepono, kung sino yung nali-link kay Tirso.
"Nire-report nila kay Nora, 'tapos gumagawa sila ng paraan para matigil yung pagkaka-link kay Tirso nung babae."
One incident that showed just how far the Lucky 12 would go for Guy and Pip was when Pip was linked to a newcomer—the daughter of a well-known veteran actor.
"Pumunta sila sa set ng pelikulang ginagawa nina Pip at ni [newcomer]. Inaway nila siya.
"Halos mahubaran ng damit sa sobrang galit nila kay ___. Pinigilan lang sila ng iba pang mga tao doon sa set.
"Ginawa nilang example si ___ para sa iba pang gustong ma-link kay Pip. Mula nga noon, wala nang na-link kay Tirso," narrated Tita Noy.
When PEP asked about the identities of the Lucky 12, Tita Noy admitted she couldn’t recall their names, but she knew each one of them by face.
She pointed to one person who might know their names: Carmelite, the long-time secretary of German Moreno+, who was also Nora’s close friend.
However, at the time this article was published in July 2008, both Kuya Germs and Carmelite were out of the country.
Tita Noy added that even if Carmelite were around, she doubted the loyal secretary would reveal the names—considering the extraordinary lengths the Lucky 12 went to during their "tour of duty."
THE GREAT ESCAPE OF GUY
Noranians referred to Nora's departure from the Tower Productions as "Dakilang Pagtakas," which took place on May 1, 1971.
Nora's biographer Rustum Quinton told PEP how it happened: "The night before, naroon pa si Nora sa bahay nina Artemio Marquez, kasama si Kitchie de Leon at ilang reporters."
Si Kitchie ay anak ng may-ari ng Kanlaon Broadcasting System.
Rustum continued, "Balisa si Nora at hindi masabi sa mga kasama ang naging desisyon na gumawa muli ng pelikula sa Sampaguita.
"Bandang alas-singko ng hapon, tumakas si Nora sa kanilang bahay sa Pasig, sakay ng taxi, kasama ang kanyang Ate Tita at si Pae, ang kanyang secretary.
"Lingid ito sa kaalaman ng kanyang mga magulang, pero inaasahan sa Sampaguita.
"Sa studio, naghihintay na kay Nora sina Doc Perez, German Moreno, Inday Badiday, Tirso, at ilang tagahanga.
"That very same day, they started to shoot Guy and Pip.
"Namalagi si Nora sa Sampaguita compound. Hindi na pinayagan na maglabas-masok sa studio ang mga movie writers.
"Isang gabi, may dalawang kotse na nagpaputok ng baril sa harap ng compound.
"Binigyan si Nora ng police security ni Mayor Norberto Amoranto ng Quezon City."
According to Tita Noy, the "Dakilang Pagtakas" was made possible thanks to the efforts of the Lucky 12.
"Idinaan nila sa likuran ng bahay si Nora. Sa Pasig kasi yun, kaya sa likod, sa may Pasig River, idinaan nila. ‘Tapos nag-taxi sila papuntang Sampaguita. Mabilis lang lahat."
Since then, the Lucky 12 were always on standby, ready to spring into action whenever Ate Luds would say "Operation: Kumbento!" on her radio show.
In Nestor's book, Rosita Salazar, a member of the Grand Alliance for Nora Aunor Philippines (GANAP), provided a detailed account and revealed the leader:
"Noong araw ay halatang-halata kapag may tampuhan [sina Guy at Pip].
"Madalas may talangka sa ulo si Guy, kung saan-saan nagpupunta, sobrang selosa.
"Nagluluksa rin si Maria Leonora Theresa kapag magkahiwalay ang mga 'magulang'—dinadamitan siya ng itim.
"Malulungkot na kanta ang pinapatugtog ni German Moreno sa radyo.
"Sumisigaw naman si Inday Badiday ng ‘Operation: Kumbento!'
"Misyon ng Operation Kumbento na gumawa ng paraan para magkabalikan sina Guy and Pip.
"Leader si Inday Badiday at miyembro ng grupong Lucky 12."
Read: Urban Legends Part 3: Nora Aunor, the Superstar Phenomenon