Nora Aunor admitted that she was hurt when she was dropped from the National Artist list. Nonetheless, she is thankful to her fans who showed their unwavering support and who stood by her side amid the ongoing controversy of her exclusion from the list.

'Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa lahat ng mga taong sumuporta at patuloy na sumusuporta sa akin sa panahong ito ng usapin tungkol sa National Artist Awards. Inaamin ko pong nasaktan ako sa mga nangyari,' Nora said in a statement sent to ABS-CBN News.

The veteran actress added, 'Pero ang dagsa ng suporta na nakita ko at naramdaman mula sa aking mga kababayan, mga katrabaho ko sa industriya, mga fans at mga kaibigan, mga pari at madre, mga guro at iba pang taga-akademya, mga taga-media, mga National Artists, mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan dito at sa ibang bansa, ay sapat-sapat na upang maramdaman kong maski wala mang tropeo o karangalang igawad sa akin ang mga nasa kapangyarihan, iniluklok naman ako ng mga kababayan ko habang buhay sa kanilang mga puso bilang isang artista ng bayan.'

Fans, family members and local celebrities aired their dismay over the omission of the country’s “Superstar” from the National Artists list.

'Marami rin ang nagsasabi na hindi 'yung pagiging santa, hindi naman don binabase di ba? [Kundi don] sa performance niya at sa naiambag niya sa industriya natin. Bawat award na pinanalo niya hindi lang dito pati na sa ibang bansa, itinaas ng nanay ko, hindi lang ‘yung sarili niya kundi ang buong Pilipinas,' Nora’s daughter Matet de leon said in an interview.

'Let us learn how to give glory to those who earned it, when they are still strong and alive. Politics and Propaganda has no place in Arts and Culture. let the peaceful revolution of the great Nora Aunor continue, her life spells Hope, her art spells Alive, her culture spells Filipino and her name spells HEROINE,' actor Robin Padilla stated in his Instagram account.

Felipe de Leon Jr., Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts relayed that they will be reviewing the process of the proclamation. 'The Commission is prepared to review the processes of proclamation and formulate policies to strengthen procedures and to ensure that the determination of who finally gets the title of National artists,” he said in a statement.

The National Artists of the Philippines is an order bestowed by the Philippines on Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine art. Originally instituted as an award, it was elevated to the status of Order in 2003.