NEWSFLASH

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LUPITA KASHIWAHARA RETURNS TO DIRECT NORA

Manila, Oct. 5, 1997 - TV and movie pioneer director Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara is back in town, and back to directing her favorite actress, for whom she stood as wedding godmother several decades ago.

Lupita will direct the movie "Babae" which stars her "inaanak" Nora Aunor. An older generation remembers the Nora Aunor- Christopher de Leon wedding in the waist-deep waters off the coast of La Union at the height of Nora's popularity.

Nora's award-winning movie about the US bases,"Minsa'y Isang Gamugamo" also earned for Lupita the first award for a woman film director. That, critics say, opened the doors for the likes of Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Laurice Guillen.

"Babae" will co-star TV soap star Judy Ann Santos, who has been tagged the " new Nora Aunor" . The movie will explore the mysteries of womanhood, with Nora playing Judy's mother.

Lupita is married to ABC News Senior Correspondent and San Francisco Bureau Chief Ken Kashiwahara. She has done work in several US public affairs TV projets, one of which was nominated for the Emmy.

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