Admittedly my wife and I have soft spots for the phenomenon from Camarines Sur, in the Philippines, who at 4'10" and dark-complected, astounded our colonial-minded moviedom prone to mestizas and mestizos with her meteoric rise and success.

Starting in 1967, Ms. Nora Aunor had starred in more than 170 Philippine movies, had more than two dozen albums and singles, shined in plays and TV shows, staged concerts, garnered numerous acting awards and industry citations, and tried her hand at directing and producing films.

She virtually had the best there is in this world in the palm of her hands.

But with the fame and glory came also problems and heartaches and shocking escapades. Ms. Aunor, originally known as The Lady with the Golden Voice, had a failed marriage with movie icon Christopher De Leon, was romantically linked to the former president Erap Estrada, had a failed try in politics, and rumored to have married her female manager Norie Sayo in Las Vegas in 2000.

In March 2005, she was arrested at the LA International Airport for alleged possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, together with drug paraphernalia (glass pipe) and made to undergo a drug diversion program.

According to Tony Vizmonte, the community's master showman, Ate Guy (Ms. Aunor's nickname) now lives and works in the United States, but continues to enjoy a loyal following among long-time fans and new converts who have discovered her talent in unlikeliest places-film school, old movies shown on TFC, their parents' record collection, and the Internet. And they've been asking, he said, when will Ate Guy have the grand U.S. performance that befits her stature as one of the Philippines' greatest singers?

On Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Nora Aunor will top bill "Sa Iyo Pa Rin" (Still Yours) at the Grand Theater of Los Angeles Trade Tech College. That would be her first major solo concert, Tony V. said, and the superstar will go back to the basics, "featuring nothing but her gorgeous soulful soprano in the company of veteran musicians."

The concert is set to coincide with the release of a new album. As yet to be titled, the album is being produced by HIFIProductions and crafted by Odette Quesada and Bodjie Dasig, proven names in the music industry. Expect new songs that convey inspirational messages and timeless themes.

Odette and Bodjie are also working on the concert, along with a topnotch team that includes Jet Montelibano as technical director, Tony Vizmonte as line producer, and Joseph Gelito, who will inject his inimitable warmth and homespun humor to the proceedings.

Proceeds of the concert will benefit Historic Filipinotown, the emotional and cultural center of the Filipino community in Southern California.