Nora Daza

Nora Guanzon Villanueva-Daza (December 2, 1928 – September 13, 2013), popularly known as Chef Nora Daza, was a veteran gourmet chef, restaurateur, socio-civic leader, television host and cookbook author in the Philippines.
Early life.
Daza was born into a privileged family as a daughter of Alejandro Jose Villanueva, a high-profile engineer from Batangas City, and Encarnacion Guanzon, daughter of then provincial governor of Pampanga. Daza experienced a sheltered childhood filled with culinary adventures.
Career.
Daza became a judge of cooking contests held by the Manila Gas Corporation from 1957 to 1960. She hosted television cooking shows "At Home with Nora" and "Cooking It Up with Nora" to wide popular acclaim and viewership for several years. She was appointed Director of Manila Gas Cooking School where she selected, modified, checked, and kitchen-tested over five-hundred recipes for around three-thousand students who enrolled over a period of four years. Daza authored several cookbooks and became a columnist for several national dailies and lifestyle magazines. She has put up fine dining restaurants, including "Au Bon Vivant", reputedly the first restaurant in Manila to offer authentic French cuisine.
Daza was elected Vice President of the Philippine Association of Nutrition, Secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines, Adviser-Admiral of the Homemakers Club, Director of Hotel and Tourist Industries of the Philippines, and President of Philippine Home Economists in Business. In 1992, she ran for a seat in the Philippine Senate under the Nacionalista Party but lost.
Private life.
Daza's son, Sandy Daza, is a chef and restaurateur specializing in Filipino and Thai cuisines. He has hosted television cooking shows and has written books and articles on cooking and baking. Daza's other son, Bong Daza, is a food entrepreneur specializing in processed meats and fish. He is the estranged husband of Miss Universe 1969 winner Gloria Diaz. He ran for vice-mayor of Makati in 1998 but lost in the elections. Her Granddaughter Isabelle Daza is also TV Host. Her Grandson Turs is also a TV Host and a VJ on MYX Channel.
Personal life.
She was married to Gabriel "Boy" Daza, Jr. She was survived by her children Gabriel "Bong" Daza III, Inquirer Lifestyle food columnist Alejandro "Sandy" Daza, Mariles Daza-Enriquez, Stella Daza-Belda and Nina Daza-Puyat; and grandchildren Arturo "Turs" Daza, Ali Daza, Joseph Puyat, Gio Puyat, Billie Puyat, Mario Puyat, Bolo Belda, Franco Daza, Bettina Belda, Toby Belda, Danielle Daza, Isabelle Daza, Ava Daza, Raphael Daza, Eduardo Taylor and Rodrigo Enriquez.
Death.
Daza died on September 13, 2013, in her sleep due to heart attack. She was 84 years old. Daza's body lay in state at the Loyola Memorial Chapel on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and was cremated.
Publication.
"Let's Cook with Nora". Improved Edition. National Book Store, 1969.