Ang Sarap ng Buhay Kapag May Isang Vilma Santos (Repost)

Title: Vilma Santos, Icon: Essays on Cinema, Culture, & Society

About the book: With a career spanning six decades across film, television, and other media, Vilma Santos has built an unparalleled legacy of award-winning performances. This book pays tribute to her remarkable contributions to Philippine cinema and beyond. Santos’s films have consistently achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim. In her more daring roles, she has delivered bold, original, and often controversial performances—works that are not only entertaining but deeply thought-provoking. Vilma Santos, Icon: Essays on Cinema, Culture, & Society offers a scholarly yet accessible exploration of her extensive body of work, focusing primarily on her achievements in cinema while also acknowledging her vital contributions to television and public service. The essays in this volume analyze her most significant performances, highlighting their cultural and social relevance.

Year: 2025

Category: Film Criticism

Language: English, Filipino

Page count: 278

Word count: 92,319

Dimensions: 15 x 23 cm

ISBN: 978-971-506-944-1 (SB); 978-971-506-945-8 (HB)

Keywords: Recto, Rosa Vilma T. Santos, Actors and actresses–Philippines, Motion pictures

Retail Price: ₱850.00 (SB); ₱2,200.00 (HB)

Where to Buy: The University of Santo Tomas Publishing House (USTPH), Shopee, and Lazada

What does the media says about this book?

19 Academic Essays “…Sixty years in show business is no small feat. Santos has done it all, from being a child star and a box office queen to becoming an award-winning actress and public servant. She’s played a burlesque dancer (“Burlesk Queen”), a rape survivor (“Rubia Servios”), and even a serial killer (“Tagos ng Dugo”). Each role, Zulueta pointed out, adds to a “canon of characters that chart the modern evolution of Philippine womanhood.” The book is a collection of 19 essays by academics and scholars from top universities. “It’s an intensive study of Ate Vi’s work,” said Aguila. “Only articles by authors with master’s and doctorate degrees were included. It is hoped that these essays by leading academics would provide not only a guidepost to navigate through Santos’ extraordinary body of work across six decades, but also define more fully her legacy as an actress, artist, and cultural icon,” Zulueta added. His own contribution to the book analyzes Santos’ roles in “Burlesk Queen,” “Rubia Servios,” and “Tagos ng Dugo” through the lens of abjection, a concept by Bulgarian-French philosopher Julia Kristeva. The idea is that society often rejects what it finds unclean or threatening, and women have been unfairly cast into this marginalized space. But abjection, Zulueta argued, can also be a source of power. “Vilma’s portrayals show how strength can emerge from struggle,” he explained. “Her daring performances exemplify what Kristeva calls the ‘singularity of genius’—the blending of life and thought, the ability to renew oneself. It’s a quality found in icons like political thinker Hannah Arendt and writer Colette. It applies to Santos, too…” – Marinel Cruz, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 15 March 2025 (READ MORE)

Star Book for All Seasons – “THE UST Publishing House (USTPH) is set to unveil four new titles at separate book launches and signings, with plans afoot for a grand book launch. New titles include “Vilma Santos, Icon: Essays on Cinema, Culture, and Society,” “Celebrating More: The St. Thomas More Lectures,” “The Dominican Rite of Solemn Profession: History, Theology, and Spirituality,” and new soft and hardcover editions of “The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus.” USTPH Deputy Director Paul Castillo said the books were selected through careful screening and a peer review and blind review process. “You have [literature], you have star studies, one in religion and ecclesiastical domain, and an anthology of speeches. It’s a good variety of titles and the genres are not the same,” Castillo told the Varsitarian. Asked which of the works he was most excited about, Castillo pointed to “Vilma Santos, Icon: Essays on Cinema, Culture, and Society,” a book of critical essays on the films of iconic actress Vilma Santos, dubbed the “Star of all Seasons.” The book was edited by the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS) co-director, Prof. Augusto Antonio Aguila, and journalism faculty and Varsitarian adviser, Asst. Prof. Joselito Zulueta…” – John Kobe S. Balod, The Varsitarian, 02 March 2025 (READ MORE)

Three Books – “…Sponsored by the Faculty of Arts and Letters, the event was attended by students and faculty members, members of the media and fans of the veteran actress. Tirso Cruz III, though not a part of the movie’s cast, joined Vilma at the talkback after the film screening. Christopher de Leon played her leading man in Dekada ’70. It was also announced during the talkback that three books on Vilma Santos will soon be published by the UST Publishing House. One of these, according to project head, Prof. Augusto Antonio Aguila, is titled “Vilma Santos: Icon, Cinema, Culture, Society,” a compilation of 90 scholarly articles on some of the critically acclaimed films of the award-winning actress. The book promises to be an exhaustive study of Vilma’s films, including ‘Ekstra,’ ‘Sister Stella L.,’ Dekada ’70, and ‘Relasyon. A second book, a yet untitled coffee table edition, is being co-written by Aguila and arts journalist Lito Zulueta of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. The third book will be a catalog of all her films, beginning from 1963 when Vilma was nine years old and launched as a star via Trudis Liit by Sampaguita Pictures…” – Nestor Cuartero, Manila Bulletin, 11 Dec 2024 (READ MORE)

Women Empowerment – “…The book, titled “Vilma Santos, Icon: Essays on Cinema, Culture, and Society” is edited by UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS) Co-Director Prof. Augusto Antonio Aguila and Asst. Prof. Joselito Zulueta, Varsitarian adviser and a journalism faculty member. “I wanted to show that the characters actually [present] women empowerment, you know, that the characters she portrays somehow uplift the status of women in society,” Aguila told the Varsitarian. The book collected essays from 24 contributors, including CCWLS resident fellows Paul Castillo, Joyce Arriola and Joselito Delos Reyes, Creative Writing instructor Louie Zaraspe, Filipino instructor Mark Angeles, UST Publishing House Director Benedict Parfan, and Faculty of Arts and Letters Dean Melanie Turingan. Scholars from Monash University of Australia and other foreign universities also wrote chapters. “We found out that there are many Thomasian scholars who have seen her films and have admired her as an artist,” Aguila said. “And we found out that there are many professors of UST and other universities who actually would want to write about Ate V,” he added, using a moniker for the Filipina movie star…” – John Kobe S. Balod, The Varsitarian, 16 March 2025 (READ MORE)

Cultural Icon – “…The coverage of the book would be all facets of Vilma Santos. She was a child actress and a teenage actress, [and she] evolved into adult roles [as a] broadcast superstar. And then, of course, box office star, both [in] cinema and in film,” Zulueta told The Flame. According to him, the focus of cinema studies rarely explores the actors themselves since it often leans toward the filmmaker, writer’s intent and the historical context behind the story’s creation. “So most of the time in cinema studies and cultural studies, the actors and performing artists are overlooked. Maybe because in cinema studies, the most prominent is the auteur. Auteur studies,” Zulueta said. “There [is a] lack of studies on Vilma Santos as a cultural icon, an actress, performing actress and a filmmaker, a popular culture artifact,” he added. Santos-Recto is known for her performances in ‘80s and ‘90s Filipino films, most notably Sister Stella L (1984), Bata bata paano ka ginawa? (1998), Relasyon (1982) and Anak (2000), where she played her iconic role Josie Agbisit. Santos-Recto’s performances, Aguila said, are not only authentically her own but also represent the everyday struggles and triumphs of Filipinos. “And she [Vilma Santos] has made a lot of movies and films that have a huge impact on culture, cinema, and our society. She has portrayed characters who are strong. And I mean she has portrayed a wide variety of characters, and her films have won numerous awards,” Aguila said. “When you talk about longevity and its impact on popular culture, Vilma has always been in our consciousness. She never disappears within us,” he added…” – Jaila Marjaan Abdul, March 2025 (READ MORE)

Extensive Body of Work – “…The book, titled “Vilma Santos, Icon: Essays on Cinema, Culture, and Society,” is edited by UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS) Co-Director Prof. Augusto Antonio Aguila and Varsitarian adviser Asst. Prof. Joselito Zulueta. It features critical essays from Thomasian writers and faculty members on Santos’s extensive body of work, while exploring her cultural and social significance as the “Star for all Seasons.” “This anthology is a celebration of her exceptional artistry and enduring legacy. Her status as an icon of cinema, culture, and society is well-deserved,” UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., said in the book’s introduction. Aguila, apart from being the book’s editor, also contributed to the compilation with his essay, “From ‘Darna’ to ‘Sister Stella L’: Feminist resistance in Vilma Santos’s fantasy and social realist films.” Zulueta also took part in the collection with his essay, “Vilma Santos’s Cinema of Abjection in ‘Burlesk Queen,’ ‘Rubia Servios,’ and ‘Tagos ng Dugo…” – John Kobe S. Balod, The Varsitarian, 15 March 2025 (READ MORE)

Video credit: Ambetable Channel

Video credit: Allan Diones

Video credit: King Syormi Channel

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Yan po ay katagang namutawi sa labi ng isa nating magaling na taga-panulat at kasama sa Editorial staff ng VS Newsletter, ang VILMA!

Ang tinutukoy ko po ay ang kasama nating Vilmanian na si Mr. Mario Garces na ngayo’y naka-base sa New Jersey, U.S.A. Hihiramin ko po panandalian ang katagang yan ni kuya Mar as I fondly called him with his kind permission upang maibahagi at maipadama sa inyo ang nararamdaman ng milyun-milyong Vilmanians all over the GLOBE sa patuloy na tagumpay na ipinagkakaloob ng Maykapal sa Nag-iisang Bituin at Reyna ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Ms. Vilma Santos-Recto. Tunay na maipagmamalaki ng kahit sinumang Vilmanians (at maging ng mga di Vilmanians) ang isang Vilma Santos.

Patunay niyan ay ang bagong karangalang iginawad sa tinaguriang Star for All Seasons, ang 2005 Plaridel Award for Film na kamakailan ay iginawad ng U.P. College of Mass Communications sa seremonyang ginanap sa Cine Adarna (formerly U.P. Film Center) nung nakaraang ika-apat ng Hulyo ng taong kasalukuyan. Ito ang ikalawang taon ng pagkakaloob ng U.P. College of MassCom ng karangalan sa mga alagad ng sining na nakapag-ambag ng malaking kontribusyon sa larangang kanilang ginagalawan, tulad ng film or cinema. Nung nakaraang taon ang recipient ng prestihiyosong award na ito ay si Gng. Eugenia Apostol, ang founding chair ng Philippine Daily Inquirer. Ito’y sa larangan naman ng print media. At sa taon ngang ito ang butihing Mayor ng Lipa at kilalang “Ate Vi” sa karamihang Pilipino mula Appari hanggang Jolo ang ginawaran ng Plaridel Award sa larangan ng film.

Maituturing ito na pinakamataas at prestihiyosong karangalang natanggap ng iginagalang na aktres simula ng pasukin niya ang mundo ng pelikula sa edad ng siyam sa pelikulang “Trudis Liit” kung saan siya ang title role. Sa pelikulang ito natanggap niya ang kauna-unahang karangalan, ang FAMAS Best Child Actress nung 1963. Makalipas ang apatnapung-taon, ang dating “Trudis Liit” ay isa ng nirerespetong haligi ng sining ng pelikula, ang Gawad Plaridel awardee for film.

Ang Gawad Plaridel na kanyang natanggap ay patunay sa angking galing at respeto na ibinibigay sa nangungunang aktres ng bansa at sa kanyang naiambag sa industriya ng Pelikulang Pilipino. She prevailed over her co-nominees for this award, namely, the 2003 National Artist awardee for cinema, Mr. Eddie Romero, and the highly-rated and A-1 Director, Mr. Mike de Leon, whose body of works include the now classic and De Leon’s most awarded film “Sister Stella L” that stars Ms. Vilma Santos herself.

Kung kaya’t napakasarap ng pakiramdam sa isang Vilmanian na tulad ko. If I may borrow the now famous line of Ate Vi, “Heaven” ang feeling. Lalo na’t kung maririnig mo ang mga papuri na ibinibigay ng iba’t ibang tao sa iba’t ibang antas ng lipunan. Tulad na lamang ng mga pananalitang ito na binitawan ng mga nakasaksi sa seremonyang ginanap sa Cine Adarna.

“Ms. Santos’ speech, for me, was very profound and candid. I always had great respect and admiration for her as a person, public servant, and actress. After the lecture, that respect and admiration hot-air-ballooned. It became clear to me that even if this person is now worthy of having a constellation named after her, she is still as human and feet-on-the-ground as possible.” (written by Ringhithion at 07:16 pm, posted in VS-R egroup on 13 July 2005)

“Natatawa ako habang kumukuha ng pictures, dahil dumadaloy pa rin pala kay mama ang dugong Vilmanian kahit ang tagal-tagal na. Umuwi kaming parang nasa langit si mama dahil nakamayan pa nya si Vilma Santos” (shared by Jeannie Wong in Vilma’s eGroups, as taken from armidoodles. “She gambles her popularity to widen her scope as an actress,” proclaims Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, Dean of the College of Mass Communication of the University of the Philippines (UP). He adds, “She proves popularity and ratings need not degrade the craft.” (taken from an article by Rome Jorge)

“Star power is real power. It is the power to move people to tears, to make them cry and laugh and urge them to by with endorsements. It is to make them think what you want them to think, to make them feel what you feel. They should use it wisely, make people do good and aspire for better lives.” (Dr. Sergio Cao, chancellor of UP Diliman who confessed being a star-struck fan, “I had to nebulize before coming here; I couldn’t breath.”)

“Because of her dedication to her craft and her portrayal of roles important to women and society, Ms. Santos deserves recognition not only from the viewing public, but also from the academic community.” (UP President Emerlinda Roman)

Producer Atty. Espiridion Laxa says Vilma “has reached this incomparable height of success because of several good traits: her discipline, her determination to excel in her acting profession and her knack for choosing the right roles.” (takern from Sights and Sounds by Gigi Javier-Alfonso)

Producer/actress Charo Santos-Concio speaks of her as a “passionate thespian, her filmography boasts of a list films that are audacious, artistic, classic and socially relevant. Inevitably, she has brought to the limelight ordinary people with extraordinary lives and has created awareness of various socio-political issues.” (also from Sights and Sounds). Ilan lamang ito sa maraming papuring natanggap, natatanggap at patuloy na tatanggapin pa ng Nag-iisang Bituin.

Tunay ngang “napakasarap ng buhay kapag may isang Vilma Santos”. May inspirasyon at palaging ngiti ka sa iyong labi. And what the next stop? Di malayong ang kasunod nito’y ang “Gawad Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining” na o ang National Artist Award. Am I dreaming? Nope, am not. After all, “Trudis Liit” is not the small lady anymore in the movie screen. She’s gone a long, long way, dwarfing all pretending to the throne. Vilma, mabuhay ka! – Charlie Gomez, V magazine 2005 Global Vilmanians