“Kung nasa Roma ka, kumilos ka at magsalit na tulad ng isang Romano. At kung nasa sarili mo kang bansa, kumilos ka at magsalit sa iyong natural. Aywan ko kung ganito nga ang pagsasalin ng naturang kasabihan, ngunit sinunod ito ng superstar na si Vilma Santos ngayong siya ay nasa malayong Amsterdam, pook ng labingwalong oras na lakbayin sa eroplano mula sa Pilipinas. Isang Pilipina si Vi pero ngayon ay nagsasalita at kumikilos siya na parang siya ay tunay na tagaroon. Sa pamamagitan ng long distance, nakausap namin si Vi, si Mrs Santos at ang kolumnista at PRO na si Ethel Ramos. At sa may kulangkulang 20 minutong pag-uusap na pagsalin-salin sa tatlo ay nakakuha kami ng first-hand na impormasyon. “Mahigit na isang linggo na kaming nagsisiyuting,” ani Vi. “pero naisingit na namin ang pamamasyal. nalibot na namin ang pinakamagandang lugar dito sa Amsterdam gaya ng Valley Dome na kinaroroonan ng mga windmills, Queen Juliana’s Palace at Doms Square. “Nagcanal ride na rin kami at talaga palang napakaganda ng pook na ito” patuloy ni Vi. “Maginaw dito, daig pa ang Baguio at patuloy daw na lalamig pa sa mga susunod na araw. Kasama ko sina Mama, Papa at Ethel sa pamamasyal. Makaluma ang mga tao rito at makikia iyon sa kanilang pananamit.” wika naman ni Mama Santos. “Hindi rin gaya ng Maynila na napakaraming tao. Parang maliit lamang ang populasyon. Siguro ay aabutin ng mga isanlibo ang mga Pilipinong naninirahan at nagtatrabaho rito. Katunayan, sa bahay ng isang Pilipino kami nakatira.
Si Ethel Ramos ang sumuod naming nakausap at higit siyang maraming balita. Alam n’yo naman si Ethel reyna sa dami ng movie tsistmis. “Alam mo ba na nalibot na rin namin nina Via ang mga red house dito? Yaong tinatawag nilang red light district?” aniya. “Dito kasi ay legal ang prostitution business kaya para ka lamang pumasok sa isang department store. Sa mga banketa ay nagkalat sila, may nakaupo na parang namamasyal lamang sa parke. Lapitan mo at sasabihin niya agad ang presyo at iaabot ang kanyang palad. Gaya ng napabalita noon, totoong makikita mo lamang ang iba sa kanilang eskaparate,” patuloy ni Ethel. “Ituturo mo lamang ang prostiture na gusto mo na parang nagtuturo ka ng ulam at ayos na. Papapasuking ka sa kanilang cubicle na napakalilinis naman. Parang kuwarto ng isang masinop na dalaga at mabango pa ang mga silid. maraming magaganda sa kanila. Ipagpaunmanhin sana ng mga masasagasaan, pero alam mo ban na mayroon sa kanila na kahawig ni Rio Locsin at may kahawig pa ni Lourdes Medel? Excuse lang ha? Hawig lang naman e. Pero may roon ding matataba at mayroong mga payat at hindi magaganda. May halos kasintaba ng mga reporter na sina Mama Mocha (Ramon Teodoro) at kasingpayat ni Vir Gonzales. May ilan sa kanila na pumapayag lang pag may condom.” Ayon pa rin kay Ethel, si Vilma ay ilang araw munang nagmasid at nag-aral nang personal sa mga kilos, pagsasalita at paghalakhak ng mga tunay na puta at prostiture doon. Ibig kasi niyang makuha ang talagang tamang pagganap na parang natural na natural. nagtatanong pa rin siya at nakipag-usap sa ilan sa pamamagitan ng interpreter at makaraan lamang ang ilang araw ay may ialng nang salitang Dutch na alam si Vilma. May isang Dutch din na may crush sa kanya. Max ang pangalan. Mataas. Pero 23 years old lang.
Sa naturang pelikula ng Sining Silangan na “Miss X” ay isa ngang prostitute ang labas ni Vilma. Isang Pilipina siya na na-recruit para magtrabaho nang maganda roon pero sa isang bahayan nga ng mga kalapating mababa ang lipad ang kanyang binagsakan. Ngayon ano kaya ang magiging ayos niya? Makapal ang make-up? Malakas humalakhak? Kasabik-sabik ito sa mga fans ni Vi at tiyak na maganda ang pagkakagawa dahil Gil Portes ang direktor at walang magaganap na bitinan sa shooting. Kay Mrs Santos naman nakalipat ang telepono bago magpaalaman at ganito naman ang kanyang idinagdag: “Gilders ang tawag sa pera dito at masyadong mahal ang mga bilihin. Mas mataas ang gilders sa dollars. Ako ang cook nila rito at mayroon ding bagoong na mabibili. Tulad ng dati, hindi natutulog si Vi sa gabi at sa umaga natutulog hanggang tanghali. Pati tuloy kami ni Ethel ay nagkakaroon ng insomia. Pagkatapos ng shooting ni Vi ay tutuloy siya sa Europe, Paris at iba pang lugar para makapamasyal at makapamili nang gusto niya. Kami ni Papa ay pupunta naman sa Amerika at titingnan namin ang bahay na nabili namin doon. Mga second week na siguro ng Nobyember ang uwin namin. Iay ang mga unang repot mula sa Armsterdam. Sooth naman ang shooting nila at ang iba pang naroon ay sina Mark Gil, direktor Portes, Roger Vivero at mga prodyuser ng Sining Silangan. Naroon na rin daw sina Mother Lily ng Regal Films, Douglas Quijano at Lolita Solis. Sa susunod na tawg ay muli kaming magbabalita tungkol sa mga happening doon.” – Efren M. Esteban, Jingle Extra Hot Magazine, 5 November 1979, posted by James DR, Pelikula ATBP, 26 January 2021 (READ MORE)
When it Rains, It Pours – “…Ate Vi to fans and friends, the enduring actress was born in 1953. She turns 64 on her birthday counting more years of contribution to society both as a public servant and as movie queen…Incidentally, Caveat was one of the few friends from the press made to sit with the audience during the taping, giving ample time to exchange pleasantries with the actress while she was in the holding area. The conversation meandered to her recent tour de force performance in “Everything About Her” which earned her Best Actress Award from the 1st Eddys Award given to her by the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors or SPEED. This was followed by another Best Actress Award for the same film bestowed on her by the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Movies…It is also worth mentioning that the Star for All Seasons was also bestowed Best Actress Award for the same film by Tony Awards Philippines from its founder and fearless film critic Tony Aguilar. The critic, who also comes out annually in his entertainment column with a list of worst films and worst performers, even thinks “Everything About Her” would have stood a bigger chance at the Oscars than the “Birdshot” of Mikhael Red. Other Best Actress Awards that Vilma Santos earned for “Everything About Her” included the 1st Guild of Educators & Mentors (GEM) Awards, Gawad Tanglaw, Pasado Award, and Philippine Entertainment Portal ( PEP’s) List of Awardees. Indeed, in a manner of speaking, when it rains awards it pours as well…” – George Vail Kabristante, Manila Times, 27 October 2017 (
Gigi – “…The role of Gigi was meant to conunterpoint the labor problem. Other scenes could have been included which would highlight that Vilma had some success with her counselling job.” May mga puna sa pelikula, tulad ng mga may pagka-talky raw ito? “Yeah, napansin din ng iba ito. I was worried that the film was becoming more talky as we went on, pero sabi ni Mike, talk is as important as the visuals.” May pagka-claustrophobic daw ang effect ng pelikula? “I think it was deliberate. I can remember Mike telling our production designer, Cesar Hernando, to give a claustrophobic effect to the sets, particularly the interiors. With regard to the criticism na ang mga workers ay malilinis, ang masasabi ko, ang mga trabahador sa isang factory ng cooking oil ay malilinis naman.” Pagkapanood mo ng pelikla, anong bahagi ang nais mo pang baguhin? “Maaari kong dagdagan ang mga eksena sa Caritas na ipinapakita ang ibang alaga roon, at gusto ko ring ipakita ang relasyon ni Vilma sa kanyang pamilya. Kung tatanungin ako, na kung dapat inabuso pa si Vilma sa kamay ng mga goons, hindi yon totoo, wala pa naman akong nalalaman na ginagawa yon sa mga madre, sa aking pagkakaalam.” Anong mga reaksiyon ng mga nanood na sa pelikula? “Generally positive. That is as far as the selected audiences where the pricture was shown. Generally, sabi nila, masakit daw, nakakakonsyensiya daw, nakakagalit. May kanyang pala-palagay sa mga detalye.” Personally, what is the merit of the film? “I hope it can change the perceptions of people with regard to certain realities, open their eyes probably. Well, the censors felt it was not subversive, not anti-government. Sana hindi mangyari sa pelikula ang ginawa nila sa pelikulang Sakada…” – Mike Feria, Jingle Extra Hot Magazine, 06 July 1984, Posted by James DR, 21 July 2016 (
Vilma’s “Katuparan” on GMA-7 Tonight – Vilma Santos’second venture into television production, the tele-movie “Katuparan” is scheduled for telecast tonight on Channel 7, 8 to 10. “Katuparan” teams up Vilma for the first time with action star Ronnie Ricketts (with Vilma above). Together, they pit acting talents with veteran actor Dante Rivero. Ronnie plays Vilma’s ex-boyfriend and Dante plays Ronnie’s older brother who married Vilma. Adapted from the foreign telemovie “The Fulfillment of Mary Gray,” “Katuparan” is directed by Marilou Diaz Abaya and written by Raquel Villavicencio. – Mike Herrera, from Facebook.
Superb Child Star – ” Vilma Santos started her movie career in 1963 at a young age of 9 in a movie, “Trudis Liit,” which she topbilled along with veteran stars Lolita Rodriguez and Luis Gonzales. She won the FAMAS Best Child Actress for her superb performance in that movie…At the age of 9, Vilma was tapped to star opposite Gloria Romero & Rita Gomez in the movie “Anak, ang Iyong Ina.” She was discovered by her uncle Mr. Amaury Agra, who was a cameraman at the Sampaguita Studios. When she, together with her mother went to the Sampaguita compound to report, an audition was going on. Seeing the more than a hundred kids auditioning, Vi went and watched. Dr. Jose Perez, producer of Sampaguita, saw the little Vi and asked her to join the audition. Vi was hesitant because she know that she’s there for a different movie, but she was prodded to join. When her turn came, she acted with veteran Bella Flores. All the people were impressed, much more Dr. Perez! Vilma got the title role for the movie “Trudis Liit.” So, that at age 9, she was making two movies at the same time! She continued doing movies as daughter of big stars Gloria Romero, Lolita Rodriguez, Rita Gomez, Marlene Dauden, Eddie Rodriguez and a lot more. In 1968, at the age of 15, she got the Best Supporting Actress award from the San Beda College awards for the movie “Kasalanan Kaya?” She was also nominated for a FAMAS award…” – Eric Nadurata, Reposted by Simon Santos, Video48, 04 November 2007 (
Guaranteed Immortality – “The year was 1982, exactly two decades ago, and we well remember being enthralled by the sheer force of its powerful images and quietly devastating performances. We are one of the blessed few who own a video tape copy of the film that has remained, through the years, Nora Aunor’s signature film. The pint-sized superstar delivered a miracle of a performance as Elsa, the false visionary. Perhaps, the finest performance by a Filipino actor ever recorded on celluloid. If the diminutive multimedia luminary ever decides to leave the movies for good, Himala is enough reason to guarantee her of immortality…we believe that Nora Aunor should have swept all the best actress awards for that particular year. She was pitted against Vilma Santos’ heartfelt portrayal of the mistress in Relasyon and the latter scored a grandslam. This is not to belittle Santos’ portrayal but if one were to be objective, it would be easy to see that Aunor had the more complex role and only an actress of her caliber can pull off the part with much persuasion. It calls for a restrained, self-effacing acting style. And Aunor, the consummate actress that she was (take note that we used the past tense because the more recent film outings of the actress are far from her best. She has become very florid, like a bad version of a hysterical Charito Solis), strikes not a false note in her performance. It is, in one word, mesmerizing. And Himala is without a scintilla of a doubt the pinnacle of her cinematic achievements…” – Arnel Resma Ramos, reposted by Simon Santos, Video48, 29 December 2007 (
Fernado Poe Jr. and Vilma Santos: 1974 Box Office King and Queen – “Action King Fernando Poe, Jr. and Vilma Santos were awarded the Box-Office King and Queen in 1974. That year, both stars starred and appeared in the movie, “Batya’t Palu-Palo,” a sensational hit.” – Simon Santos, FPJ-daking, 26 March 2009, Photo credit: Eric Nadurata (
For Miss X: Off to Amsterdam With Vilma Santos and Party – “Miss Vilma Santos and her entourage which includes her mommy and daddy flew off to Amsterdam one Sunday afternoon para sa pelikulang Miss X ng Sining Silangan which will be shot ther in entirety. The group who saw them off at the airport was headed by Jesse Ejercito and some Sining Silangan bigwigs, fans of Vilma at ilang close friends from the press. Nauna rito ay nagkaroon ng ilang tenaw moments ang mga tao sa likod ng proyektong ito nang kung ilang ulit na mabalam ang pagalis ni Vi. We understand from some sources that the company was about to make a sudden change of decision kaugnay ng roles ni Vi nang biglang makahulagpos ang superstar sa kanyang mga commitments dito at ipasiyang lumipad na nga patungong Amsterdam. Ayon sa aming balita, matapos ang shooting doon ay tutuloy sa Los Angeles si Vi together with her parents upang duon idaos ang kanyang birthday, Nov. 3. This decision of hers of course saddened many of fans here pero parang higit diumano ang axiety ngayon ng Bancom, Regal at Lea dahil umano’y slated si Vi na gumawa ng pelikula sa kanila. Bancom for one is pinning their hopes on the early return of Vi dahil ang pelikulang ito si Charito Solis at siyang isasagupa sa tambalang Nora-Lolita Rodriguez naman ng para rin sa festival.” – Jingle Extra Hot Magazine, October 29, 1979, Posted by James DR, 28 October 2017 (
Star For All Seasons 
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