Vilma Santos-Recto is a popular multi-awarded actress and politician in the Republic of the Philippines. *** She is known as "Queen of Philippine Movies," "Queenstar," "Grand Slam Queen," "Box Office Queen," and "Star for All Seasons." *** This website is mostly about her iconic film career.
At the launch of her latest product endorsement— the pain reliever Ponstan—actress and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, consummate pro that she was, fielded questions about huge national headaches, tossed by host Cito Beltran. In a phone interview with Inquirer Entertainment shortly after, she admitted that the ticklish queries had caught her by surprise. At the launch, she said she was “honored” to have been asked, but that she wasn’t keen on being the running mate of possible presidential candidate Noli de Castro in 2010. She was concentrating on being governor at the moment, she said.
She was sad that intrigues were derailing “good programs,” she added. “Corruption is everywhere, even in the private sector.” Santos told Inquirer that the only way to stop corruption was for “everyone to change.” She said she was intently following political goings-on, particularly the current Senate hearings. The state of the nation was “frustrating,” she said, “[but] I refuse to lose hope.” She said her husband, former Sen. Ralph Recto, often quizzed her on current events. Also, “I listen to the radio on my way to work.” In times of confusion such as these, she asserted, it’s best to “first study all the sides of a story and not to react recklessly.”
Plus factor – She conceded that celebrity is a “plus factor” in politics. “When my [constituents] say I inspire them, that is the best compliment. Being an artist, I know that’s what I give to people.” Trust is one more thing she has earned, she said, “through hard work and honesty. If I cannot deliver something, I say it. I don’t like people waiting in vain.” She pointed out, “No one is perfect. I am no saint, but definitely I am not the devil.” Her husband guides her every step of the way, she said. “He’s my political adviser. He checks all the documents to make sure I wouldn’t get in trouble with the Ombudsman.” Definitely, she said, she isn’t one to be swiftly lured by easy money. “Sanay akong kumita ng pera (I’m used to earning my keep). I’ve been working since I was 9,” she quipped. “I tell my constituents: Please allow me to do movies and commercials. You know how well show business pays.”
In fact, she is one of the highest paid stars in the industry. Apart from Ponstan, she is also the endorser of Bear Brand milk and Ariel detergent. There are three movie offers from Star Cinema—with John Lloyd Cruz, son Luis Manzano and Sharon Cuneta. Plus, she is raring to take the indie route. She looks forward to start work on Raya Martin’s “Independencia” in September or October. “It’s something new for me. We will shoot for just 10 days, everything inside a studio.” – Bayani San Diego Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer 02/21/2008 (READ MORE)
Vilmanians, diehard fans of Vilma Santos, 45, the renowned actress-politician and the longest-reigning box-office queen in the Philippines. Last year, hundreds of screaming Vilmanians jammed the Quezon City tax office as Santos showed up to pay delinquent taxes. Many of them had come to seek her authograph. Santos, whose full name is Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto, began her career as an award-winning child actress and singer in 1963. In 1992, she married Ralph Gonzalez Recto, scion of a famous political clan in Batangas province, just south of Manila. Recto, then only 28, parlayed his wife’s name to win a congressional seat in Batangas. He ran as “Mr. Vilma Santos.” Last year, Santos herself contested and won the elections for mayor of Lipa City in Batangas. She has denied accusations that her family is trying to build a political dynasty. People vote for the Recto clan, she said in a television interview before the elections, because “they had done a good job in the province.” Vilmanians would unhesitatingly agree. – June 25, 1999 Asiaweek
Vilma Santos ranked 86th in BizNewsAsia Magazines’ 100 Most Powerful Filipinos – Education: Crash course on local governance, primary health care, human resource development and fiscal administration, UP. The Star for all season has proved cynics wrong that movie people have little between their ears, aside from a beautiful face or a handsome profile. As mayor of burgeoning Lipa, she has been chosen “most outstanding city mayor” in 2000 by the Civil Service Commission. Her popularity helped her husband Ralph Recto win a senate seat in 2001, and she can easily win a senate seat for herself if she gets tired of running Lipa city. The mayor with an ageless face received the Ten Young Achievers award in 1992. – BizNewsAsia Magazine, June 2004
Charito Solis: “Vilma is a better actress than Nora” – OOPS! Keep your cool, dear Noranians, and listen to Charito Solis’ explanation before you accuse her of being, uh, “maka-Vilma.” “Vilma has a wider range as an actress while Nora is limited and typecast in certain roles,” Charito said in a tone devoid of intrigue, answering our question in a straightforward, matter-of-fact manner. “Si Vilma, puede kahit anong role, kahit bold. You can’t imagine Nora doing a bold role, can you?” But, and that’s the big but, “Nora has more depth than Vilma,” Charito added, “and it’s because of her expressive eyes. Nora is very effective in scenes where she doesn’t say anything, just act with her eyes, at ‘yan ang kulang ni Vilma. Vilma has to say something to be effective.” Charito has worked with Vilma twice (in “Mga Tigre ng SierraCruz” and “Modelong Tanso”) and with Nora once (“Minsan May Isang Ina”). Speaking in general now, said Charito, “Vilma is the better actress.” We asked Charito that ticklish question during the lunch presscon for her latest movie, the star-studded Mother’s Day offering of Regal Films titled “Dear Mama”, which also stars Gloria Romero, Laurice Guillen, Snooky, Janice de Belen, Julie Vega, Manilyn Reynes, Jaypee de Guzman, Rey “PJ” Abellana and Alicia Alonzo in the title role. Our own personal opinion somehow jibes with that of Charito whose “throne”, I suppose, will be inherited by Vilma (while Nora will inherit the “throne” of the other drama queen, Lolita Rodriguez). – Funfare by Ricardo F. Lo, The Phil. Star – 03 April 1984
Vilma is the first Filipino actress to be featured in Time Magaziine. – The Philippines: Let Them See Films. When politics became pretty much a one-man show in the Philippines, the people lost a prime source of entetainment. Part of the gap has been filled by a burhome-grown film industry, which displayed nine of its new productions at the Manila Film Festival last month. Some 2 million moviegoers saw the films. Some of the movies were historical dramas pointing up the search for a Filipino identity during the long years of Spanish rule. But the most acclaimed were contemporary stories with a heavy populist touch. The festival’s smash hit was Burlesk Queen, starring Filipino Superstar Vilma Santos. It tells the syrupy tale of a poor girl who turns to burlesque dancing to support a crippled father. She falls in love with the son of a politician, elopes with him, and then tragically loses him back to his possessive mother. The treacle is supplemented with some gritty argument about the rights and wrongs of burlesque, with a lefthanded dig at censors. Huffs the burlesque impresario at one point: “Who are they to dictate wha the people should see?” – Time Magazine Feb. 13, 1978 Vol. 111 No. 7
Actress-politician Vilma Santos Recto receives a picture frame containing her image and that of the gumamela named after her, Hibiscus-Rosasinensis, from plant breeder Reynold Pimentel.
Manila – TV artist Mari-Len Martinez’ single debut on Villar is “If You Could Read My Mind.” her signing fee is one fo the highest here….Jean Young, another TV artist whose national breakout years ago was “Nikki Hoeki,” also was signed by Villar. Formerly, she was recording artist of Jonal, now in the verge of closing up…The new male contractees of Villar are the Two of Us (Jojit Paredes and Ronnie Henares) and balladeer Jun Polistico. Single debut of the Two of Us is “Snow Queen of Texas” while Polistico’s is “Theme from “Godfather.” Alice Mendez, grand national champion of the institurional “Tawag ng Tanghalan” radio-TV amateur program, debuted in the release of a “A House is Not a Home” on Pioneer, a label of Vicor Music. The song was her winning piece last year…Vicor is preparing the album debut on Badjaoof TV host and columnist Justo C. Justo. The LP will be in the Visayas-Mindanao region of the Philippines. Film artist Walter Navarro (Vicor) will have his first LP, “King of Balladeer,” this month. He is a contract star of Lea Productions and principal mainstay of the El Bodegon Club. Navarro is doing a film musical with Vilma Santos (Wilear’s) with Mirick Productions…the film musical “Winter Holiday,” which stars Nora Aunor (Alpha) and Tirso Cruz III (Vicor) was second top grosser in the recently concluded Manila Film Festival. The team’s movie musical “Guy and Pip” was the top grosser last year…”Remembrance,” another film musical, was chosen “best musical” in the Manila Film Festival. The film stars Vilma Santos (Wilear’) and Edgar Mortiz (Wilear’s). The film also won in the categories of best film editing, best sound and best script…Vicor artist Victor Laurel will do a film with Lea Productions opposite Hilda Koronel. – Oskar Salazar, Billboard July 29 1972
Jojit Paredes was one of Ate Vi’s leading men during the ’70’s. (In this article, Vilmanian, Franco Gabriel interviewed Jojit Paredes, the baladeer and teen idol of the 70s. – frv)
Franco Gabriel: Who is Jojit Paredes before entering Showbiz? Jojit Paredes: A regular student of De La Salle University.
FG: How were you discovered? JP: I was a member of a band compose of Paredes clan, that includes Jim Paredes of Apo Hiking Society, we usually performed in College Campuses. Doon ako nagumpisa, tapos nag-form kami ng “The two of us”, kami ni Ronnie Henares. One time, we were invited to perform on TV, at naulit yon, maraming nag-request for our guesting, nag-click kami ni Ronnie. I was discovered by Freddie Cochran, siya ang naglapit sa akin sa ABS-CBN, before I knew it ay member na ako ng “The Sensations.”
FG: Doon mo ba unang na-meet si Ate Vi? JP: No. That was not the first time I met her. Actually, I know her way way back when she was only 8 or 9 years old, pumupunta sila sa amin. Kasi regular customer ng Mother ko ang Mama niya sa ready made clothes, yun kasi ang business ng Mother ko noon sa Rustans. I was about 10 or 11 years old then, and while her mom is making the selection of cloth, iniiwan naman niya si Vilma sa living room namin. Minamasdan ko siya, ang ganda-ganda ng mukha niya.
FG: What was your first movie? JP: Super Gee with Nora Aunor.
FG: Can you tell us your unforgettable experience while filming Tok tok Palatok with Ate Vi. JP: Maasikaso sa set, malambing, mabait lalo na sa maliliit na crew. Doon kami nagkaroon ng bonding when we were doing that film. Mabuting tao talaga si Vilma, she has a good heart and always willing to help others. We became very close, di ko makakalimutan na minsan ay nag-drive ako ng 3 hours just to see her.
FG: Wow, nanligaw ka ba sa kanya? JP: No comment.
FG: Favorite scene mo sa Tok, tok palatok? JP: Nung malaman kong may kakambal na ahas si Vi. Kwela yon.
FG: May copy ka ba ng Tok tok palatok? JP: Wala. How about you?
FG: How do you describe Vilma Santos? JP: Let’s split it up into two. Personality and how she relates to others. Personality wise, mabuting tao siya, she is so trusting to the extend that it becomes disadvantage on her part , she trusted people so much. About relation to others, she is so approciable, a perfect politician, she’s always ready to help, not skimming, she has social conscience and will do things to achieve her goal.
FG: Who is your favorite actress? JP: Of course, Vilma Santos. Actingwise, she is so realistic, she takes on a new person to a new character. Versatile.
FG: When did you leave the Philippines? JP: 1985.
FG: What was your last showbiz project before leaving the country? JP: I produced Germside hosted by German Moreno. Then, another producer bought it and changed it to Germspecial, then, GMA-7 bought it and changed it to GMA Supershow.
FG: What is your job now? JP: Paralegal.
FG: Last question, naging girlfriend mo ba si Ate Vi? JP: No comment, baka ma-misinterpret. Franco Gabriel is based in California, USA. He is big fan of Ate Vi. – Franco Gabriel, V Magazine 2007
I am urging all Vilmanians to say a little prayer to the late Joe Quirino on his 10th death Anniversary. I just would like to share with you how JQ admired and fought for Ate Vi. During the MMFF when ate Vi won in Karma. It was a triple tie between Ate Vi, Gina Alajar and Charo Santos. JQ as one of board of jurors defended why ate Vi should win. On the second deliberation JQ convinced one of the jurors and ate Vi won by 1 point. JQ lambasted on his TV program the jurors in the MMFF when ate Vi was not even nominated for her performance in Langis At Tubig.
The nominees are Nora Aunor for Bona; Nora Aunor for Kung Akoy IIwan Mo and Amy Austria for Brutal. Its good that Amy won. JQ said that Ate Vi is good in langis compared to Nora in Kung Akoy IIwan. Obiously that was manipulated by Dean Lukresia Kasilag who was the Board Chairman that time and a certified Noranian. Kawawa talaga si Ate Vi basta involved si Kasilag lagi syang nabibiktima. Remember Rubia Serbios and Atsay. JQ always regarded Ate Vi as the real Queen of Philippine movies and a certified box Office Queen.
I remember one time in an awarding ceremonies when JQ has to present the Best Actress award with Pilar Pilapil. Nora Aunor won that time. And JQ said before he announce the winner. “Sasabihin ko pa ba kung sino ang winner, alam na naman natin kung sino ang panalo.” Obviously disappointed s’ya sa results. Nora got mad at JQ kinabukasan sa interview sa kanya. I dont remember what year was that.
I remeber when JQ program was No. 1 noon at talagang basta nag guest sa kanya si Ate Vi laging special. Hindi sya pumapayag na hindi sasayaw si Ate Vi. JQ said that Ate Vi is the best dancer of all times. Nobody comes close to her said JQ. – Aries aka “egrollon2001” Feb 23, 2005 V magazine
Eric C: Ate Vi, ano ang pinaka paborito mo sa lahat ng Darna movies mo? (“Vi, what’s your favorite among your Darna movies?”)
Ate Vi: Syempre Lipad Darna Lipad, yon kasi ang unang Darna ko at maganda talaga. May copy ka ba nito? (Of course, it’s “Lipad, Darna, Lipad” since it was my first. It was really well done. Do you have a copy of it?)
Eric C: Wala din ako nito eh, hayaan mo at kapag naka hanap ako bibigyan kita. Paano ka nag handa sa movie na ito, nagkaroon ka ba ng special training sa mga fight scenes mo dito bago nag umpisa ang filming? I heard si Tony Ferrer daw ang isa sa mga nag guide sa iyo. (I don’t have this movie either. But if I am able to find one, I’ll give you a copy. How did you prepare for this movie? Did you have any special “fight training” before you started filming? I heard that Action Star-Tony Ferrer guided you.)
Ate Vi : Walang training sa set na talaga bago mag umpisa ang shooting namin. Hindi si Tony ang nag guide sa akin, yong mga stuntman lile SOS daredevils. (No, there was no training on the set before filming. It wasn’t Tony Ferrer who guided me but the stuntmen called SOS Daredevils.)
Eric C: Hindi ka ba nahirapan sa mga stunts mo? (Did you have any difficulties with your own stunts?)
Ate Vi: Hindi naman, kasi may pagka tomboy din ako noong araw kaya madali kong napag aralan. Actually, minsan nga nag karoon ng aksidente na kailangan ko na mag tumbling at sasaluhin ako ng stuntman ang nangyari nasipa ko sya sa mukha kaya putok yong ilong nya at kailangang dalahin sya sa hospital, ako naman nauntog sa bato kaya ang sakit ng ulo ko. (Not really. I was a bit of a tomboy in those days so I learned things quickly. Actually, there was a time when an accident occured. I had to go and do the tumbling bit where the stuntman was supposed to catch me. I accidentally kicked him in the face and he got a bloody nose and had to be brought to the hospital. I, on the other hand, hit my head on a rock and got a splitting headache.)
Eric C: I heard din na nilagnat ka noong first time ka eksena mo ay mga ahas? (I head that you developed a fever the first time you had a scene with snakes?)
Ate Vi: Oo totoo yon! natakot ako sa mga ahas first shooting day yata namin yon sa may roof top ng isang building sa may Santa Mesa. Isang lingo akong nagkalagnat yata noon? then bago ulit kami mag shooting pinahahawakan na muna nila sa akin yong mga snakes para masanay na ako.
(That’s true! I was terrified of the snakes the first day of shooting on a rooftop of a building in Santa Mesa. I think I kept getting fevers for a week. Then , they let me touch the snakes first before every shoot so that I could get over my fear)
Eric C: How’s Celia as Valentina and Gloria as Impakta?
Ate Vi: Celia, she’s really good! And Tita Glo was so scary as Impakta, I love her so much.
Eric C: How about Liza?
Ate Vi: She’s good too! I remember ang costume nya ay yong parang sheep skin at may pair of wings sya. Sa may Antipolo kinunan yong episode ng Babaing Lawin. (She’s good too! I remember her costume that was made of sheepskin with a pair of wings. We filmed the “Babaing Lawin” episode in Antipolo)
Eric C: May aerial fight scenes ba kayo ni Liza? (Did you have aerial fight scenes with Liza?)
Ate Vi: Wala, sa land lang kami nag laban mostly sa cave. I remember kami ni Tita Glo nag laban kami sa ere, naka tayo kami sa parang stage then madilim yong background at yong kalahati ng katawani Tita Glo ay may takip na itim na tela, at may malaking electric fan na naka tapat sa amin. (No we didn’t. We fought on land..mostly in a cave. I remember my aerial fight scene with Gloria (Romero). We were standing on a stage with a dark bacground and there was a black cloth covering the half lower part of her body and there was a large electric fan in front of us.)
Eric C: May scene ba dito na nakuha mo yong bato mo sa shooting star? (Was there ever an origin scene where you received the magic stone with the coming of the shooting star?)
Ate Vi: May power na ako ni Darna sa umpisa pa lang ng story, sa Darna VS. The Planetwomen yong may nahulog na bato mula sa sky. (I already had the power of DARNA from the start of the movie. I only had an origin scene in “Darna Vs. the Planet Women” where the magic stone fell from the sky.)
Eric C: Excited ka ba ng i offer sa iyo ang Darna for the first time at may napanood ka ba na Darna movies before your Darna? (Were you excited when the role of Darna was offered to you for the first time? Also- Did you watch any of the Darna movies that came before you were offered the part?)
Ate Vi: Napanood ko yong Darna ni Eva Montes sa sine at yong Kay Rosa Del Rosario sa tv. Napanood ko din yong Darna ang Pagbabalik sa tv, i don’t really care about it, kasi parang tinipid yong movie. Of course excited ako ng i alok sa akin ang Darna. I remember nag paalam pa ako sa mga madre sa school na pinapasukan ko noon, kasi diba na ka two piece si Darna at okay naman sa kanila, kasi nga hindi naman daw bastos yong character ni Darna, superheroine nga sya eh. Tinanong ko rin yong mga fans noon at medyo nga worried din sila sa costume baka daw bastusin ako. Kaya nga noong una sa pictorials ng promo ng movie naka body stocking ako, kaya lang hindi talaga magandang lumabas nakakataba yong stocking. William Leary and Douglas Quijano convinced me na tangalin ko yong stocking sa press con ng Darna. I remember nasa bathroom pa nga ako noon at mag papalit na ko ng Darna costume ko, then tinangal ko na rin kasi sabi nila ” Vi, masagwa talaga yong stocking bakit di mo sila gulatin lumabas ka ng walang stocking tutal may ipapakita ka naman” . At yon na lumabas na ko ng walang body stocking.(I saw Eva Montes’ “Darna at ang babaing Tuod” at the movies and Rosa Del Rosario’s Darna on TV. I also watched “Darna: Ang Pagbabalik (The Return)” on TV but don’t care for it..it had bad production values. Of course, I was excited when I was offered the role of Darna. I even had to ask permission from the Nuns at my school because of Darna’s 2 piece costume. Besides, there’s nothing obscene about the costume because this is a Superheroine after all. But I asked advice from some fans and they were concerned that I might get criticized for being daring. This is why I wore body stockings in the promotional pics for the movie. It looked so terrible and made me look fat with body stockings. William Leary and Douglas Quijano convinced me to remove the body stockings before the Press Con. I remember changing into my Darna costume and I remember their words telling me- “Vi, the stockings look terrible so why don’t you surprise all of them by not wearing them. Besides, you have the looks anyway.” So there- I was at the Press con without the body stockings.”)
Eric C: What do you think of Angel as Darna?
Ate Vi: She’s doing great sa tv series niya na Darna. Napapanood ko ito at bagay sa kanya tama yong ginagawa nya sa mga fight scenes nya, believable talaga! kasi pag Darna ka kailangan di ka malamya at mai papakita mo na kaya mo talagang mag patumba ng mga kalaban mo. (She’s doing great on the TV series as Darna. I do watch it and she looks great as Darna. Even the fight scenes are believable. That’s because when you’re Darna, you cannot be lethargic. You need to look like you can really knockdown Super-Villains.)
Eric C : Do you mind na mag guest appearance sa Darna movie or tv? (Do you mind making a guest appearance in the Darna movie or on a TV series?)
Ate Vi: I don’t mind basta ba maganda yong role. Noong araw sa Darna ni Dolphy inalok ako na mag pasa ng bato kay Dolphy, pero pregnant ako noon kay Lucky. (I don’t mind as long as the role is good. A long time ago, in Dolphy’s Darna..I was offered the role of Darna turning over the stone to Dolphy’s character. But I was pregnant. (My Baby named Lucky.)
Eric C: Ano pa yong mga memorable experience mo about Darna? (What other memorable experiences did you have as Darna?)
Ate Vi: Yong flying scenes, mahirap talaga yon kasi kailangang i balance mo yong katawan sa 3 maninipis na bakal na nakasasalo sa katawan ko, at may malaking electric fan na nakatapat sa may mukha ko kaya sakit talaga sa ulo after takes. Also, natatandaan ko rin yong lumilipad ako papuntang Maynila na background music na My Beautiful Baloon. I also remember si Angelito pa ang Ding ko sa Lipad Darna Lipad. (The flying scenes. That was really hard because you have to balance your body on 3 steel bars while a large electric fan in front of my face which gave me headaches after takes. I also remember the flying scene where Darna was flying towards Manila and the background music was the song – “My Beautiful Balloon”. I remember the boy- Angelito who played “Ding” in “Lipad, Darna, Lipad”.
Eric C: May naitabi ka ba na Darna memorabilla? (Were you able to take some Darna memorabilia?)
Ate Vi: Wala, binabalik namin yon sa studio like costumes. (None. We returned everything to the studios)
Eric C: Ano ang pagkakaiba ng Darna noon at ngayon? (What’s the differnece between the your Darna and the version today?)
Ate Vi: Ngayon mas advance na ang technology at computerized na talaga, madali ng gawin yong mga mahihirap na scenes. Noon pag nag Narda ako naka steady talaga yong camera tapos bihis agad balif sa dating pwesto, ngayon halos computer na talaga lahat. (Technology is much more advanced today. The harder scenes are easier to make now. Whenever I shot my scenes as Narda changing to Darna, the camera remains steady as as I get dressed in costume and return to the same spot before the transformation.)
Eric C: Ate Vi, nagawa mo na halos lahat ang hindi na lang is to play the role of Impakta or Aswang, will you consider na lumabas ng isa sa mga villainess sa Darna like Gloria Romero noon? (Vilma, You have done every role already except playing “Impakta” or an “Asuwang”. Would you consider playing a Darna villainess like what Gloria Romero did?)
Ate Vi: Naku! mukha na ba akong impakta? (sabay halakhak) actually may ginawa na kong Aswang yong ” Anak ng Aswang” pero hindi ako ang aswang si Tita Glo. Actually very interesting yang role na yan at challenging, i don’t mind playing those kind of roles na kontrabida, basta ba maganda ang story.
(Vilma: Yikes! Do I already look like a Vampire? (Laughs out loud) Actually I starred in a Vampire movie already “Anak ng Aswang” (Vampire’s Child) but I was not the Vampire. Gloria Romero played the Vampire. Actually I think that’s an interesting role and I don’t mind playing a Villainess as long as it’s a good story.)
Eric C: Teka muna ate Vi, kailan mo ba ipapasa sa akin ang bato? (Jokingly) By the way Vilma, when are you surrendering the “magic stone” to me?)
Ate Vi: (sabay tawa) Hay naku! hindi pa panahon para ipasa ko sa iyo ang bato. (Laughs) Oh well, it’s not time yet for me to give up the “magic stone” to you.”)
Eric C: Ate for the last time sumigaw ka ng Darna please! (Vilma, could you do the “Darna yell” one last time?)
Ate Vi: Baka magising ang mga tao dito sa hotel madaling araw na. (We might wake up the people in this hotel. It’s really late.)
Eric C: Please Ate Vi. (Medyo pabiro pang isinigaw ni ate ang Darna) (Please Vi. (Then Vilma gets playful with the “Darna yell”)
Ate Vi: Jworna (pa cute pa sya dito ha!) then di ba meron pang sumigaw ng Daarnaaa, na parang hirap sya sa pag sigaw di ba? (“Jworna!!! (makes funny expressions) Wasn’t there another Actress who sounded like she was having a difficult time yelling “Darna”??)
Eric C: Kilala ko yong mga sumigaw ng ganoon ate Vi. (then finally medyo nag emote muna si ate at sabay taas ng kamay)
Eric C: I know the actress who did the yell that way. ……….AND THEN….. VILMA REALLY GOT INTO CHARACTER)
Ate Vi: DARNA!!!
Eric C: No pa naman di halos hinimatay ako sa tuwa imagine in person talaga narinig namin na sumigaw si Ate Vi ng Darna at palakpakan ang mga Vilmanians na nakipag puyatan sa pakikipag chikahan sa Darna for all seasons, na kahit walang make up ay super ganda pa rin. (Hehehe I almost fainted with great joy. Imagine- I got to hear the most famous Darna of them all do the yell… in person !!
All the Vilma Fans applauded as we all stayed up late into the early morning with the “DARNA OF ALL SEASONS” (who is still very pretty ..even without make-up) – Eric Cueto
When Vilma Santos marked her 32nd birthday recently (Nov. 3) she was exactly 22 years, 8 months and 12 days in the dog-eat-dog world of showbusiness. Her very first movie as a waif in Trudis Liit (the same movie that gave her a best child actress award in the FAMAS) was shown in Manila on February 21, 1963 where all in all she made five films including Anak, Ang Iyong Ina, King and Queen for a Day, Duelo sa Sapang Bato, and Aninong Bakal in that same year.
Vilma celebrated her natal day with a party at the Albergus (a catering service outfit adjacent to Broadcast City) with friends in and out of showbiz but minus estranged husband Edu Manzano, her mother, Mama Santos in the movie circle and current rumored beau, Ralph Recto. Beloved son, Lucky, was with the superstar celebrant though through most of the evening. For the record, Vilma celebrated two birthdays abroad. Her 20th in Las Vegas, USA and her 26th in Paris, France while shooting the movie, Miss X, in Europe in 1979.
Vilma Santos has come a long, long way from her Trudis Liit days. Who would ever think that the former child star who portrayed the young Imee Marcos at the age 12 in Iginuhit ng Tadhana (1965) and at 16 in Pinagbuklod ng Langit (1969) will someday essay the role of a nun who underwent a political awakening in Mike de Leon’s breakthrough film, Sister Stella L., at 30. Vilma was a successful child star who became even more successful as an adult actress earning more accolades and respect both from her colleagues and others.
From a teary-eyed tyke, the young actress has blossomed into one of the most successful (if not the most) performers on screen collecting such titles on her road to superstardom Movie Queen, Box-Office Queen, Superstar, GrandSlam Winner, The Only 3-Time Successive URIAN Awardee, Superactress, Megastar, and now the reigning Video Queen. Her climb to the top was not easy, and that’s putting it mildly because her uphill struggle was stormy to say the least.
During the early seventies the juvenile Vilma had to content herself playing second fiddle to the brown phenomenon. Like her arch rival, the young actress did and appeared most in nonsensical films with then favorite partner, Edgar Mortiz, giving the Guy and Pip loveteam a run for their money during the height of the bakya era. But until then Vilma was only generally considered a far second, almost like an afterthought to the then reigning Bicolana superstar. But things began to change as the years went by.
It was only in 1973 when the movie Lipad, Darna, Lipad (another Mars Ravelo innovative remake) hit the screens and became a certified and recordbreaking blockbuster did people begin to take real notice of her potentials as a bankable star. The new box-office champion made two more Darna movies and the last one, Darna at Ding, the fourth, with Nino Muhlach was shown on February 8, 1980. Vilma made several fantasy movies that catered mostly for children. The movie Dyesebel, another remake like Darna, was an entry at the Manila Film Festival in 1973. At this stage in her career Vilma was already an acknowledged Box-Office Queen.
The controversial movie Burlesk Queen reasserted her boxoffice supremacy when it created a lot of controversies after the awards night of the Metro Manila Film Festival in 1977. The movie was so successful that on its fourth-week run, it was still showing in some 15 theaters! Quite a record and a feat for any movie both local and foreign. Then came the real turning point in the actress’ career. Her film, Rubia Servios megged by Lino Brocka, was another festival entry in 1978. Not a few were expecting (including Vilma herself) her to win the best actress plum at the awards night on January 3, 1979, held at the CCP.
But she lost to Nora (for Atsay) but that defeat only made the moviegoers more curious as they came in droves to watch the film. And for several more weeks after the festival was over, Rubia Servios was still showing in downtown theaters long before all the other entries were already doing the rounds in the provincial circuits. As a proof of the producers and the public’s faith in the actress, she made 12 pictures in 1979. And from that year on, Vilma was a perennial absentee at the award giving ceremonies in the succeeding festival years. In fact, she doens’t seem to mind not having an entry movie at the festival.
Her last entry, the rated A, Haplos was shown in 1982. The birth of Vilma’s son, Lucky, on April 21, 1981 seemed to have harbored more luck for the actress’ career. After Lucky’s birth, more awards and blockbuster movies followed. Her movie Ex-Wife was shown the day after her son was born when all the newspapers in town were carrying Vilma’s delivery on the frontpage, and the movie was an instant hit. How’s that for perfect timing? The string of hits for that year included Pakawalan Mo Ako (where she won her second FAMAS best actress award; the first one for Dama de Noche she received several years earlier – in 1972), Hiwalay and Karma, a festival entry which won for her another best actress trophy.
In July 1982, the movie Relasyon by Ishmael Bernal was shown. It was the film that won for her all acting awards for best actress in all major award-giving bodies in 1983. And thus, the grandslam. Vilma gave Viva Films its first biggest hit in Sinasamba Kita earning over P7M in Metro Manila alone. Then came T-Bird at Ako (a mild hit), Never Ever Say Goodbye (a sorry miss), Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan? (her biggest hit for that year) and Haplos. As early as January 20, 1983, Vilma began to reap several victories when she was awarded by the Metro Manila Theaters Association on their first Cinehan Awards together with Fernando Poe, Jr. held at the Philippine Plaza.
National Artist Nick Joaquin, in an article that came out in the Bulletin Today on February 11, 1983 wrote: “By emerging as box-office queen, Vilma Santos proved herself to be the Philippine Cinema’s Superstar – a title, it’s to be realized now, that can be bestowed only by the Cinehan.” So, on Cinehan Awards Night, Vilma was the very picture of the conquering heroine, drawing all eyes as she glowed and glittered, a rapture of radiance in her strapless white gown with lilac sash – and in white gloves yet! In her triumph joined both cinema and cinehan.
Her pictures were all well done – and they also did very well at the box-office. In the same awards night, Ambassador Jaime Zobel de Ayala, another recipient of the Cinehan, upon receiving his award from Dean Lucresia Kasilag said: “I’m only a little bit sorry that Vilma didn’t give me the award. But it’s all right, I’ll try again next year. You’re my favorite star, you’re my muse! I’ll suffer in silence.”
Vilma Santos won her first Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) on February 29, 1983 for Relasyon. As a matter of fact, she won all these awards (her first URIAN, Film Academy and 3rd FAMAS) in the span of three months! She even won the Box-Office Queen trophy on the same night as the URIAN awards on April 15, 1983, she had to rush from the Celebrity Sports Plaza to the Film Center to get both trophies. And because the critically-acclaimed Relasyon was such a hit at the boxoffice, many producers thought that the public was ready at last for well-written, well-acted and well-crafted films.
And not a few writers and directors rejoiced at the prospect of good films being accepted by the public finally. And so, Sister Stella L. was born amidst fears and speculations that it would have a hard time with the censors. But the film was passed and to top it all, it was given the nod as a movie for general patronage. SSL had two screenings on its premiere night at the Rizal Theater in Makati. All the hopes of good filmmakers were nipped-in-the-bud when the film failed miserably at the tills during its regular screen.
While it’s also true that SSL was shown for two weeks in Metro Manila, still many expected it to earn more than it did if only for Vilma who has a string of blockbuster movies to her credit before SSL. She has four rated A movies (Haplos, Broken Marriage, Adultery and SSL) to her name but SSL earned the least at the box-office. But the movie was invited and screened at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. It was also invited at the Cannes Film Festival, but the film didn’t arrive in time for its screening because of some problems with the censors.
And so, Vilma and her producers are back to square one churning out comics rehash and light melodramas to regain lost grounds. Her first movie for this year, Muling Buksan ang Puso was again a hit and it proved once more that it’s the kind of movie the public wants to patronize. How sad. Vilma Santos is also the most successful actress-commercial model to date. She was made to endorse several products-from biscuits to radios to cough syrups to many other beauty products including her recent Eskinol Girl commercial to perk up their sales.
But the most notable of these is the Lux commercial she did in 1974 under the helm of no less than the late Gerry de Leon himself. The wedding scene was shot in a very old church as backdrop and it was the most beautifully photographed TV and magazine layout of Vilma during her younger days. Her team-up with Christopher de Leon is considered the most successful in the movies if only for the fact that they do not only make commercial movies but also critically-acclaimed ones as well like Relasyon and Broken Marriage. They made 15 films in all. The last one was Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan during the latter part of 1983.
It’s been two years since then and the fans are eagerly awaiting their next team-up. Whatever the future holds for Vilma Santos, she’ll surely come out with flying colors. Right now, she’s twinkling brightly, free and easy, twirling sassily, more or less on top of her world of 21 seasons. But her parting words perhaps convey her true intentions: “I can only say I’m fulfilled when I’ve quit this business.” The superstar actress doesn’t have to prove anything anymore.
Her achievements in the movies can no longer be ignored by anyone. And while she has her faults, like all human beings do, she’s not the type of person who will intentionally hurt the feelings of others or she will not have lasted this long in the movies. She has suffered a lot of tragedies in her life and still remained strong-willed and composed even in her most trying times. And so, to the strong woman who has served as an inspiration to a lot of people, many happy returns of the day. – Meg Mendoza, Prime Magazine, Nov 14, 1985
Lipa City mayor Vilma Santos Recto turned 50 yesterday, but the years certainly do not show on her face and especially not on her still slim figure. And those 50 years certainly were not wasted because she excelled in everything she did – in both life and career. As an actress, she has the most number of acting awards – with eight Urian trophies (10 if you include the two times she was named Actress of the Decade along with Nora Aunor). As a TV host, she had the best variety show on television that ran for many years. As mayor of her beloved Lipa, her reputation is untarnished. As wife, her 11-year marriage with Sen. Ralph Recto, is sometimes part of the gossip mill, but which celebrity union isn’t? As a mother, she must be very proud of her son Luis’ recent achievements in the field of entertainment. But her biggest sacrifice as a mother – and for this she earned my undying respect – was when she risked her career to give birth to Ryan Christian.
Vilma is truly an accomplished woman. Why, even her recording of “Sweet Sixteen” was certified gold! All those 50 years behind her have indeed been fruitful. However, I still can’t believe that Vilma has turned golden girl. Wasn’t it only yesterday when she was still doing those light musical comedy/dramas with Edgar Mortiz? I still have vivid memories of Vilma from way back and I would want to share them with you. My earliest memories of Vilma Santos must be in black and white. Back then, I knew there was a Vilma Santos playing teen-age daughter to Eddie Rodriguez and Lolita Rodriguez in those Virgo love triangles. She was said to have been launched by Sampaguita Pictures in “Trudis Liit” and supposedly did a lot of other projects as a child star in the early ‘60s, but I didn’t know that then. The more popular Vilma that time was singer-actress Vilma Valera.
Then Nora Aunor came along and both TV and movie screens were filled with diminutive female teen stars – with Vilma Santos among them. No, Vilma wasn’t as popular as Nora that time, but her rise to superstardom was steady. The public’s interest in Vilma interestingly enough came when her “Trudis Liit” was shown one summer on afternoon television a couple of years before martial law. In those days, only one Tagalog movie was aired by the station (it was ABS-CBN in this case) from Monday to Friday, but children on summer break with nothing else to do at home would still watch the same film everyday. And so on that summer vacation, even kids from the uppity homes had their fill of Vilma. It was good thing she excelled in that film and was cute and had charmed everyone. And so, even if her singing of the theme song of “D’Sensations” was murder on the eardrums, she already had the public’s curiosity and even respect – thanks to the revived interest on “Trudis Liit”. From my end, the first time I became curious about her was when I read an article on her in this fan magazine that featured her house in Arfel Homes in Project 6. Even then, I was already interested in architectural designs and I marveled at the simple, yet tasteful structure of the home she has built for her family.
The only opulent feature of that house was her round bed and I’ve always wanted to ask her what she did with it. Later, the FAMAS had its awards night and she tied with Boots Anson Roa for Best Actress and I was among those who watched her tearful acceptance speech on television. Months later, I finally saw a Vilma Santos movie on the big screen – and in color. My Dad that time had a friend who gave us season’s passes to the Manila Filmfest ever year and one of the entries then was “Dyesebel”. Since I’ve always been the type who wouldn’t want to see anything go to waste, I saw to it that the entire pass was used – all 10 movies. The problem was getting people to bring me to the theatres – in downtown Manila – since I couldn’t get there on own my own yet.
On the night I saw “Dyesebel”, it was raining very hard and my older cousin (who had to be bribed to accompany me) and I had to squeeze into Miramar because the film was a boxoffice hit. The film wasn’t really much (and I enjoyed another entry more – Ramon Zamora’s “Pedro Penduko” by Celso Ad. Castillo), but Vilma – in spite of that awful rubber fishtail – was very charming in “Dyesebel”. Unfortunately, my fondness for her dipped a bit when she did another variety show called – good grief! – ‘’Yan Eh!” Couldn’t they have thought of a better title? And yes, the horrible theme song. It went like this: La-lala-la-la-la-la-la-la, ‘yan eh, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-, ‘yan eh, la-lala-la-la-la-la-la-la-, ‘yan eh! Yan eh! No wonder, she got the Batangueno a la eh votes so easily. Okay, so her 50 years weren’t really all that great. But hey, this was just one tiny mistake in her career and I can forgive her for this. After all, she more than made up for it – and how! Vilma Santos started endorsing products in the early ‘70s and the first product she sold on TV I remember was Tanduay – the wholesome edition. (There was a sexy version with Rosanna Ortiz).
Then, there were those beautiful Lux commercials, one of which was shot in an old church in Nagcarlan, Laguna. After that came the Fita ad where she hosts a children’s party for a niece who tells her, “Tita Vi, I am so happy. Thank you!” The one product she endorsed the longest, of course, was Eskinol. Her career at this point was charted very well. It was around this period when she did the Darna series, “Takbo, Vilma, Dali!” and other blockbuster hits. In 1975, she made a rather daring move that called for her to come out in a twopiece swimsuit. This was in “Nakakahiya” where she was involved in a May-December affair with Eddie Rodriguez.
Then there was the controversial “Tag-ulan sa Tag-araw”, her first team-up with Christopher de Leon. The year 1977 saw yet another milestone in her career. She did “Burlesk Queen” where she played the very daring and challenging role of a stripper. “Burlesk Queen” may have figured prominently in the 1977 Metro Filmfest, nevertheless heralded Vilma as an excellent actress. At this point, she was already on her way to greatness as far as acting was concerned. In the latter part of the ‘70s, Vilma made several box-office hits, but it wasn’t until many years later that I discovered that this was the lowest point of her life financially. She lost everything – save for a few properties. With the help of Marichu Maceda and Atty. Espiridion Laxa, she was able to clean up her financial mess. (By God’s grace, she was never in the red again – thanks to her faithful accountant and friend Aida Fandialan, whom she met through Amalia Fuentes.)
Eventually, Vilma got married (to Edu Manzano) and bore her first child (Lucky). She was still going through financial difficulties at this stage and wasn’t sure if the public was still willing to accept her now that she was married. “Pakawalan Mo Ako” (produced by Marichu Maceda) affirmed that the public still loved her. She was now well on her way to financial recovery. It was around this period when I first met Vilma in person. I was a student doing my practicum and my assignment was to interview Vilma regarding fortune-tellers. It was going to be a short interview, but I sought her out all the way in Broadcast City where she was the special guest of Inday Badiday in “See-True”. I thought it was brazen of me to have walked past her entourage (she still maintained a lot then) and gone straight to her. But she didn’t mind my intrusion.
On the contrary, she was very nice to me and even held me on my shoulder! That was the image I kept repeating in my mind before I slept that night. The next time I saw her again in person, I was already a true-blue journalist in the entertainment beat. This was at the Rizal Theatre when she won her second Urian for “Broken Marriage”. I was with Mario Dumaual who was one of my closest buddies then. Vilma was throwing a blowout at the Manila Pen and since Mario and I knew some of the Manunuri members, we decided to tag along (we were gatecrashers in other words). At that party, I also met Bibeth Orteza (she hosted the Urian) and found her to be very friendly and we talked like we were long-lost friends. At around 2 am, everyone decided to call it a night and Vilma positioned herself at the exit to say goodbye to everyone for coming to her party. She probably didn’t know half of the guests there and in her mind, she must have been saying, “Who the hell are you people?” But knowing how good-natured she is, our presence there must have been just okay with her.
In fact, she was still very warm and cheerful when it was my turn to shake her hand and congratulate her. Of course, she didn’t remember me anymore from the year before because that first meeting was a brief three minutes. But that evening of her blowout, I was aching to remind her that only a year before that, she actually touched my shoulder. Toward the last half of the ‘80s, I began writing a column for this paper. It was also around this period when Vilma’s variety show on Channel 7 started to get noticed. Since I genuienly liked her program (it will go down TV history as one of the best variety shows ever), I gave it a lot of positive reviews. Obviously, she read them because on the night she won for “Tagos ng Dugo” in the FAMAS, I approached her at her Manila Hotel table for another brief interview and she had this “Oh, so you’re the one!” look on her face.
Vilma was accommodating as always and after her name was announced as Best Actress, I wanted to congratulate her, except that she was mobbed by the press photographers. At the corridor outside the Fiesta Pavilion, however she saw me while she was surrounded by her battalion of fans and called out my name. I went to her to finally congratulate her and she hugged me. No, she didn’t just touch my shoulder. She hugged me. Vilma Santos hugged me. At that moment, I knew that we were going to be friends – and we did. Very good friends, indeed. And I swear she can be such a thoughtful friend. For somebody who has the world at her feet, she’s never self-centered. her most endearing trait, in fact, is that she knows how to listen. And how to say thank you. When the first installment of this two-part series came out last Tuesday, hers was the first text message I got. She said thank you.
Why, even her loyal Vilmanians are so thoughtful. The past few days, I’ve been getting text messages even from the US (one from Ben of LA and another one from Franco of San Francisco) thanking me for the write-up on Vilma. To all of you, you are most welcome. And to Mayor Vi, belated happy birthday! A lot of women I know are afraid to reach the half-century mark. But if you can be half (or even one-fourth or one-eight)as accomplished as Vilma Santos and still look as lovely as she is today, it probably would be great to be 50. – Butch Francisco, The Philippine Star 04 Nov 2003
I didn’t snub the Metro Manila Filmfest by not attending the awards night. And it’s not true I didn’t expect to win. I did my best in Karma and modesty aside, I knew I had a good chance of winning. But then I had little time left to prepare for the occasion. Duds and I were busy attending to construction workers at the time,” said a more vivacious and vibrant Vilma Santos, adjudged best actress of the 1981 Metro Manila Film Festival for her scintillating performance in Karma, about reincarnation and love eternal.
Vi and hubby Edu are busy looking after the building of their two-storey house on a 683 sqm.lot in United Paranque, Metro Manila. “I’m proud and happy that this is Dud’s gift to me and Lucky,” said Vilma, beaming with joy. “This house is too big for a small family like ours,” she added, referring to the Magallanes house where they’re staying. “We hope to transfer to our new home before the end of the month.” Which also means that Vi is selling her five-bedroom home, complete with swimming pool. The house and lot are being sold for P 1.6 million. “What will I do with a big house like this? We only occupy one room. Maintaining and cleaning the other rooms will just eat up our time. We have other things to pay attention to,” rationalized Vi.
Does the sale have something to do with her BIR problems as some detractors would have it? “Some people are always watching to see what’s your next move. So what if I sell it? I’m not selling somebody else’s property. I know what’s good for me and I know what’s not! My detractors might also want to know that I don’t have any BIR problems any more. I’m thankful to the BIR for helping me,” said Vi, a little tense. At age 28, Vilma Santos’ life is now, “very different” from when she was single. She still has time for friends and reporters, “but I can no longer spend all my time with them now. If people can only see my timetable, they’ll know that I shoot six times a week. I only have Sundays for my family. That one day I don’t want to take away from them,” she said. “But I see to it that I meet my friends at least twice a month. I hope they’ll understand.”
As a married woman, Vilma does not keep a circle of friends. “Frankly, I’ve never had a barkada. Ang barkada ko talaga ay ang pamilya ko. Anyway, my female colleagues from the movies are all my friends.” Vilma denied reports that Edu has been limiting her public appearances. “I want it known that Doods is a very understanding husband. He has nothing against my movie career. He just wants me to give priority to my family and I think he is right. The freedom that he gives me is enough for me not to abuse it,” she said, to straighten out rumors that Edu had asked her to quit acting and that they plan to settle in Canada or in the States. “We’re planning to leave for the US but for a short pleasure trip only.”
Another remarkbale change in Vi is that she can no longer shoot several movies simultaneously. The most is two pictures at a time. Her own ceiling is five movies a year. Before, she used to make an average of one picture a month. She has become choosy about accepting film offers. “At this stage of my career, I can only portray roles that suit my status in real life. Can you imagine a wife and mother playing the role of a carefree, innocent, sweet teenager? I believe that an actress should grow up in her roles. One can’t be a nina bonita forever,” she philosophized.
So far, Vi has accepted only two major film assignments: Relasyon, where she plays mistress to Christopher de Leon; and a still untitled movie to be directed by Eddie Garcia under Viva Films. She has other offers from Sining Silangan, Cinex Films and Mirick Productions, but she is studying them carefully. Vi is managing her own movie career now. Before, she would ask somebody to transact the business with film producers in her behalf. “I was to spoiled and very dependent. But now, I talk business directly with them.” Vi has also limited her alalay to a few. The new set-up challenges Vilma.
This makes life for her more colorful and exciting, and she doesn’t have to have a battery of PROs. “Why should I hire so many of them if I’m trying to do some saving now? Of course, I still need them but I hope they give me a break.” Vilma’s latest MMFF best actress trophy is her fifth major award. She won the FAMAS best actress plum in 1972 for a superb characterization in Dama de Noche. She also won the MMFF best actress statuette for Burlesk Queen in 1977. As a child actress, she romped away (FAMAS) for Trudis Liit, aside from the best actress award she won in 1975 Bacolod City Film Festival for Nakakahiya? Vi sends her heartfelt thanks to Chanda Romero, her co-star in Karma, for her inspiring remarks on awards night:“Lucky girl this Vilma. may Edu na. May Lucky na, may trophy pa!” Vi said she was so touched by Chanda’s unselfish remarks, she tried to reach Chanda by phone, to thank her but she couldn’t.
Vi also extends warmest thanks to her Tito Ed (Rodriguez) for commenting that she, Vilma, is “your favorite and mine.” “For their superlative compliments, I look forward to 1982.” Right now, Vi’s main concern is her son Lucky (born Luis Philippe Manzano eight months ago). Vi and Edu do not approve of their son being public property. There’s nothing wrong with being a movie star, they say. After all, acting can be ‘inherited’ by their son. But the couple will not go out of their way to force their son into the showbiz world. “I want him to lead a normal life and not to be deprived of the privacy he’s entitled to,” Vi reasoned. One thing sure, she will see to it that Lucky finishes his studies. “ We will not rule his future life. He will decide for himself. If he has artistic leanings, we cannot stop him. But, repeat, we will not force him to pursue anything he doesn’t like!”
Vi has many things to thank for. First, she has survived keen and cut throat competition for the past many years. Despite new and fresh talents on the scene, she has managed to keep a steady following. All her recent movies have been blockbusters. She’s glad her fans when she was 16 are still her fans today. “Oh yes, just like me, they have matured and grown up. They are the type who do not invade one’s privacy. They know their limitations. But they’re always concerned whenever they hear unpleasant news about me and my family.” Vi is happy that people flock to her movies not because of the ‘boldness’ of the story but because of the character she plays. Posing with her festival trophy, she said with supreme confidence,“ I’ll continue acting so long as my fans like me. From hereon, I promise to make movies that are relevant and will be appreciated by the public.” – Manny B. Fernandez, People magazine, Jan 15, 1982
“Ay naku, musmos pa ‘yan talagang mahilig na sa drama!” And Mrs. Milagros Santos (or Mommy Santos, as she is fondly called by diehard fans), mother of Superstar Vilma, proceeds to relate how her darling daughter religiously followed her favorite soap-operas on the radio in her off-school hours, imitating the airlane actresses later on when the family gathered at the sala. “Umiiyak pa ‘yan,” Mommy Santos goes on, “and she really cried real tears.”
Of course, Vi’s histrionic potentials didn’t escape the attention of her teachers in school. Everytime there was an affair on the campus, she would be there on stage, either delivering a declamation, singing a song or making like a little Rosa Mia in a drama skit. One day in 1962, eight-year old Vi tagged along with her uncle Amaury Agra (a cameraman) to the Sampaguita Studios to watch her favorite actresses and actors act before the cameras. Doc Perez saw her and was so fascinated by Vi’s lovable ways that, there and then, he let her play one of the two waifs in the tearjerker, Anak, Ang Iyong Ina!, a Lolita Rodriguez-Luis Gonzales starrer, afilming at that time. “Doc didn’t even give me a screen test,” Vi cuts in.
Days later, during a shooting lull, Vi wandered around the huge studio and found herself in the office of Doc Perez where some 800 tots were being tested for the title role of the next Sampaguita film. By accident, Vi got into the contest and walked away with the coveted role hands down. “Doc asked me to cry, umiyak naman ako,” Vi recalls, “he asked me to laugh, tumawa naman ako ng husto, ganyan. He asked me to do many other things. He must have been impressed dahil he assigned the role of Trudis Liit kaagad to me.” That was how Vilma Santos broke into the big screen. “My real name is actually Rosa Vilma Santos. Pero sabi ni Doc, there were several Rosa’s in the movies already, may Rosa Mia, may Rosa Rosal, may Rosa Aguirre, so he decided to drop Rosa from my name.”
For four years, from 1962 to 66, there was hardly any tearjerker without Vilma Santos in the cast. A born actress, she was very precocious and had a notably alacrity for giving in to what her roles demanded. She absorbed difficult and emotion-filled dialogues with ease and acted her parts very naturally. As a child actress, she chalked up more than a dozen movies and had ably pitted acting talents with such drama stalwarts as Eddie Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden, Lolita Rodriguez and Luis Gonzales. “I have two favorite pictures as a child actress, “ she says. “ang isa ‘yong Trudis Liit nga and the other is Ging where I portrayed the role of a child actress. When I saw the first movie sa sine, I cried because I pitied myself in the movie, kawawa kasi ako doon, e. It was s sob story you know, at kahit siguro ikaw maiiyak ka rin.
In Ging, nahirapan ako ng katakut-takot because it was heavy drama. Pero it gave me a very good chance to really act dahil it had a little of everything, a little drama, a little musical, a little comedy, a little of marami pang iba.” She had to stop appearing in the movies after finishing grade school. “I wanted to concentrate on my studies, that’s why I enrolled at the St. Mary’s Academy. I wanted to take up Fine Arts after graduation. I loved to paint noon, you know, pero ngayon, hindi na masyado.” But once an actress, so the saying goes, always an actress. Vi was in her third year high school when she felt an irresistable itch to work again before the cameras.
At first, her parents (Mr. and Mrs. Amado Constantino Santos) were reluctant but a compromise was reached: no shooting during her class schedules. By this time, Vilma was growing up to be a lady. This was mid-1969. The advent of 1970 brought new prospects for Vi and her young colleagues. Susan Roces and Amalia Fuentes had got hitched and there was some sort of a “search for another queen” in local filmdom. Because she had a strong public appeal and very endearing ways with her legions of followers (Vilmanians!) Vi was easily considered a possible successor to the throne left vacant by Susan and Amalia.
But she had a rival in the person of Nora Aunor. “There’s realy no personal rivalry between us,” she assures. “Friends kami, e.” It was when she got paired with Edgar Mortiz (Vi’s boyfriend on and off the camera) that Vi’s star shone doubly brighter in the movie firmament. The team up also did good to Edgar. First paired in Sampaguita’s Young Love (where they appeared with Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III), Vi and Edgar have now finished more than two dozen films, all of them veritable box-office hits. The two are under contract with Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions but they have an option to make pictures with other outfits with the proper consent of TIIP bosses. “I like Bobot (that’s how Edgar is called by Vi and their fans) naman because mabait siya at gentleman,” Vi smiles.
The crowning glory of their careers came early this year when they won as Mr and Miss Philippine Movies in a nationwide popularity contest conducted by a vernacular magazine. Their coronation grabbed the headlines when some fans of defeated stars staged a rampage, prompting Mommy Santos to announce on the microphone that “it was not our side that started the commotion. ” Aside from being good neighbors in a subdivision in Quezon City, Vi and Edgar are ‘always together’ anywhere they go. In addition to their movie work, they have also two regular shows on television, The Sensations (which was made into a movie) and Edgar Loves Vilma, both on Channel 2.
They also did several recordings together, all of them a sellout. Vi waxed her first (solo) single when she was 16 and the title of the song was Sixteen. But Vi has a drawing power all her own. No matter who her leading man is, her movies invariably attract moviegoers. Ikaw Lamang, where she had Paolo Romero for her love interest, was acclaimed topgrosser in the Quezon City Film Festival last September. One of her latest pictures, Teen-age Senorita with Manny de Leon, grossed no less than P40,000 on its first day showing in two theaters. (The movie was made by Zodiac Films, an outfit owned by Manny’s family.) Vi celebrated her 18th birthday last November 3 in a style befitting a superstar. There was a whole-day celebration; fans from as far north as Ilocos and as far south as Cebu came to greet her. The unforgettable day was capped with a formal ball at The Plaza where Vi had no less than Manda Elizalde, the senatorial candidate she and Bobot had campaigned for in the last elections, as a special guest. And like a faithful boyfriend, Edgar stayed close to Vilma throughout the affair.
Two weeks later, the two left to make two movies in Hawaii and USA. At 18, you may ask, what else does Vilma Santos crave for? “Not much”, she says. “I just hope that good things will continue to happen to me, that my fans will remain loyal and true.” Despite success, Vi has remained level-headed; she has admirably kept her sweet and charming disposition. Even when confronted with malicious gossip about her, she just remains calm: “I don’t mind rumors very much. As a movie star, I am susceptible to gossips, but I choose to ignore them.” And because she is truly aware that stardom is temporary, Vilma Santos doesn’t mind working hard now, accepting the many offers that come her way as long as they don’t endanger her health -and her image. “My philosophy is simple,” she says, “Make hay while the sun shines.” Mommy Santos could only nod in agreement. – Written by Ricardo F. Lo The Sunday Times Magazine – Dec. 5, 1971
Is the title Star For All Seasons not enough for Vilma Santos? Not if you ask an Ateneo student who wrote a paper for his film course in school and proposed that the title “Queenstar” fits Vilma better. Listen to what reader Xavier Limtuaco of Makati City has to say: My best friend wrote a paper on his Film Course at the Ateneo on what the appropriate title should be for Ms. Vilma Santos. He proposed the title “Queenstar” because her current title “Star for All Seasons” undermines her status and achievements as a movie queen and all-time Best Actress.
He got an “A” from Father Nick Cruz for his paper. “Star for all Seasons” sounds so plain when compared to the strength or magnitude of “Superstar” and “Megastar” which is why he thought of “Queenstar.” I loved the title because I was proposing myself to change her title to “Queen for all Seasons.” With “Star for all Seasons” Vilma is simply a star with no adjective describing her star status.
“Queenstar” befits Ate Vi to a T because she has been Box-Office Queen many times and she has been called “Queen Vi” many times as well. Vilma is the only movie queen to have successfully combined commercial and artistic success unlike most movie queens or dramatic actresses who can not have the best of both worlds. I hope that your column could push for the new title for Ate Vi since she deserves a better and more appropriate title. “Queenstar” is a title Vilma richly deserves in view of her outstanding artistic achievements in local show business then… until now when, after 42 years in the business, she is still at the peak of her career with projects lined up for her by major film studios like Regal, Star Cinema and Unitel. Hail to Vilma Santos, Queenstar! Sincerely, Xavier Limtuaco – FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo The Philippine Star 02/21/2005
Star For All Seasons 
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