Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto (born Maria Rosa
Vilma Tuazon Santos November 3, 1953 in Bamban, Tarlac), commonly known
as Vilma Santos-Recto or Ate Vi is a Filipino actress and box office
queen for almost four decades. One of the original Philippine movie
queens, she rose up to become the versatile actress that has been given
the fitting title of “Star for All Seasons” because of her capacity to
adapt to the changing mores and values of the Filipino woman, giving a
face to their plight and struggles, albeit in success both critically
and box-office wise in some of Philippine cinema’s classics such as Trudis Liit (1963), Lipad, Darna, Lipad (1973), Burlesk Queen (1977), Relasyon (1982), Sister Stella L. (1984), Alyas Baby Tsina (1984), Pahiram ng Isang Umaga (1989), Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story (1993), Anak (2000) and Dekada ’70 (2002). – Wikipedia (She is currently in politics as the governor of Batangas, Philippines (READ MORE)
Some notable quotes about Governor Vilma Santos Recto:
Lino Brocka: “…she is very good, she is really big…by the time of Hahamakin Lahat there was the complete sensibility already – a difference in the way she expressed pain and hurt. Talent was welling out like spring water, and flowing from her most naturally.”
Ricardo Lee: “…Vilma, by embodying the different images of the Filipina as victim and fighter in the span of three decades, has consistently molded the image of the woman and society that moves forward…”
Lea Salonga: “Vilma is an actress who can compare with top caliber actresses of Hollywood. She is an epitome of a real queen of Philippine cinema. I really look up to her.”
Sharon Cuneta: “Bata pa ako hindi pa ako artista talagang idol ko na si ate Vi. Pinupuntahan ko pa yan sa bahay niya para lang makita at maka-usap kahit ako lang mag-isa.”
Gloria Romero: “I first worked with Vilma when she was just a child star. From then, alam kong malayo ang mararating niya as an actor dahil bata pa mahusay na. Hindi ako nagkamali. Hindi lang siya basta naging artista, kundi naging isa sa pinakamahusay at pinakasikat.”
Charito Solis: “Vilma is a better actress (as compare to her rival)…she has wider range ..a puede kahit anong role(and can do any role)…”
Kris Aquino: “Once you encounter and know ate Vi, you will realized how nice and thoughtful she is. She is always been an inspiration to me. Masarap siyang maging kaibigan.”
Ms. Rosa Rosal: “Si Vilma ang isa sa madalas magpadala ng tulong kapag may mga pangangailangan o project kami sa Red Cross at Damayan. Iilan lang ang katulad niya na kusang tumutulong na hindi na kailangan pang ipaalam sa publiko.”
Ishmael Bernal: “In Ikaw ay Akin, Vilma was already conscious of her own particular style of acting…which can be described as minimal, less is more. The fewer and simpler gestures, the greater effect…(Working in Pahiram Ng Isang Umage, Bernal said)…she had become an artist, no longer a movie star and just following the director’s instructions...”
Olivia Lamasan: “...With Vilma Santos, kung ano na-imagine ko, plus 10 plus a hundred, she always exceeds it. I’m really in awe of her brilliance, sobra siyang magaling...I was editing [the other day] and there was a scene na drama with John Lloyd (Cruz) and Ate Vi. Pagkatapos kong ma-edit I got so affected that I had to call my mother in the (United) States to tell her I love her and I miss her. So ganun ka-affecting ang performances nila...I want to see her not in a comedy kasi drama pa rin eh pero in a comedic situation. I know for a fact that as a director, hindi ko siya kayang gawing slapstick kasi ako ang number one fan niya. I respect her so much and hindi ko kaya ng ganung comedy for her..."
Mig Macario: "...I've read up on Filipino history...Although I was raised in Canada and grew up in North America, I still have really strong tries to being Filipino...Pinoy ang puso 'ko...Somebody would come from the Philippines and they'd bring in Vilma Santos films, and I just remember, 'Oh, this woman is making me so emotional, I think I'm a Vilmanian. That's what they call it, I think..."
Sarah Geronimo: "...It would be an honor po na maka-trabaho ang isang Ms. Vilma Santos...Bilang baguhan na artista ay malaking challenge po 'yan na kailangan kong harapin at paghandaan..."
House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin’’ Tañada: “...We cannot separate those two. Where there is Nora, there should also be Vilma because they grew up practically at the same time. I think both deserve such recognition (National Artist)...If and when a submission is given, then we will certainly take it under consideration...She has a very good and very sterling career in movies and she’s certainly one of the people that we respected in the industry so that would be seriously considered if that were submitted to the proper agency...”
Jon Santos: “She crosses over from politics to showbiz and back. She can say one thing and it can be about motherhood, or love, or stardom, or politics….ang
taong for all seasons – award season, holiday season, election season, even back-to-school season. Over time I’ve had the chance to meet her, and nabigyan niya ako ng acting tips. She has validated my work and given me her friendship.”
John lloyd Cruz: “…Yung pinakamahirap kong eksena ‘yung confrontation ko with Ate Vi. Sobrang mahirap siyang katrabaho, hindi dahil sa unprofessional siya pero dahil kapag katrabaho mo siya, napapatingin ka na lang, napapanood ka na lang…Parang ‘yung isang confrontation namin andaming nangyari. Madaming blocking, palipat-lipat…Nung una, full shot lang ni Ate Vi. Siyempre support ako all the way. Kahit ‘di ako kita, acting ako, ganyan. Pero nung reverse ko na, puro ako na, and it’s time for me to
deliver, nanonood ako kasi si Ate Vi kahit na support lang siya umaarte rin. Sobrang generous ni Ate Vi na kahit hindi siya kita sa camera, umaarte. Ibinibigay niya. So ako sa halip na intindihin ko ‘yung emotions ko dahil kailangan kong mag-deliver, hindi ko magawa kasi ilang takes pinapanood ko siya. In that sense mahirap siyang katrabaho…”
Xavier Limtuaco (Ateneo student): “Star for all Seasons” sounds so plain…”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…Queenstar” is a title Vilma richly deserves in view of her outstanding artistic achievements in local show business…Hail to Vilma Santos, Queenstar!”
Claudine Barretto: “...Ang sarap ng pakiramdam sobra, pero bilang isang Vilmanian ayokong may pumalit o sumunod sa yapak ni Ate Vi. There will never be another Vilma Santos. Nag-iisa lang siya. Ako mismo ayokong may magsabi na papalitan o ito ang susunod sa yapak ni Ate Vi unless anak niya parang ganun. Yun yung feeling ko bilang Vilmanian but I’m very honored na of course galing siyempre kay Ate Vi Star for All Seasons yun...Pag galing kay Ate Vi na sobrang respetado sa industriya at pulitiko, grabe yung honor at privilege na napansin niya yun yung talent mo, para akong nag-grand slam sa sinabi ni Ate Vi...”
Chris Martinez, playwright, director: "...Di ba dapat naman siya ang idolohin, the way she's lived her life?...Ang mga ina-idol natin dapat yung mga pasulong sa liwanag!...”
For copy of V magazine, CLICK HERE
