Gerry's Plan - "...Now what I'd like to happen is to have directors unite and talk about how we can improve our art. Ofcourse, they will say: Why should I share my secrets with Gerry? But that should not be the attitude. I'm not saying this because I'm old, no. I'm passing the buck to the young directors. Talking about achievements, I was given the Life Achievement Award by the FAMAS. But I would like to talk about what I did not achieve. And I pass this thing which I did not achieve to you, to Brocka, to Ishmael Bernal, to Eddie Romero, to the young generation, to - yong si - gumawa ng Vilma Santos... what's his name now?...(PDC: Celso AD. Castillo.)...Yan! Me tipo, me drive. They can do it if they'll only try, and given the chance. Pero kami what we spent for money in those days were peanuts, and when you spend peanuts you get - peanuts! Now, budgets are getting bigger. Nevertheless, we still need an Academy because we are slowly being eaten up by foreigners. Ah, you don't realize 0 look at your morning papers. Look who pays for the biggest advertisements. Not us. If they are not being paid by Americans maybe they're being paid by the Chinese, or the Japanese. I'd like the movie people to unite in order to perfect themselves. Like these actors..." - Pio de Castro III, WHO Magazine, June 24, 1978, re-posted by James DR, Pelikula ATBP, 08 August 2018 (READ MORE)
FAMAS best of the best - "Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit,"a motion picture described by critics as the quintessential Tagalog movie, garnered seven major awards, including best actor and best actres, from Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) in star-studded rites at the Manila Holtel last Saturday. "Bilangin," which counted three long years in the making, won for its producer Lily Monteverde of Regal Films the top award as Best Picture of 1989 even as its lead players Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III were named best actress and best actor, respectively. The film's director, Elwood Perez, tied with Eddie Garcia won for "Imortal," which like "Bilangin," spanned three generations of a never-ending love affair. In accepting his award, his second in a row from the Famas, Perez thanked the oldest awards body in the local film industry for recognizing and giving credit to the artistic mertis of "Bilangin." Perez also won as best director last year for "Ibulong Mo Sa Diyos." Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit" also won awards for best arti direction (Ray Maliuanag, Raymond Bajarias, Freddie Valencia and Gerry Pascual); screenplay (Jake Cocadiz and Jigz Recto); sound (Joe Climaco). The movie earlier won both acting and technical honors from the Star and Urian Awards. Other winners: Ricky Davao, best supporting actor ("Abot Hanggang Sukdulan"); Cherrie Gil, best supporting actress ("Ang Bukas Ay Akin"); RR Herrera, best child actor ("Rosenda"); Aiza Seguerra, best child actress ("Ang Pusa"). Orlando Nandres, best story ("Imortal"); Willy Cruz, best song ("Pahiram ng Isang Umaga"); Willy Cruz, musical score ("Pahiram ng Isang Umaga"); Jun Cabrales, special effects ("Joe Pring"); Edgardo 'Boy' Vinarao, editing ("Ang Lahat ng Ito Pati na ang Langit"); Joe Batac, cinematography ("Imortal"). Vilma Santos who has five Famas best actress trophies behind her, was elevated to the Hall of Fame in nostalgic, if tearful ceremonies. Sound engineer Rollie Ruta similarly was elevated to the Hall of Fame for having won five awards for best sound. The Famas also gave the following special awards: Lea Salonga (Cirio Santiago Memorial Award and the German Moreno Youth Foundation Award); Bibsy Carballo (Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial Award for Journalism); Cachupoy (Lou Salvador Sr Memorial Award). Dina Bonevie, glowing in a pink formal dress was named "Face of the Night" and went home richer by P10,000." - Nestor Cuartero, Tempo, 21 May 1990, re-posted by James DR, Pelikula ATBP (READ MORE)
Most Deserving - "...His reputarion as a commercial director eclipsed whatever in the mid-70s towards serious art. To this day, critics single out his productions of Divorce: Filipino Style and Isang Gabi, Tatlong Babae as landmark films for and about women. His excursions into melodrama, actually his turf, are no less exciting. Nakawin Natin Ang Bawat Sandali; Masarap, Masakit Ang Umibig; Till We Meet Again; Pakawalan Mo Ako; Ibulong Mo Sa Diyos. The last two won for Vilma Santos two Famas trophies to complete her magic five qualifying her to the Hall of Fame. More than any other person's winning, Perez is most visibly elated by the victory of Tirso Cruz III in Bilangin. "I thought he was more deserving. People have this notion that Tirso is not exactly a good actor but his performance in Bilangin bertrays all that. It's his old image as a matineer idol that works against him still. I'm glad Pip is over and done with it now and that people are actually convinced how great an actor he is..." - Nestor Cuartero, Tempo, 21 May 1990, re-posted by James DR, Pelikula ATBP (READ MORE)
Walang Reklamo - "...Nang iakyat na sa Hall of Fame si Vilma Santos, ganoon na lamang katahimik ng mga tao sa loob ng Grand Ballroom ng Manila Hotel. Pati sila ay nakiramdam sa feeling ni Ate Vi na walang ginawa noon kundi ang punasan nang punasan ang luha at inom ito nang inom ng tubig dahil siguro nahihirapan siyang huminga at may nakabara sa kanyang lalamunan?...In sum, masaya, matagumpay at okey naman ang 38th FAMAS Awards Night nung Sabado, May 19th. Atleast, walang reklamo at angal na narinig..." - Ross F. Celino, Jr., Unknown source, re-posted by James DR, Pelikula ATBP (READ MORE)
Free Love - "...Fate would have it that in the space of three days I watched Vilma Santos as June (in Kampus, 1978), the firm believer of ‘free love’ caught between the attentions of two men, and Angel Locsin as the fierce Ces, setting the terms of an affair with a man she decidedly resists. Four decades apart, these representations of strong, independent women caught within obstacles premised on love remain appealing to viewers. The conflicts faced by June and Ces are hinged on unconventional ideas about the conduct of heterosexual relationships. These women characters unequivocally distance themselves from the bind of traditional relationships and the expectations that burden it; June with sophisticated musing and Ces with stoic distance...While Vilma Santos’s June ponders her preference for ‘free love’ intelligently, weighs her dilemmas with pensive introspection, faces her hurdles with sarcasm and humour; Angel Locsin’s Ces is denied this chance, wallows instead in denial which became infuriatingly tiresome. This is not to blame Locsin’s abilities as an actor (adept at she is in portraying conflicted characters, torn in situations not of their making) but on the film’s failure to fully flesh out its characters. The film failed to grasp a deeper vein of feeling. Thus, when we find Ces and Macky in strained conversations grappling with their predicaments as individuals and lovers, why do they seem unconvincing, their loneliness and dilemmas so affected?" - Deborah Jermyn, 2011, posted by YCC (READ MORE)
Hall of Famer - "...Tampok nu'ng gabing iyon ang pag-i-elevate sa "Star For All Seasons" na si Vilma Santos sa prestihoyosong Famas Hall of Fame, bunga ng kanyang pagkakamit ng kabuuang limang best actress awards mula sa nasabing award-giving body sa mga nagdaang taon. Binigyang-kulay ang nasabing bahagi ng parangal sa pamamagitan ng isang puno-ng-alaalang musical number na nilahukan ni Vilma, kasama ang cast ng dati niyang TV show na The Sensations na sina Perla Adea, Ike Lozada, Darius Razon, Tony Santos, Jr at Romy Mallari..." - Lito Divinagracia, Unknown source, re-posted by James DR, Pelikula ATBP (READ MORE)
Silent Confrontation - "...The movie brings together fierce cinema rivals Aunor and Vilma Santos as well as Aunor’s then-husband, Christopher de Leon. Skydiving enthusiast Rex (De Leon) and horticulturist Tere (Aunor) are in a stable relationship until the arrival of Sandra (Santos), a liberal-minded artist. Rex embarks on an affair with her, then becomes overcome with guilt when Tere discovers the relationship. Ikaw ay Akin is best known for the “silent” confrontation scene between Aunor and Santos, where neither speak a single line and communicate by just staring at each other..." - Coconuts Manila, 27 July 2018 (READ MORE)
Serious Actress - "Aminado si Vilma Santos na ang 1982 ay naging banner year para sa kanya. Bago pumasok ang taon ay napili siyang best actress sa Metro Manila Filmfest dahil sa pagkakaganap niya sa Karma. Kalahatian ng taon ay nahirang naman siyang Famas best actress para sa performance niya sa Pakawalan Mo Ako. At bago natapos ang taon ay nagwagi siya bilang unang best actress ng Let's Talk Movies for her body of work sa mga pelikulang Relasyon, Sinasamba Kita, Never Ever Say Goodbye, T-Bird at Ako at Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan? And very recently, tinanghal din siyang box office actress of 1982 sa kauna-unahang Cinehan Awards na ipinamigay ng Metro Manila Theatres Association. Ito'y dahil sa katotohanang ang mga pelikula niyang Sinasamba Kita at Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan? ang siyang biggest blockbusters of the year. Maulit kaya ang winning streak na ito ni Vi ngayong 1983? Isang matamis na ngiti ang agad na isinukli ni Vi sa aming tanong. "Sana," aniya. "Kung patuloy na susuportahan ng publiko ang mga pelikula ko." From all indications, hindi malayong maulit sa taong ito ang mga tagumpay na natamo niya noong kalilipas na taon. Katatapos lamang niya gawin sa Amerika ang Ayaw Kong Maging Kerida with erstwhile beau, Romeo Vasquez. Hindi matatawaran ang naging resulta sa takilya ng mga una nilang pagtatambal sa Nag-aapoy na Damdamin at Isang Pugad, Dalawang Ibon kaya't malamang na muling tangkilikin ng madla ang muli nilang pagpapareha. Sinimulan na niya ang shooting ng Broken Marriage para sa Regal at ng Paano Ba Ang Mangarap? para sa Viva. Dito, ang makakatambal naman niya ay ang perennial box-office mate niyang si Christopher de Leon. With such project in hand, how can she afford to lose? Then, there's the project Director Mike de Leon has planned for her. Hindi na ito ang Sister Stella L na tungkol sa isang rebeldeng madre. Na-shelve na iyon dahil sa inaasahang magiging problema sa censors. Mike now wants her to do a romance-drama and we heard na baka sa bakuran din ng Viva gawin ang proyektong ito. Sa mga pelikulang nagawa niya recently at maging sa mga susunod pa niyang projects, nalilinya si Vi sa roles ng "the other woman." A lot of people says it's the kind of role she does best. Ano kaya ang opinyon tungkol dito? "Tutoong I've played the role of the other woman several times na," tugon niya. "But it's portrayed not in the usual way na nang-aagaw ako ng asawa kundi in a more sympathetic, understanding manner. Ang ikinatutuwa ko nga is the fact that the public has learned to accept me doing all sort of roles, like the mature roles na ginagawa ko ngayon. Even the sexy scences I did in some of my films. Kung hindi nila tinanggap ang transition ko from being a mere movie star to a serious actress tackling more demanding roles, I doubt very much kung nandito pa rin ako hanggang ngayon. They've been very kind to me and for that, it's only proper that I should be grateful..." - Mario E. Bautista, Movie Flash Magazine, February 17, 1983, reposted by James DR, Pelikula Atbp, 25 May 2017 (READ MORE)
Burlesk Queen, Reyna ng Pelikulang Pilipino - Celso Ad. Castillo's Burlesk Queen surpasses past attempts to integrate cinematic qualities in a film and Castillo's own previous experiments, which critics found bombastic and purely commercial. Like no other film by Castillo or other directors, Burlesk Queen, with its synchronized techniques and the significance of its message successfully gives substance to the trendy subject of sex-for-sale. The movie tells of a teen-age burlesque dancer in the '50s, who suffers deprivation, personal crises, alienation, and in the end, an abortion as she dances her grand finale for survival. With such a simple plot, the movie laudably brings together the talents of director Castillo, screenwriter Mauro Gia Samonte, musical director George Canseco, actors Vilma Santos, Rollie Quizon and Roldan Aquino, cinematographer Ben Lobo, and editor Abelardo Hulleza. Castillo's creativity is seen in the use of radio darma and music, meaningful gestures, and visual metaphors or allusions to give added psychological and emotional dimensions to dramatic situations. Lucid exposition and delineation of the conflict are carried out through particular techniques like ensemble acting to reveal the individual characters' needs, emphasis on visual details rather than talky dialogues to drive home a point, and active camera movements (cuts) to suggest the passage of time in the burlesque dancer's career. The tragic ending is prepared for by a logical presentation of what happens eventually to all the characters. Artistic form and meaningful content merge to convey the film's statement on society's view of low-class entertainment. Moralist censure burlesque dancing, but as the stage impressario in Burlesk Queen asks, what form of entertainment then should be given to ordinary people who cannot afford to watch shows which are exclusively for the rich who dictate the community's morals? The irony lies in the fact that while audiences are entertained, the performers' lives are none of their concern. For these cheap entertainers who dare to live outside society's moreal laws, there is only condemnation. - Jun Cruz Reyes, The URIAN Anthology 1970-79, reported by Simon Santos, Video48 Blogspot, 27 August 2018 (READ MORE)
Mod Spotlight - "Bold is the order of the day and even the "sweetest"of our stars are slowly being drawn into it. Vilma Santos, for one, is doing a movie with Merle Fernandez, something with the suggestive title Mga Rosas sa Putikan. Editor-in-chief Ernie Evora Sioco serves you the peice, still piping hot, along with the juiciest bits concerning local filmdom in her "Starliners." - Mod Magazine, Vol VIII No. 248 May 20 1976
Pati si Vi Kampi Kay Guy - "Kahit sabihing hindi original at chipangga ang gimik ng mga Noranians na mag-collect ng one million signatures para ipakita ang suporta nila kay Nora Aunor sa pag-kaka-kansela ng "Superstar" nito, malaking tagumpay pa ring masasabi ang kampanya. As of last Sunday, 1,200,000 signatures na ang nakokolekta ng grupo. Sa October 1 pa (last telecast ng show) ang deadline ng pangungulekta ng signatures. Sa dami ng sumusuporta sa aktres, hinuhulaang aabot sa dalawang milyon ang makukuhang signatures ng mga taong nas likod ng kampanya. Bago pumuta sa "Superstar," dinaanan muna ni Guy sa launching ng "Isang Milyong Lagda para sa Superstar" sa Araneta Coliseum. Napaiyak daw ang aktres nang makita ang dami ng taong handang sumuporta sa kanya. Kabilang nga raw sa sumuporta sa aktres ang fans ni Vilma Santos na nakihalo sa mga Noranians noong linggo ng hapon sa Araneta Coliseum. Ang balita, pinapunta raw ni Vilma ang mga tagahanga para ipakita kay Nora na kampi sila rito sa laban niya sa Channel 9. Bukod sa fans, may ipinadala pa raw note si Vilma kay Nora..."- Nitz Miralles, People's Journal, 29 September 1989
Flash: Vilma personal na nagpaabot ng suporta sa kumareng Guy! RPN 9 makikipagrenegotiate! - "Personal nang ipinaabot ni Vilma Santos ang kaniyang all-out support para sa kaniyang kaibigan at kumareng si Nora Aunor. Ayon sa isang reliable informant ng Bongga, tumawag umano si Vi kay Nora kahapon nang alas dos ng madaling-araw at hayagang sinabing nakahanda anumang oras ang aktres upang sumuporta sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng huli. Bagama't lubos itong ikinatuwa ng Superstar, nagpasubali umano si Nora na kung ang sinasabing bagong programang inialok sa kaniya ng GMA-7 ay isa ring musical, hinding-hindi niya umano iyon tatanggapin, in fairness to Vilma. Sa kabilang dako, may balak umano ang RPN 9 na makipag-renegotiate kay Nora hingil sa programang Superstar. Ito ang ipinarating ni Dennis Cabltin, Marketing Director ng RPN, sa pamamagitan ni Kitchie Benedicto na siyang orihinal na producer-director ng Superstar, at ngayon ay General Manager ng Celebrity Sports Plaza (LD). - Bongga Magazine, 01 October 1989