Respect - “...We have been talking about women empowerment—you should treat women with respect. Ang sinasabi nila babae lang naka sunod lang sa lalaki—not anymore. We truly respect men, but remember marami kami kaya gawin. Hindi ka babae lang—babae kami. Do not underestimate us, do not say bad words against us, kahit papano—aalma kami. Bago ka magsalita ng hindi maganda, tingnan mo sarili mo.” - Hon. Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, Governor of the Province of Batangas, Philippines, reported by Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News, 16 March 2026
Quiet Strength - "...What makes their union remarkable is not its perfection, but its resilience. Through political seasons, showbiz pressures and personal challenges, Vilma and Ralph have chosen consistency over spectacle and partnership over ego. Their story is one of quiet strength — a reminder that true power lies not in titles or applause, but in a marriage that continues to endure, inspire and grow with grace..." - Jefferson Fernando, Daily Tribune, 15 Feb 2026
The Essence is Clear - "...One of the biggest box-office hits of 1978 was Magkaribal. In the film, Vilma Santos and Alma Moreno were rivals for the affection of Christopher de Leon. During filming, Vilma and Alma indeed became rivals — not for De Leon’s affection, but for star magnitude. Vima Santos-Recto. Batangas vlogger asked her reaction to bashers criticizing her, her husband — Executive Secretary Ralph Recto — and their son, Ryan Christian. After the content was uploaded, some mean soul re-edited the interview to make her look pompous. In my recent communication with Vilma, she did not deny issuing the controversial statement. Her fault? A “wrong choice of words,” which she readily admitted. Lyka Manalo, the Batangas vlogger who originally uploaded the interview in full, later posted on Facebook a complete transcription of Vilma’s chat with local media. It is tedious reading, having been transcribed from video, but the essence is clear: Vilma was referring to her family’s bashers — not the rest of humanity — in that conversation with the Batangas press. Vilma will surely get over this hump in time. Still, one can only imagine the kind of Christmas she endured during what is supposed to be a season of joy..." - Butch Francisco, Daily Tribune, 09 Jan 2026
