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" and "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 s'ya 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", V Magazine Issue Nos 6 Feb 23, 2005 (READ MORE)
Isa sa mga naalala ko noon yung radio programs nina Ate Luds, Inday Badiday (RIP) and Eddie Ilagan (is this his last name? where is he now?). Si Ate Luds identified kay Nora at that time. Si Kuya Eddie Ilagan naman maka-vilma. Then nagkagulo noon sina Nora at Ate Luds because of that hula-hula sa TV show ni Ate Luds na si Ate Vi raw ang wagi sa "Rubia Servios" (which unfortunately turned out wrong). However, majority of the movie going public thought that Ate Vi was robbed of the best actress award that year. Di ba nagtampo si Nora kay Ate Luds. One thing led to another and by the time you know it, naging magkaibigan sina Ate Luds and Ate Vi. During this time nagtampo naman si Kuya Eddie kay Ate Vi sa dahilang hindi ko na maalala. Kaya ng nangyari nabaligtad ang kanilang loyalty. Si Ate Luds panay si Ate Vi ang prino-promote sa radio program niya while si Kuya Eddie naman ay napunta kay Nora. Bumibisita ang mga Vilmanians noon sa radio program ni Ate Luds at ang mga Noranians sa radio program ni Kuya Eddie. This was also the time yung kainitan kung sino ang dapat gumanap na Annie Batungbakal. Many believed that na bagay na bagay yung role kay Ate Vi. Since she is considered as the Dancing Queen. But lo and behold, napunta yung role kay Nora. Balita ko she bought the rights to make it into a movie yata. Naalala ko rin noon si Kuya Eddie ilagan panay ang patugtog ng mga kantang ikaw ang superstar ng buhay ko (tama ba ang title, Kuya Charlz?) at yung ngang Anie Batungbakal dedicated kay Nora. Si Ate Luds naman may kantang dedicated kay Ate Vi. If I am not mistaken ito yung kantang "Pinakamagandang babae sa balat ng lupa" (Tama ba yung title, Kambal?) or is it "Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko?" whatever the song was, palaging pina-patugtog ni Ate Luds iyon dedicated para kay Ate Vi at sa mga Vilmanians as well. Then one day just as nagkabati sina Ate Luds at Nora, nagkabati din sina Ate Vi at Kuya Eddie. So to be fair to both, ang ginawa ni Kuya Eddie Ilagan pinapatugtog niya pareho yung mga kantang dedicated for Ate Vi and Nora. Then kuya eddie had this idea to have a debate on who is more sikat and mas magaling between Ate Vi and nora (now we know the answer: Ate Vi). Kuya Eddie asked Beth Malongat and his younger sis na artista din at that time na si Dolly Ilagan to have a debate on who is mas sikat at mas magaling kina Ate Vi and Nora. Beth was asked to represent the Vilmanians while Dolly represented the Noranians. Araw-araw yung portion na iyon sa radio program ni Kuya Eddie. Beth will say something good and positive about Ate Vi while Dolly will do the same for Nora. Until one day, they decided to stop it kasi both Beth and Dolly were receiving hate mails/phone calls from the two camps (but now we know kung sino ang mas capable of doing these nasty things, di ba Kuya Mar?) both Beth and Dolly admitted that they were being affected by the negative criticisms, that they are receiving from both groups. After that wala na po akong maalala kahit panay ang kain ko ng kalabasa to sharpen my memory buti na lang hindi panay kalabasa ang mga grades ko sa school at that Liam & Alfons time. Ang buhay talaga, parang life! - Father Juancho Gutierrez, V Magazine Issue Nos 7, Oct 28, 2005 (READ MORE)
Naisip ko bigla si Ike Lozada for some reasons. Sayang kinuha na siya ni Lord, isa pa naman siya sa maituturing na tunay na kaibigan ni Ate Vi at mga Vilmanians. Lagi kong pinapanood ang mga TV shows niya noon, one of them was Big Ike’s Happennings. S'yempre laging guest si Ate Vi (at saka si Winnie). There was a time that he was interviewed about her side defending Ate Vi, the article’s title was "Si Vilma Santos sa paningin ni Ike Lozada" ito yung parang sagot niya sa colum ni Kuya Germs about "Si Nora Aunor sa paningin ni German Moreno." Nakakatuwa ang mga banat ni Kuya Ike lalo na ng sabihin niyang "Si Vilma talaga dapat ang nanalo sa Rubia Servios sa opinion ko." There was a time that he wrote a story for Vilma pero hanggang kwento lang siya hindi naman nagmaterialized dahil hindi naman niya ginagawa in writing. Binabangit lang niya sa Radio program niya yung plot ng story like yung "Kulaspira, Basag ang pula." Kakatawa ang title pero gusto niya na luka-luka daw si Ate Vi dito or something like that. Meron pa ngang Annie Batungbakal na base sa hit song ng Hotdogs pero naunahan siya ng NV production at ginawang movie ni Guy. Inis na inis noon si Ike sa radio program niya pero wala naman siyang laban kasi nga hanggang kwento lang siya sa radio, walang black & white. Sabi pa nga niya si Guy daw ay mahusay kumanta pero sa sayaw daw ay mas bagay kay Vi ang Annie Batungbakal. Gosh, everyday ay naririnig ko sa radio program niya ang plot na plano niya for the said movie, naka-program na nga sa utak ko na para kay Ate Vi yon eh. Pero ganoon talaga, unahan lang yan. Ang isa pang di ko makalimutan ay during the shooting of "Yakapin mo ako Lalaking Matapang." Vilma-Lito Lapid movie, ang working title noon ay "Ang Senyorita at ang Driver." S'yempre may-I plug ang Ike sa movie ni Ate Vi kahit filming pa lang ito. Sabi niya "O mga Vilmanians, abangan nyo na ang Senyorita at ang Atsay." Sabay tawa ng malakas si tabatsoy. "Sorry, slip of the tounge po, Senorita at ang Driver pala". Hahahaha. Meron pang instance noon na nasa States si Ate Vi while shooting "Pinay American Style" nag-overseas call si Ike, collect pa ha. Tapos syempre on the air ito sa radio program niya. Ang daming kwento ni Ate Vi, nakatutok talaga ko sa radio noon pati Nanay ko. Nung medyo mahaba na ang conversation nila ay nag-paalam na si Kuya Ike kasi daw baka malaki na ang babayaran ni Ate Vi. Hirit naman ni Ate Vi "Ok lang Kuya Ike, akong bahala, mamaya mo na ibaba. Miss ko na kayong lahat eh" Hay naku, ang sarap ng buhay pag may isang Vilma Santos. And yes, miss ko na si Kuya Ike. May you rest in peace. - Franco Gabriel, V Magazine Issue Nos 6 (READ MORE)
Si kuya Ike Lozada ang nagbansag kay Ate Vi ng palayaw na "Precious" marahil dahil sa parang mamahaling kristal si Ate Vi sa paningin ng malusog na radio announcer na ito. Si Kuya Ike isa sa mga naging instrumento kung bakit naging sikat ang tambalang Vi at Bot. Kung si Guy at Pip ay mayroong German Moreno, si Vi at Bot naman ay mayroong Kuya Iking. Sa bawat radio commercial at mga kanta hindi mawawala ang mga balita't dedikasyon niya sa kanyang nagiisang "precious." Akmang akma para bigyan natin ng halaga ang isang taong malaking naitulong sa pagsulong ng career ni Ate Vi nuong mga dekada 70 at mga unang taon ng dekada 80. Ang isa pang mahalagang naitulong ni Kuya Ike ay pagpapahalaga niya sa mga Vilmanians. Kung hindi lang siya radio announcer marahil isa siya sa aktibong miyembro ng ating grupo..." - RV, V Magazine Issue Nos 6 (READ MORE)