Sinong Mas Magaling - "...Both Nora and Vilma have proven their virtuosity in acting in a number of their films that can equal, if not surpass even the best performances of such internationally-acclaimed actresses such as Anna Magnani, Simone Signoret, Jane Fonda, Faye Dunaway and Meryl Streep; (for Nora) Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Atsay, Minsaý Isang Gamu-gamo, Bona, Bakit Bughaw ang Langit, Merika, Condemned, (for Vilma) Rubia Servios, Relasyon, Broken Marriage, Adultery and Alyas Baby Tsina. Ang lumang kuwestiyon kung sino ang mas magaling umarte sa dalawang aktress na unwarranted, unfair, immaterial and irrelevant, to say the least. At most, comparing both actresses'acting capabilities is stupid. Sabi ng ni Meryl Streep: "It's insane to have winners and losers in art. We live in a society plagued by sports mania. To say that one performances is better than the other is just plain dumb. You wouldn't think of comparing two colors in a painting woul you?..." One thing is clear though both Nora and Vilma are terrific actresses. Sabi ng isang Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Tezza Parel: "We had great difficulty in judging who between Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos should win for their work in Himala and Relasyon. I think we had several ties in judgements until we finally chose Vilma for Relasyon. But even after that there would still be somebody in the group who would protest!" Both Nora and Vilma have reached their peaks - as it seems at this time - as actresses in two of the most magnificens and staggering motion pictures (take note: walang word na "local") ever made, namely Himal and Sister Stella L respectively. As the faithhealer Elsa in Himala, Nora proves that she is the master in underrated acting (said to be the most difficult acting style), calm as sea on the surface but raging with fire and passion within. It is a gripping and mesmerising performance, nothing less. And in Sister Stella L, Vilma mastered all her acting mastery in acting ans sense of gallantry to breathe lief in her potentially explosive nun character and than provoked, disturbed and conscientisized the moviegoing public on the socio-polical issues being presented in the film. It is a powerful performance..." - Anonymous, photo clip of the article posted at facebook acct of fb user, Mike Herrera (READ MORE)
Vi on her Directors - "...Masarap katrabaho si Mike (de Leon). Kaya ganado akong gumising ng maaga at hindi talaga ako nale-late. Kaya naman ako nale-late sa iba, kasi alam kong darating nga ako ng maaga pero maghihintay muna ako nang matagal dahil magse-set-up pa. Kay Mike, alam mo, pagdating mo, trabaho na agad. No more waiting, hindi na aayusing ang set at isasalang ka na. Very systematic kasi siya. Kahit minsan hindi ako naghintay nang matagal..." On Lino Brocka, "...He knows what he wants to get mula sa artista niya. Talagang iga-guide ka niya to get a particular reaction na gusto niyang iarte mo para sa kamera. He's a real actor's director. Kaya nang mahawakan niya ako noon sa Rubia, very confident ako dahil alam kong magandang lumabas ang acting ko, e. Gano'n din dito sa Adultery..." On Ishmael Bernal, "...Si Bernie, he's really one of the best,"she say with great emphasis. "Talagang one of my favorites. Matagal na kaming magkatrabaho, way back sa Tagalog Ilang-Ilang in Inspiration, Now and Forever, Ikaw ay Akin. At saka ýung mga ginawa namin sa Lea, Like Dalawang Pugad, Isang Ibon. He can be very demanding, very strict. Naninigaw Lalo kapag hindi mo makuha ang gusto niyang ipagawa sa iyo. Like when we were doing Broken Marriage at sabi niya, Mukha raw akong masaya when I should look tired and depressed. So he sent me to the comfort toom at pinag-jogging ako roon..." - Mario E. Bautista, Movie Flash, 1984 (READ MORE)
Nora's Turn - "...Despite the overwhelming rivalry between the two actresses, the professinal lives of Nora and Vilma run parallel with each other. It Nora is up, Vilma is down. Kung si Vilma ay nakasakay sa tugatog ng tagumpay, si Nora ay parang lumalangoy sa iba't ibang klaseng trahedya. Bago manalo si Nora for her marvelous performance in Eddie Garcia's Atsay (1978), Vilma was the darling of Movie companies and the press, nage-enjoy ng tagumpay sa takilya at magagandang write-ups sa lahat ng movie magazines. It was bruised na Vilma Santos'convincing portrayal of the rape victim in Rubia Servios would cap the year that was one of Vilma's best personally and professionally dahil Nora seemed to be at her lowest cob, a floundering movie and TV career and a turbulent private life. Sabi nga, Atsay was Nora's "last card." But the last card turned out to be an ace and after Nora's tearful and moving award acceptance speech at the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night ("Mamay Tunying, Mali ang Hula nila!"), it wa Nora's turn to be on top and Vilma seemed like typhoid to movie producers..." - Gerard Ramos (READ MORE)
Nahulog si Jean Garcia - "...Medyo napangisi kami nang nanalo si Redford White bilgn best actor in comedy. Sa labing isnag taon niya kasi na nilagi sa industriya ay ngayon lang talaga siya napansin. Habang tumatagal ay lalong nawawala ang mga manonood. Napansin namin si Mel Chnco na nakaarko ang kilay at ang kanyang mga kasamahan ay unti-unti na ring ngasisialisan. Narinig namin ang bulung-bulungan sa likod na na nag-walk-out daw ang mga taga-Channel 2 dahil panay taga-siyete ang nananalo. As usual ay parating magkakasama ang magkabarkada na sina Tina Revilla at si Coney Reyes. Para silang rugbyna hindi mawalay sa isa't isa. Nandoon din ang isa pa nilang kabarkada na si Vilma ngunit hindi nila masyadong nakausap dahil nagho-host ang star of all season. Ang tanging wala lang sa kanilang magkakaibigan ay si Helen Vela. very dramatic and pagtanggap ni Coney nang kanyang award. Makikita mo talaga ang kanyang sincerity sa kanyang pagluha nang nabanggit niya ang pangalang Vic Sotto. Bakit kaya? Napatingin kami sa likod nang kinalabit kami ng aming katabi. Nginuso si Armida Siguion Reyna. nakatawag-pansin kasi ang kanyang suot nang gabing iyon. Naka-preggy look siya na tinernohna ng itim na tights may award ba sa worst dress?...Nahulog si Jean Garcia sa backstage pagkatapos ng kanilang production number dahil sa kanyang katangahan. Madalian kasi at hindi niya nakita ang hagdanan. Nanginginig siya sa takot at pagkabigla. Walang tigil siya sa kanyang pagluha. Ang pinagtataka lang namin, bakit yung iba niyang kasamahan hindi nalaglag? Bukod tanging siya lang..." - Joey Sarmiento (READ MORE)
Vilma-Nora Rivalry - "...Despite the emergence Sharon Cuneta and Maricel Soriano, who are predictedto dominate the movie scene of the '80s, Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos manages to remain in the limelight. Their rivalry, which started in the late '60s and reached its peak in the '70s, continues until now, the mid '80s. Undoubtedly, Vilma has a big, big edge this year over Nora. Vi wonan Urian Broken Marriage and appeared in two Rated A films, Lino Brocka's Adultery and Mike de Leon's Sister Stella L., which is currently showing in Metro Manila. Vi's doing Marilou Diaz Abaya's Alyas Baby Tsina. Nora, on the other hand, is lying low from the movie scene these days. Her 'Merika, directed by Gil Portes is still in the post-production stage and has no playdate yet. She's still shooting Mario O'Hara's Ermita, which started late last year...and its completion is nowhere in sight. But for a FAMAS nomination, the other award giving groups "ignored" Nora.." - Ronald K. Constantino (READ MORE)
Talbog si Guy - "...Mas maraming aktor ang na-link kay Vilma Santos kaysa sa karibal-kaibigan niyang si Nora Aunor. Huwag nating ilista no! Nakakahiya lang. Pero sa totoo lang, Tita, pagdating sa lalaki, mga guwapong lalake, talbug na talbog Vi si Guy. Tested and proven 'yan. Si Vi kasi maski asa mid-30s na, nakaka-attract pa rin ng mga baget kahit ten years ang bata sa kanya. Puwede pa ngang ma-link sa kanya ang isang Aga Muhlach eh! The Eskinol beauty of Vi kasi is so refreshing na mukhang mabangung-mabango hindi lang mga leeg. O di nga ba't pati mga Gabby Concepcion at Eric Quizon ay puwedeng ipareha kay Vi?...Sa dancing, talbog din ni Vi si Guy. Napanood ba ninyo ang opening number ni Vi last Friday sa Vilma? Nakakaloka! Talbog talaga ni Vi si Guy pagdating sa sayawan at sirkuhan. Pati sa mga poging boys ay walang binatbat si Guy sa karisma ni Vi..." - Chito P. Alcid (READ MORE)
Welcome Back Joey - "...Ngayon, our mutual best friend, si Joey Marquez, player ng Ginebra ay nag-artista na rin. Tulad namin ni Anjo, "susubukan"daw muna niya kung okay sa kanya ang pag-aartista o hindi. He's just anticipating for that day hen he could no longer be a professional basketball player, and there's a second career for him. Oo nga naman. Kung kabado man si Joey, it's not the usual nervousness most newcomer feel. Meron siyang konting confidence dahil unang-una, ang producer ng debut film niya, ang Tagos ng Dugo ay ang kanyang sariling kapatid Si Via Marques Hoffman. Mag-aksaya man siya ng negatibo, hindi siya masyadong titilian. Pangalawa, ka-vibes na n'ya si Maryo de los Reyes resident director ng VH Films. Pangatlo, being the youngest son of Artemio Marquez by his real wife Terrisita Perez (kapatid ng ama ni Elwood Perez, kaya magpinsan sial), sanay na si Joeysa ambience ng showbiz. Pang-apat, kontinglambing lang kay Ate Via, may pang-happening na naman kami. Katunayan nga, lagi kong naririnig si Ate Via an sinisita si Joey dahil bayad na ito "for four films!" Mahusay mangkarinyo kasi!..." - Richard Gomez (READ MORE)
Progress Report - "...Ang payat mo" ang bungad naming bati sa kanya. "Kailangan kasi," was her reply. "Medyo tumaba na nga ako ngayon. nahinto kasi ang shooting namin ng ilang days. You should've seen me a week ako. mas payat ako noon." But it become her. Mas mukha siyang teenager. She sure that by now, alam na niyang kailangang lang magpapayat ni Vilma Santos para sa kanyang pelikulang ginagawa ngayon, ang Alyas Baby Tsina. Since she is in between pictures, kakaunti ang makikitang artikulo ngayon sa kanya. That's why we have to write this progress report on her latest films. We asked her kung malapit nang matapos ang Baby Tsina. "Malayo pa eh,"she replied. "Ang dami kasi naming re-shoot. Sabi ni Marilou (Abaya, her director), May nasira raw ang ilang negatibo kaya't kailangang ulitin. At last week of September, tapos na siguro. Did she like the movie? "Naku, malaking pelikula."sambit niya. "Three acts kasi 'yon. Inuna naming i-shoot 'yung third act nang nakakulong na si Baby sa Correctional. Tapos we went back to perion noong prostiture pa lang siya. Ang hirap maging prostitute! Ngayon, we're on the second act, love triangle kami nina Dindo Fernando at Philip Salvador...We were quite hesitant at first to ask her...kung tutuong and Sister Stella ay hindi kumita na tulad ng inaasahan. "I was told by Mother Lily na kumita naman daw pero siyempre I still feel disappointed because of high expectations nga ng lahat ng tao...Pero nuong una pa, marami sa aking nagsasabi na baka hindi raw kikita dahil seryosong masyado 'yung pelikula...Sa ngayon ngaý ipinadala ang pelikula sa Venice Film Festival na ginaganap ngayon. Nagpunta roon si Mike de Leon bilang kinatawanan ng pelikula at ng bansa at gusto ni Mother Lily na sumama na rin si Vi sa delegasyon roon. "Pero imposible nga akong umalis dahil sa commitment ko sa Baby Tsina, lalo na malapit nang matapos ang shooting namin..." - Mario E. Bautista, Movie Flash, 1984 (READ MORE)
TIFF - "...At the sold-out premiere in Toronto, many in the long lineup awaiting the film’s start were excited to watch it given the critical acclaim at Cinemalaya. Arnold Manalac, a big Santos fan, organized about 20 of his friends to come watch the film. “These are all my college friends, friends here in Toronto, some of my relatives,” he said while pointing out the smiling faces with him, “so we organized and came up with a small group to support this film. The crowd of mostly Filipino-Canadians was abuzz with anticipation, including the very first people in the line, Danny Ong and Ricardo Obusan, who came to support independent Filipino films. Jeturian signed autographs before and after the film’s screening and took questions from the audience. The final showing of Ekstra at TIFF is Sept. 15, but the movie will have a theatrical release in eight Canadian cities including Mississauga and Scarborough from Sept. 13 to 26...” - Dyan Ruiz, The Philippine Reporter, 13 Sept 2013 (READ MORE)
Hindi Mabubuo Nang Walang Ekstra - "...Lahat ng pagod and kaba mo nawala lahat. Nagawa ko ito as contribution for art. Napatunayan na hindi lahat, kapag sinabing artista ay kailangan bayaran. Hindi eh. This is a contribution. They gave their all. Yung reception kanina, yun na yung bayad sa amin. This is very different, makikita niyo na ekstra talaga ako. Buong time ko, bida ako since 9, ngayon ekstra talaga ako. Maramandaman niyo naman ang pakiramdam maging ekstra. Ang isang pelikula ay hindi mabubuo nang walang ekstra...Ako naman, sa tinagal ko na sa pelikula, nakikita ko na sila. It’s about time bigyan natin sila ng importansya, tao din sila, may pangangailangan sila. Aminin natin, we take them for granted. Wag naman sana. Sa pelikula, may pamilya si Loida na nangangailangan ng tuiton, gagawin niya ang lahat maibigay lang iyon para sa anak niya. Positibo siya sa ending, baka may booking pa. See, hindi sya nawalan ng pag-asa. Iyon ang mahalaga, hindi mawalan ng pag-asa..." - Raj Bay, MadHouseMNL, 13 August 2013 (READ MORE)
Vilma, Robredo lead "Lingkod Bayan Awardees" - The late Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jessy M. Robredo and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto were among this year's Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardees. President Benigno S. Aquino III led the awarding yesterday of the recipeints - 22 government individuals and six government organization - at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang. The awardees were chosen from 383 nominations. The Presidential Lingkod Bayan award is conferred on an individual or group for exceptional contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest. Robredo's award was received by his eldest daughter, Jessica Marie. His posthumous Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award was in recognition of his efforts in government, particularly in exemplifyingthe ideal in public service. "His principled leadership, compassion for the vulnerable, and pride in serving the Filipino people are manifestations of his outstanding servant leadership,"his citation said. "During his stint as Secreatary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, he institutionalized a full disclosure policy to help minimize, if not totally eradicate corruption in the local level. He also awarded exceptional local government units with the Seal of Good Housekeeping which, in turn, motivated local chief executives to improve their operations," it added. Aquino also conferred the Presidential Lingkod Bayan award to Batangas Gov. Rosa Vilma Santos-Recto, who was accompanied by her husband Sen. Ralph G. Recto and children Luis and Ryan Christian. Vilma's award was in recognition of her effort to addressed overcrowding in Taal Lake to improve water quality and prevent fish kills. She also made possible the improvement of road imfrastructures, modernization of district hospitals, and the establishment of the first provincial-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Center in Batangas. - Madel Sabater, Tempo
