Ipinamana Kay Rory - “…Sa kanyang paghahanda sa “kaganapan” ng kanyang buhay, nakakalungkot mang isipin, ay may mga projects na sana ay gagawin ni Direk Marilou, pero hindi na niya nagawa. “Ikaw Ang Pag-Ibig is my last film. It’s my swan song,” aniya. Binanggit din ni Direk Marilou ang mga bagong project na katuwang na lamang siya sa pagre-reseach at pagsulat ng screenplay. “I wish Olive [Lamasan] would directed John Lloyd Cruz in Juan Luna, which I’m researching on and co-writing with Ricky Lee. “O yung Nana Rosa, ipinamana ko yun kay Rory Quintos. Ang Nana Rosa, base sa totoong kuwento ni Nana Rosa Henson, na naging “comfort woman” noong Second World War sa Pilipinas, ay laan para kay Vilma Santos na ididirek sana ni Ishmael Bernal. Sabi ni Direk Marilou, “Hindi na si Ate Vi [ang gaganap]. Hahanap sila ng bagong artista for Nana Rosa…They wanted me to direct…ipinamamana ko na kina Olive at Rory…Next year, God willing, I was supposed to direct it, but nung nag-stage 4 ako, I told Ricky, ‘Isulat mo na, ako ang magre-research…Wag kang matakot…Tapos, sabi ko, ‘Olive, it’s time for you to do something like this. You do this…She’s ripe na, e,” sabi pa ni Direk Marilou. On her part, nakasulat na rin ng dalawang libro si Direk Marilou habang nasa kundisyong “unreliable” ang kanyang health condition. “The first one is Moonlit Seasons and then Reefs of Paradise. Both [about] underwater ‘yan,” banggit pa niya. Magku-collaborate din daw sila ni Ricky para sa isang “double memoir” na tala ng marami nilang pagsasama sa iba’t ibang proyekto at mga taong naging bahagi niyon…” -
William R. Reyes, PEP (
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Nora-Coco-Vilma - "May planong pelikula ang Star Cinema na ang magiging bida ay sina Nora Aunor, Coco Martin at Vilma Santos. Kinumpirma ito ng source namin sa numero unong film outfit sa bansa nang tawagan namin kamakailan. Drama movie raw ito na pamamahalaan ng isang dekalibreng director. Pero nagpahayag na si Governor Vi na hindi niya magagawa ang movie offer dahil sa pagiging busy niya para sa darating na kampanyahan, kaya papalitan na siya ng ibang aktres pero tuloy pa rin si Coco Martin. Bilang paghahanda sa pagpasok ni Nora sa Star Cinema, ang ABS CBN film outfit mismo ang gumawa ng paraan para maipalabas uli sa mga sinehan ang classic movie ni Ate Guy na Himala. Ginastusan nang husto ng Star Cinema ang restoration ng naturang movie ni Nora na parang bago lang gawin kapag pinanood. Pero update ng source namin, nadismaya raw ang executives ng Star Cinema sa resulta ng Himala. Umasa silang kikita ito nang husto, pero kabaligtaran ang nangyari. In fact, nagfirst day last day ang Himala sa mga sinehan. Wala talagang naganap na himala. Sa totoo lang, napapaisip kami kung naipalabas na nga ba ito o hindi pa. Wala man lamang kasi kaming naramdaman na naipalabas na pala ito. So, itutuloy pa rin ng Star ang movie with Ate Guy? “Well, pupuwede pa rin naman sanang ituloy `yun, pero nang sumemplang pa rin sa takilya ngayon ang Thy Womb, mukhang may kalabuan nang matutuloy `yun,“ sey pa ng source namin..." -
Jimi Escala, Balita, Jan 01 2013 (
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Stage Play - Vilma Santos had a meeting with her Vilmanians the other Friday at Max’s Libis. She reported that she had finally finished shooting her "Maalaala Mo Kaya" episode with Ricky Davao and Maja Salvador, directed by Olive Lamasan. "One year in the making ito, bale two episodes, but it’s really worth it and I’m impressed with the work of Direk Olive," she says. "It’s based on the true story of a woman from Lipa." She said she got an offer to do a stage play at the CCP. She’s willing to try the theatre but when she was told she has to rehearse for two months, she had to turn it down as she still has her duties as Lipa City mayor to attend to. She revealed she has new movie offers, but most of them are heavy drama. She wants to do something lighter that will be more appealing to the masa. Last March 8, Vilma was given the First Diwata Award in celebration of International Women’s Day. That coincided with the 16th International Women’s Film Festival by the UP Film Institute, the longest-running women’s filmfest in the country. She was cited for her roles in films like Sister Stella L, Relasyon, The Dolzura Cortez Story, Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa? and Dekada ’70, which are about women empowerment. She was honored with Lily Monteverde, Charo Santos-Concio and writer Lualhati Bautista. Vilma was warmly applauded by an adulating crowd and she delivered a very inspirational message, saying: "I strongly believe in these films with strong messages. It’s about time men believe in women empowerment. Don’t underestimate us, women and artists!" Ate Vi left Thursday with husband Sen. Ralph Recto to attend the investiture rites of our new cardinal in Rome (she was personally invited). After that, she will take a cruise with Ralph and meet with her family in Los Angeles. -
Mario Bautista, People’s Journal, March 26 2006 (
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Flores De Mara - It was last year when we officially heard about "Flores De Mara." It was an event. With the advent of gay-theme movies like Brokeback Mountain and TransAmerica in Hollywood, it would be another milestone project for Vilma and the Vilmanians! Imagine the conservative Filipino church condemning anything about the gay life, it promises a controversial, scandalous film. The plot was Ate Vi will play a mother of not one but three gay sons. Three young actors lined-up, willing to take the risk just to be billed with the Queen of Philippine Cinema. But like the unpredictable Philippine weather, Flores De Mara met its untimely death early this year. Reports of so many script revisions, casting and director changes, plus the restricted availability of Ate Vi were the cause of this Star Cinema’s project being shelved. By February of this year, a new development arised when Lily Monteverde, Regal films big momah, announced she is now doing the project. Same plot (a mother of three gays) tentatively titled, "Manay Po." Cherie Pie Picache fresh from her best supporting actress win for another comedy, "I Will Survive" took the leading role from Ate Vi and Joel Lamangan in the driver seat as the director. It is worth noting that Lamangan ventured in a string of gay induced films in the past. The latest one was "Aishite Imasu," where Dennis Trillo portrayed a transvestite who fell in loved with a rebellious soldier. Aishite was a good attempt to show how people tend to dehumanized the gay people. "Manay Po" is set in today's society where people are more tolerant and accepting. It will be exciting to see if Lamangan will treat these three gay characters as normal, respectable people and not your typical Aids patient or flambouyant caricatures that has been portrayed in many Filipino films in the past. I believe its time for Filipinos to accept and respect our gay brothers and sisters. -
RV, V Magazine, No. 7 (
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Isda - "Sasabak muna sa matinding kampanyahan si Governor Vilma Santos-Recto bago simulan ang paggawa ng indie film na balak isali sa Cinemalaya indie filmfest. Kinumpirma sa amin ng Batangas governor na on-going na ang preparasyon para sa kauna-unahang indie movie niya na ididirek ni Jeffrey Jeturian. Ilang taon ding niligawan ang Star for All Seasons na gumawa ng indie movie. Unang in-offer noon sa kanya ang movie na "
Isda" (Chery Pie Picache did this film under the direction of Adolf Alix, Jr.)." Pero dahil sa schedules, hindi niya nagawa ito. Open naman si Ate Vi sa paggawa ng indie. Naiintriga rin kasi siya kung bakit patok na patok ngayon ang indie. So, sa text ng gobernadora sa amin, malamang na magawa niya ’yon this year after ng campaign period. “One day at a time muna. Eleksyon na kaya hinay-hinay muna ako,” saad pa ni Gov. Vilma sa text niya sa amin." -
Jun Nardo, People's Journal, January 03 2013
Mater Dolorosa - "...Nasulat naman noon na na-offer din ang Isda ni Direk Adolf Alix kay Ate Vi (for Cinemalaya 2011), maging ang Mater Dolorosa ng same director (for Cinema One Originals 2012), pero sadyang ‘di pa nga siguro nakatakdang mag-indie film si Vilma..." -
Mell T Navarro, Pinyparazzi, Jan 04 2013 (
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“...It’s really meant for her and she even agreed to produce it,” says Adolf. “But then, TV5 didn’t allow her, so isinali ko sa Cinema One at nakuha naman as one of three entries in Category A that’s given a budget of P2 million. Dahil hindi puede si Ate Guy, then we considered other actresses who can do the role at napunta nga ito kay Direk Gina Alajar who’s also very good in it. Wag ng magalit ang Noranians dahil we have to meet the deadline of Cinema One at si Ate Guy naman ang hindi pumuede.” The role of Lourdes Lagrimas, Mater Dolorosa, is a very challenging one as she’s the female counterpart of Don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather”. She’s the Ma Barker who heads the illegal activities in an old district in Manila. As a crime lord, she’s notorious for doing criminal acts from jueteng and sakla to carnapping and drug trafficking. She faces competition from a man who wants to be the new king of the underworld, Phillip Salvador. Also in the cast are Alessandra de Rossi, Cogie Domingo, Carlo Aquino, Joem Bascon and Mercedes Cabral..." -
Showbiz-portal (
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"...Ikinuwento ni Ate Vi sa PEP na pagkatapos ng The Healing ni Direk Chito Roño, ang offer na indie movie ni Adolf Alix ang posible niyang maging next movie. Tapos na niyang basahin ang script nito at gustung-gusto niya raw itong gawin. Kuwento ni Ate Vi, “Istorya ito ng isang ina na Ma Barker ang dating." Si Ma Barker ay isang ina ng mga gangster na kinatatakutan noon sa Amerika. “Isang matapang na nanay ako dito na illegal ang lahat ng trabaho ng mga anak. “’Tapos, isang anak niya napatay; then yung isang anak pa, e, nasangkot sa drugs. “Kumbaga, maganda ang story at ang daming twist. “At saka pati ang dialogue, gustung-gusto ko. “Medyo maghihiganti rin ako rito sa pumatay sa anak ko… maganda talaga." Isang inang nagmumura, parang palaging galit, at bungangera ang papel ni Ate Vi sa magiging kauna-unahan niyang indie movie kung sakaling matuloy ito. Pero ayon kay Ate Vi, depende pa rin yun sa pelikula niyang The Healing at sa Star Cinema. “Nakausap ko na si Alix [Adolf], sabi ko sa kanya, pag-usapan namin kung papaano ko magagawa. “Pero sa totoo lang talaga, gusto kong gawin at very challenging ang role..." -
Jimi C. Escala, PEP, May 04 2012 (
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La Independencia - "...Early 20th century Philippines. The sounds of war signal the arrival of the Americans. A mother and son flee to the mountains, hoping for a quiet life. One day, the son discovers a wounded woman in the middle of the forest, and decides to bring her home. Years pass. Man, woman and child live in isolation from the growing chaos all over the country. But a coming storm soon threatens their existence, and American troops draw nearer..." -
Festival Cannes (
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"...In the 1980s they made movies that defied commercial considerations, she recalled, much in the same way that today’s independent filmmakers are “daring and different.” After turning down Raya Martin’s “
La Independencia” (the role went to Tetchie Agbayani) two years ago, Santos almost did an indie this year – Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Isda.” The role of a slum dweller who gives birth to a fish went to Cherry Pie Picache. Santos’ schedule didn’t allow her to accept the offer, but talks are ongoing with Alix. “I heard Adolf is working with scriptwriter Lualhati Bautista on another project,” she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Bautista penned the novels/screenplays of Santos’ Urian-winning films “Bata, Bata Paano Ka Ginawa” (1998) and “Dekada ’70” (2002). Santos said she closely follows the progress of indie filmmakers. “I ask my staff to buy DVDs of indie films, which I watch in my free time.” Among her favorites are Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Kubrador” and Brillante Mendoza’s “Lola.” “I get inspired watching veterans like Gina Pareño (“Kubrador”) and Anita Linda (“Lola”),” she said. “They’re amazing...” -
Bayani San Diego Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer, Aug 13 2011 (
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"...Independent filmmaker Raya Martin has made history as the first Filipino to receive a 120,000-euro (P7-million) grant from the French government for his upcoming film “Independencia,” about a mother and son who run off to the mountains during the American occupation. “Independencia” is the first indie film of award-winning actress and Batangas governor Vilma Santos, line producer Arleen Cuevas told Inquirer Entertainment. “Fonds Sud Cinema” is a financial aid awarded by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication and French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to film productions in developing countries. Since 1984, the grant has funded over 400 documentaries, animation and feature films. Martin also won a Prince Claus Fund Grant of 15,000 euros (P960,000) in last year’s CineMart Awards in Rotterdam. The film was named Best CineMart Project of 2007. He likewise bagged the Hubert Bals Fund of the 2007 Rotterdam International Film Festival. Looking for local partner. “We are looking for a local partner [for ‘Independencia’],” said Cuevas. “Filming is tentatively set in September.” Written by Martin and Ramon Sarmiento, “Independencia” is a family drama set in the early 1900s. “We had a meeting with Vilma yesterday,” said Cuevas in a phone interview on Friday. “She liked the script and promised to fix her schedule.” Martin was the first Filipino to be granted a six-month filmmaking residency at the Festival du Cannes’ Cinefondation in France..." -
Marinel Cruz, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan 28 2008 (
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Naglalayag - "...Critics in the preview would whisper that this is Nora Aunor in a Vilma Santos role. Which is quite true for two reasons: that Vilma’s persona is more amenable to Dorinda’s instincts and that two of the films of the director wrestling with the theme of a “scandalous” May-December romance (Sinungaling Mong Puso) and the myth of menstrual blood (Tagos ng Dugo) starred Vilma. But Nora’s turbulent involvement with a younger man in real life is testament enough that she embodies this temperament as well. And that it is she, more than Vilma, who is inclined to flesh out the process of menopause (idiomatic translation of naglalayag) and mortality (the horror of age)—as well as of youth and allure—as personal and sociological afflictions, a motivation that reminds us of local titles like Halik sa Paa, Halik sa Kamay; Raquel at Rafael; Ligaw na Bulaklak; Mrs. Teresa Abad, Ako Po Si Bing; Totoo Ba ang Tsismis?; Tag-araw, Tag-ulan; Nagsimula sa Puso; Alaga; and Bayarang Puso; among others..." -
Manila Standard, June 22 2004 (
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"...A May-December love story. Nora fell in love with a poor taxi driver played convincingly by Yul Servo. The film achieved the festival’s best picture honour together with the best director award for Maryo J. delos Reyes and the coveted Best Actress for Nora Aunor. The film was first offered to Vilma Santos but she turned it down and Maryo De Los Reyes decided to give the project to Vilma’s rival, Nora..." -
RV (
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Annie Batungbakal - Prior to Nora Aunor securing the movie rights to this project and with several successful dance genre films, supporters of Vilma Santos expected that the project will go to her. Adding to the speculation was the fact that Vilma Santos is the "Dancer" and Nora Aunor is the "Singer." Also, the film requires the lead actor to dance in several production numbers. According to the media and her supporter, the role fit Vilma to a T. But the fate of Annie landed on Nora, she bought the film and decided to shut her critics by learning how to dance. To the surprise of many and even the Noranians, Nora managed to dance her way to the bank. The film did well at the box office. To this days, Vi's supporters still feel the disappointment of Vi not playing Annie B, who was a sales lady in the day and a dancing queen at night. Here are some notes...
"...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..." - Father J Gutierrez (
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"...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..." - F Gabriel (
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Magkailanman - "...Magpakailanman was originally created by GMA Entertainment TV Group as a one-season inspirational drama special intended for the celebration of World Meeting of Families in January 23--24, 2003. Actress, Vilma Santos was the original choice of the network to host the show. It went to Mel Tiangco after the former refused the offer. Because of the overwhelming positive feedback from viewers and critics, and high ratings, the network decided to make it as a regular weekly drama anthology. It is originally shown every Monday night. The show premiered with the Bakit Ako Mahihiya? (lit. Why Should I Be Ashamed?), an episode about the life of former "Jukebox Queen", Didith Reyes. On its second season, the network decided to move the show from Monday night to Thursday night timeslot. The Janet Clemente Story served as the show's second season pilot episode. Because of its continues leadership in the ratings game, the show toppled the longest drama anthology "Maalaala Mo Kaya", which later prompted to change its schedule from Thursday nights to Fridays. But after MMK changed its timeslot, the ratings of Magpakailanman began to decline, and later on, the management decided to axe the show. After a four-year hiatus and due to the growing clamor to revive the program, GMA Network decided to have Magpakailanman returned into the boobtube. The returning drama anthology premiered on November 17, 2012 and it again competes against MMK, which has been airing also every Saturday since 2008. Mel Tiangco retains as the show's presenter..." -
GMA KapusoTV Shows, 19 Oct 2013 (
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