TV

Vilma Santos long successful television career started with musical variety show, The Sensations with love team, Edgar Mortiz and other teen singing sensations like Perla Adea, Esperanza Fabon, Rommy Mallari and Eddie Perigrina. She followed this up, with a drama anthology in Dalambuhay ni Rosa Vilma. The mid to late 70s, Vilma ventured again into the musical variety genre with a string of shows like, Ayan Eh, Vilma Santos Special Engagements and Vilma In Person until settling down with her top rated long-running show, Vilma! Vilma! became one of the most successful TV show in Philippines television history. Armed with its lavish opening production number, it became the highest rated and advertisement haven from early to late 1990s. Vilma's decision to settled down with her marriage to Senator Ralph Recto and her pregnancy with her youngest son, Ryan Christian halted the success of Vilma! and eventually resulted to the shows ending. (Global Vilmanians)

The Greatest Musical Variety Show Ever! — In the 1980’s, Nora Aunor’s Superstar show was losing viewership and her box-office appeal was also in question. Suddenly, the 70’s superstar was being eclipsed by a non-singer but an excellent dancer and versatile actress Vilma Santos. She has just scored her first of four grand slams for the movie Relasyon and continued to reign as the Longest Box-office Queen of Philippine Cinema. And slowly but surely, her VIP (Vilma In Person) TV show was gaining patronage/high ratings too from the precious class ABC households nationwide, TV advertisers’ prime target audience for their products.

Smart Move — There was no stopping Vilma Santos. She was about to conquer the TV musical-variety genre where Nora Aunor ruled for years. Early on, Vilma Santos had rough sailings with her musical variety show. VIP was being broadcast from Channel 2 which had a bad reception among TV homes nationwide, and was no match to the more modern RPN Channel 9 where Nora’s Superstar show was simultaneously shown from Luzon to Mindanao in vivid, crisp color. When VIP moved to GMA Channel 7, it was the best move that Vilma’s think tank ever did. With better satellites, shrewd marketing, state of the art facilities, and more ambitious production numbers and with the Dancing Queen Vilma at the center of it all, and with the genius of Maribeth Bichara’s choreography and musical concepts written all over the show – “Vilma!” became the most watched and the most awarded TV show in the musical/variety category.

52 — Every Friday, 52 weeks a year, there was Vilma Santos’ most awaited opening number that never failed to surprised, amused and elicited ooohhhs and aaahhhs as the TV Musical Variety Queen won the hearts of music and dance aficionados here and abroad. Who would ever forget these outstanding, well-rehearsed, high performance level and unforgettable numbers?

Madonna — The Madonna Material Girl number, which would make Madonna proud. She sashays, gyrates and pirouettes ala Tina Turner for Vilma’s version of Private Dancer.? (“I’m your private dancer, a dancer for money, do what you want me to do?” Talbog ang Burlesk Queen! My most memorable Maribeth B. and Vilma Santos sexy number was when they showed their legs and swing those hips as the Swing Out Sisters belt out their number one hit Breakout… The “A Chorus Line” ensemble, “On Broadway” with Queen Vilma leading the group with a hat, gloves, a cane and a glossy costume. Who would ever forget her swing number with then sweetheart Ralph Recto? Or a dance number with the late Nida Blanca? Or a naughty, haughty dance number La Conga, sung by Gloria Stefan? And many, many more production numbers that were shot from Luzon to Mindanao, and even in the U.S., like The Raging Waters in California.

Imitated — Vilma! was imitated but never equaled by the fly by night copycats: Snooky Serna, Maricel Soriano, even Alma Moreno in Love-liness. Sharon stuck to singing and wers-wers English. At one time, Nora Aunor was guest. Pinaluhod lahat sila ni Ms. Vilma Santos! Whenever a Regal or a Viva movie promo was in progress, they all trooped to the ratings winner Vilma! From GMA studio, to the Metropolitan Theater, Vilma! made history. From the cha-cha, the boogie, to tinikling to meringue and the swing – Vilma did them all. She was everybody’s Ate Vi or Tita Vi.The TV Queen. The Dancing Queen, and how!

YEAR	AWARDS	ORGANIZATIONS
1972	Most Effective TV Actress	EMEE
1987	Best Musical Variety Show Host	PMPC STAR
1987	Best Musical Variety Show	CMMA
1988	Best Musical Variety Show Host	PMPC STAR
1988	Best Musical Variety Show	PMPC STAR
1988	Best Musical Variety Show	CMMA
1989	Best Musical Variety Show	PMPC STAR
1989	Best Musical Variety Show	CMMA
1990	Hall of Fame in Musical Variety Show	CMMA
1990	Best Musical Variety Show	PMPC STAR
1990	TV Finalist	NY Int'l
1991	Best Musical Variety Show	PMPC STAR
1991	Best Musical Variety Show	Dove
1992	Best Musical Variety Show	PMPC STAR
1994	Best Musical Variety Show	PMPC STAR
1998	Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement	PMPC STAR
2006	Best Actress  for MMK: ‘Regalo’	PMPC STAR

My wish - Please bring back Vilma!, the dancer and entertainer par excellence, even if it’s just one show. Sayaw, Vilma, sayaw! The whole world awaits. Who cares if you’re 51? Tina Tuner is almost 70. Vilma, you are the Eternal Youth and the Dancing Queen Forever! 

Source: Mar Garces’ umbra et penumbra V magazine Vol 1, Issue 2 2005.

Vilma! - Vilma Santos' long successful television career started with musical variety show, The Sensations with love team, Edgar Mortiz and other teen singing sensations like Perla Adea, Esperanza Fabon, Rommy Mallari and Eddie Perigrina.

She followed this up, with a drama anthology in Dalambuhay ni Rosa Vilma. The mid to late 70s, Vilma ventured again into the musical variety genre with a string of shows like, Ayan Eh, Vilma Santos Special Engagements and Vilma In Person until settling down with her top rated long-running show, Vilma!

Vilma! became one of the most successful TV show in Philippines television history. Armed with its lavish opening production number, it became the highest rated and advertisement haven from early to late 1990s. Vilma's decision to settled down with her marriage to Senator Ralph Recto and her pregnancy with her youngest son, Ryan Christian halted the success of Vilma! and eventually resulted to the shows ending.

Channel 2 - "...Kung napuna ninyo, sa top 20 programs, dadalawa ang nanggaling sa Channel 2, ang VIP at ang 2 + 2 na medyo malayo pa ang agwat. Siyam ang galing sa Channel 13; tatlo ang sa Channel 9 at anim ang galing sa Channel 7. Hindi maikakailang pinakamahina ang Channel 2. 'Di ba't nag-closeshop na ang Okey Sha! ni Sharon Cuneta dahil hindi ito kumikita, samantalang 'yung iba pang programa sa Channel 2 ay hirap na hirap na ring mag-rate, kabilang na rito, ayon kay Inday Badiday, ang True Confession ng mga Bituin na idinidirek ni Gene Palomo, na kung tutuusin ay may kakaibang format na nagugustuhan ng masa. Noong December nga'y nasa number 29 na ito pero ngayon ay nasa below 40 na. Malungkot ngang isipin na sa kabila ng pagpapaganda ng mga programa sa Channel 2 ay hindi ito gaanong napapanood sa malalayong lugar. Sabi nga ng mga nakausap namin, "Dito lang kami sa Pasay, pero malabung-malabo ang reception ng Channel 2, kaya iba na lang ang pinapanood namin." At ang napag-alaman pa nga namin na lalong di na makapanood ang mga taga-Alabang, Muntinlupa, Cavite at iba pang parte ng Metro Manila at katagulan. Kaugnay nito, nagbaba ng memo ang City 2 Television para sa mga station-co-produced na programang wala sa top 20. Ayon sa memo, bibigyan na lang sila ng tatlong buwan mula noong May 15, 1984 para pataasin ang rating ng kanilang mga programa. At least day, ayon pa sa memo, ay makapagpapatuloy nito sa ere. Kung hindi, tulad ng Okey Sha! at iba pang programa sa 2, na hindi na napapanood, ikakansela na lang nila. Tulad ng True Confessions ng Loca Productions, sinabi ni Inday Badiday, na ililipat na lang siguro nila sa Channel 13 ang programa para tumaas ang rating nito dahil 'yon lang ang paraan, yaman di lamang na napatunayang kokonti ang nakakapanood sa Channel 2. Humihina ang programa hindi dahil sa uri ng palabas kundi kapos sa viewership, hindi gaya sa Channel 13. "Siguro, kung ang See-True ay nasa Channel 2, mahihirapan ding maka-number 1," sabi ni Inday..." - George Vail Kabristante, Movie Flash Magazine, 14 June 1984

Where You Belong - "...Channel 7 first presented its new station identification at the Philippine International Convenstion Center last Nov. 13 during the celebration of Vilma Santos'25th anniversary in showbiz. To the GMA-7 staff, the 30-seconder aptly summarizes the realization of a dream they all shared when a new management team began running the affairs of the station. And that is to build the tallest tower in town and establish the widest coverage area. The new station ID opens with a collage of GMA-7's provincial stations, through such landmarks as the Mayon Volcano in Albay, Magellan's Cross in Cebu, the vintas of Mindanao, which symolize network's wide coverage area. The next sequence shows laser beams shooting up and out from the tips of GMA's provincial tv towers, the beams subsequently merging to form Channel 7's tower of power resting on the Phillipine map. The new tower is now under construction and will be pressed into service by the first quarter of 1988. Upon completion, the 777-foot high tv tower will be the highest structure in the country. From the technical aspect, the tower will widen the primary coverage area of Channel 7 and further enhance its signal to its provincial relay and affiliate stations. Channel 7's new station ID ends with the tower of power resting on the relief map of the Philippines flipping out to reveal the GMA corporate logo underneath and Channel 7's slogan - "Where You Belong"- being spelled out on the screen. GMA Channel 7 president Menardo R. Jimenez says, "Channel 7 will continue with its improvement program, in terms of people, program and facility upgrading as broadcasters; it is our sacred duty, to utilize the medium for nation building and help in the economics and the spiritual uplift of our people..." - JC Nigado, Manila Standard, 03 Dec 1987 p11 (READ MORE)

Once There Was a Love - "...Aga's on and off career worked to a great disadvantage, making producers and fans shun away from him. However, his wholesome, totally refreshing and boyishly-appealing look makes him adorable on screen. His latest TV opus with Vilma Santos titled "Once There Was a Love" was a success prompting many producers to get him again in the movies. Asked why his carer never really took off, he says: "Well, I lack the much-needed support in my career. There were many times I'm almost there, tapos wala namang kasunod agad; so napaglilipasan agad, di ba? I am also partly to be blamed because I was in a limbo for a while. All I know and care about is that I have the money spend on luxurious cars, squash, water sports and my nightlife. I also keep on changing managers." This year, Aga is quite determined to become serious with his career. he's slated to do movies outside Regal Films - for RJ Films, Seiko and Viva. It also means having to lose weight for his comeback on the big screen. He says: "I want to look really good when I start doing more movies this year. I'm on a liquid diet. I don't eat anything. For the meantime I only drink juice, water and slim-fast." Aside from cutting his food intake, Aga likewise cuts his expenses. "I'm really saving for the future now. I can't afford to maintain more expensive cars (at the moment he only owns two European cars, a 230-E and a 7-35). I also have to do away with my water sports for awhile. Alam ko ang mawalan ng pera and one thing with me, I never run to my parents to ask for some if I need it. Ever since I started working at afe 14, I'm my own..." - Jackie R, Manila Standard, 09 Jan 2013, p17 (READ MORE)

Vilma Turns 35 - "...Top movie actress and tv host Vilma Santos celebrated her 35th birh anniversary today. As a fitting tribute, a two-week celebration is going to be presented on her top-rating show, Vilma, tomorrow and on Nov. 11. Santos has been in the business for 26 years now and there is never a year in her memorable career that she did not come up with small and big surprises. For this year, it looks like she's limited herself to only two movies (Pahiram ng Isang Umaga, the actress says, is going to be shown before the year ends), but her tv show has earned for her added success. Last Oct. 6, we saw Ging, her second movie as a child star in Channel 13's Golden Tagalog Classic and even then, she showed that she was to the screen born. The hardworking actress' never-ending search for new things to learn and her amazing determination to succeed have made her the longest reigning and highest paid movie and tv queen. No wonder, until now she still gets the juiciest movie and tv offers and the meatiest roles to portray Indeed, at 35, Santos has made her showbiz, years well accounted for - and how...GMA-7's "Seven Days to Remember in November"kicks off on Nov 7 with Lamat sa Kristal, a two-hour Vilma Santos drama special; Nov 8 - Double Title Fight with Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Donny "Golden Boy" Lalonde live via satellite from the Cesar's Palace at 10:30 a.m. (Manila time); Nov 9 - GMA Gems presents Windmills of the Gods; Nov 10 - Jake and the Fat Man; Nov 11 - Vilma Birthday Presentation 2; Nov 12 - Martin Nievera's show MAD goes live; and Nov 13 - the NBA Games More special shows from the station's regular programs are going to be shown from day one to seven..." - Meg Mendoza, Manila Standard, 03 Nov 1988, p25 (READ MORE)

GMA-7 still the best network - "...Most of the Star Awards for Television Saturday night still "belonged" to GMA-7. The network won 18 awards all in all, including best station with balanced programming. New Vision 9 had eight awards, ABS-CBN, seven and sland TV 13, three. PTV-4, the government station won no award. The best musical variety show went to Vilma!with Saturday Entertainment winning as the best variety show. German Moreno was named best male TV host. The late Jose Mari Velez voted best male newscaster for GMA Headlinenews while Helen Vela was adjudged best female newscaster for GMA Balita. Coney Reyes and Nova Villa won the best acting awards for drama and comedy respectively. Coney for her drama series, Coney Reyes on Camera and Nova for comedy series Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata, both shown over ABS-CBN 2. Redford White won as best actorin comedy series, Buddy en Sol, where he shares star billing with Eric Quizon. Joel Torre won best actor in a drama series, Boracay, shown briefly over Channel 9. Martin Nievera was voted best celebrity host with his show Martin After Dark, winning as best celebrity show Fides Cuyugan and John Lesaca of A Little Night Musicwon as best musical hots. Che-che Lazaro won as best magazine show host, w‎hile her Probe Team sharedthe best magazine show award with the Inside Story. Mongolian Barbecue won the best comedy gag show. Aguila was named best drama serial and Spotlight best drama series. The best public affair show and host award went to Tell The People and host Julie Yap Daza, Manila Standard columnist. The Special award went to Robert Arevalo (Vic Silayan Lifetime Achievement Award) and Armida Siguion-Reyna (Ading Fernando Memorial Award)..." - Manila Standard, 28 Oct 1991, p19 (READ MORE)

Consistent Winner - "...When BBC-2 closed shop after EDSA, Helen returned to Channel 7 where she got her old Sunday afternoon slot –plus an additional job as newscaster for the station. Also dislocated with the closure of BBC-2 was Vilma Santos’ variety program Vilma in Person or VIP. Vilma in Person – in spite of the fact that it was given the VIP treatment by the Benedicto management – never did well in the ratings game when it was with the old Channel 2. But when it moved to Channel 7 – where it was called Vilma, the show immediately shot up in the ratings chart. Vilma! had grand productions week after week and was a consistent winner in the various awards races in the field of television. It went off the air in 1995 only because Vilma got pregnant with Ryan Christian and needed to have a complete rest..." - Butch Francisco, Star, 25 Aug 2001 (READ MORE)

YEAR	BODY OF WORK - TELEVISION	GENRE ROLE
2016	ASAP20	Musical - Guest
2016	It's Showtime	Musical - Guest
2015	Kapamilya Deal or No Deal	Game - Guest
2015	Bawal Ang Pasaway Kay Mareng Winnie	Talk - Guest
2015	ASAP 20 Years	Musical - Guest
2014	Moments	Talk - Guest
2014	Marian	Musical - Guest
2014	The Ryzza Mae Show	Talk - Guest
2012	Kapamilya Deal or No Deal	Game - Guest
2011	Showbiz Central	Talk - Guest
2011	100 Days In Heaven	Drama - Guest
2011	Pilipinas Got Talent	Reality - Guest
2011	Wish Ko Lang - Eva Linda	Reality - Guest
2011	MMK 20	Docs - Host
2011	Kris TV	Talk - Guest
2011	Entertainment Live	Musical -Guest
2010	Pinoy Big Brother	Reality -Guest
2010	Us Girls	Talk - Guest
2010	Simply KC	Talk - Guest
2009	Vilma: A Woman For All Seasons	Docs - Guest
2008	Proudly Filipina	Talk - Guest
2007	Alay ni Da King: A Fernando Poe, Jr.	Docs - Host
2006	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Regalo	Drama - Actor
2005	Pinoy movie: buhay ka pa...ba?	Docs - Guest
2005	The Making of 'Kampanerang Kuba'	Docs - Guest
2004	Cinema One - Vilma: In Persona	Talk - Guest
2004	30th Metro Manila Film Festival	Awards -Guest
2003	50 Taong Ligawan: The Pinoy TV Story	Event - Guest
2003	Ang Tanging Ina (TV Series)	Sitcom - Guest
2002	Bugso (Tele-movie)	Drama - Actor
1999	Once There Was A Love (Tele-movie)	Drama - Actor
1997	Vilma Tonight: A Limited Engagement	Musical - Host
1997	Kamandag sa Puso (Tele-movie)	Drama - Actor
1997	Katuparan (Tele-movie)	Drama - Actor
1996	Muling Buksan Ang Puso (Tele-movie)	Drama - Actor
1994	Tribute to Helen Vela (Special Show)	Event - Guest
1988	Lamat sa Kristal (Tele-movie)	Drama - Actor
1987 - 95	Vilma!	Musical - Host
1986 - 87	VOS (Vilma on Seven)	Musical - Host
1980s	VIP (Vilma in Person)	Musical - Host
1989	Rehas Sa Puso	Drama - Actor
1988	Viewpoint	Talk - Guest
1980s	Vilma Special Engagements	Musical - Host
1973 - 74	Dulambuhay ni Rosa Vilma	Drama - Actor
1974 - 76	Ayan Eh!	Musical - Host
1972	The Hitmakers	Musical - Host
1970 - 72	The Sensations	Musical - Host
1970s	Vilma Loves Edgar	Musical - Host
1970s	Larawan Ng Pag-ibig	Drama - Actor
1970s	Pag-ibig, Pahimakas Ng Isang Manlalakbay	Drama - Actor
1973 - 74	Santos Mortiz and Associates	Musical - Host
1974	From You From me, Vilma (Radio Show)	Radio - Host
1972	Ang Buhay Ngayon Lifestyle Show	Talk - Host

RELATED READING:

• Bugso (TV 2002)
• Regalo (TV 2006)
• Television Album
• Awards (Photos)
• STAR for TV (and other TV awards)
• “That Was Only The Beginning, Folks!”
• A Woman for All Seasons (2009)
• The Greatest Musical Variety Show
• Vilma - The Dance Diva (Videos)
• Star for TV Recognitions
• Collection of pics from Vilma! tv show
• Vilma Santos and VIP Dancers