Vilma’s ‘best of the best’ portrayals

VILMA Santos

VILMA Santos’ outstanding performance in her latest starrer, “Everything About Her,” has prompted some of her fans to ask us to take the longer view and appreciate it in the context of the thespic icon’s other standout portrayals in the course of her exceptionally extended and “awarded” career. Happy to oblige:

After her first starrer as a child performer, “Trudis Liit” in 1963, Vilma won her first Famas award for “Dama de Noche” (1972). In our view, she also did well in Romy Suzarra’s “Ang Konduktora,” Ishmael Bernal’s “Inspiration,” Chat Gallardo’s “King Khayam and I,” “Dalawang Pugad, Isang Ibon,” “Burlesk Queen,” “Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak,” “Ikaw ay Akin,” “Rubia Servios,” “Langis at Tubig,” “Relasyon,” “T-Bird at Ako,” “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan?,” “Haplos,” “Paano Ba ang Mangarap?,” “Broken Marriage,” “Minsan Pa Natin Hagkan ang Nakaraan,” “Sister Stella L.,” “Alyas Baby Tsina,” “Palimos ng Pag-ibig,” “Tagos ng Dugo,” “Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig?,” “Pahiram ng Isang Umaga,” “Ibulong Mo sa Diyos,” “Imortal,” “Hahamakin Lahat,” “Ipagpatawad Mo,” “Sinungaling Mong Puso,” “The Dolzura Cortez Story,” “Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?,” “Anak,” “Dekada ’70,” “In My Life” and “Ekstra.”

A most impressive and significant thespic output, right? Vilma’s film bio proves that her being hailed as “The Star for All Seasons” is no hollow claim or boast!

Now comes the hard part: How do you whittle all those thespic achievements down to Vilma’s best 10 films? Compare, compare, take a deep breath, cut down to  20. Then compare again, and cut down to (in no particular order):

“Sister Stella L.,” “Relasyon,” “Broken Marriage,” “Pagputi  ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak,”  “Anak,” “Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?,” “The Dolzura Cortez Story,” “Dekada ’70,” “In My Life” and “Everything About Her”—yes, Vilma is that good in her latest starrer.

Stellar political career

That’s the heartening thing about “our” Vilma: She may be busy with her similarly stellar political career, but she still makes it a point to shoot a new film every two years or so—and some of her more recent starrers have made it to her “best of the best” list.

This should motivate other “maturing” or fully mature actors to similarly keep gifting us with new and increasingly more challenging screen portrayals, instead of just resting on their laurels.

An indie “solo” starrer from each of them every couple of years would brighten the local film scene immeasurably!

What do you say, Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia, Robert Arevalo, Barbara Perez, Nora Aunor, Bembol Roco, Tommy Abuel, Christopher de Leon, Hilda Koronel, Dante Rivero, Joel Torre, Joseph Estrada, Amy Austria, Lou Veloso, Cherie Gil, Ricky Davao, Ronaldo Valdez, Anita Linda, Rosa Rosal, Amalia Fuentes, Boots Anson-Roa, Vivian Velez, Art Acuña, Caridad Sanchez, Carmi Martin, Ces Quesada, Charo Santos, Cherry Pie Picache, Coney Reyes, Daria Ramirez, Dina Bonnevie, Elizabeth Oropesa, Mona Lisa, Eugene Domingo, Eula Valdes, Laurice Guillen, Liza Lorena, Lorna Tolentino, Malou de Guzman and Pilar Pilapil?

Indie filmmaking is much more “affordable” now. If these fine thespians each starred in one movie a year, or even one every couple of years like Vilma—how wonderful it would be for everybody!