Vilma Santos with “It’s Your Lucky Day” hosts Luis Manzano, Andrea Bautista, Shaina Magdayao. Screengrab from ABS-CBN YouTube
Updated 9:31 a.m., Oct. 24
Vilma Santos-Recto became emotional on Saturday as she made a surprise appearance as guest-judge at her son Luis Manzano’s noontime show, “It’s Your Lucky Day,” a placeholder for “It’s Showtime,” which was suspended for 12 airing days.
The Star for All Seasons was introduced by Manzano as a “Vi-gatin” (heavyweight) as he enjoined his co-hosts for the day Jennica Garcia, Bianca Umali, Andrea Bautista, Shaina Magdayao, and comedians Divine Tetay and Petite.
Santos began by yelling her iconic “I love you, Lucky!” shout-out, which was her signature call when greeting Manzano at her own musical variety show in the mid ’80s and which lasted for about a decade. Afterwards, she began praising the “It’s Your Lucky Day” hosts, saying she is proud of all of them.
“I’d like… (pause) no, I’d like to commend them kasi sa ating mga artista — akala nyo ba madali po yung sabihin na, ‘We’re offering you (a show) pero 12 days lang na show.’ Pero itong ‘It’s Your Lucky Day,’ tinanggap nila dahil hindi ho sila selfish,” she said, her voice breaking as she tried to hold back tears.
“Alam nyo kasi 12 days ipapasok lang sila dahil alam naman natin yung kaganapan. Pero selfless sila kasi gustong ituloy pa din yung entertainment at yung pupwedeng swerteng maibigay pa sa mga tao,” she continued, referring to the suspension order meted by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board on “It’s Showtime.”
The veteran actress recalled the first airing day of “It’s Your Lucky Day” wherein Manzano quipped about not even being done with their initial showing yet they are already on their last two weeks. She said this was no easy feat.
“Imagine when I was watching when you mentioned that hindi pa nga natatapos yung initial show, last two weeks na agad. Hindi po biro yun. Actually, ‘di nga kayo aabutin ng 2 weeks… anak 12 days lang e. Pero sa totoo lang po, pinakita nila na di sila makasarili. Gusto lang nila ituloy yung entertainment at ibagay yung makakatulong pa sa mga kababayan natin,” she said.
“Kaya to all of you, sa inyo, sa inyong pamilya ng ‘It’s Your Lucky Day,” she said as she turned her back from the audience to face the show’s hosts before bowing low, much to the surprise of the hosts. “I commend you. Palakpakan naman po natin sila.”
Manzano is Santos’ son with veteran actor Edu Manzano. She has another son, Ryan Christian, with her husband, former Senator Ralph Recto. EDV