Vilma Santos calls for support to film industry after ‘unexpected’ MMFF 2023 Best Actress win
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Vilma Santos at the MMFF 2023 Gabi ng Parangal. Image: Facebook/Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Official
While accepting her Best Actress trophy at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 Gabi ng Parangal on Wednesday, Dec. 27, Vilma Santos called on Filipinos to support the local film industry, as she expressed her desire for the annual event to be ever “successful.”
Santos was emotional after she was named as Best Actress at the MMFF 2023 awards night, beating fellow nominees Marian Rivera, Sharon Cuneta, Eugene Domingo, Pokwang and Beauty Gonzales.
“Hindi ko po ine-expect ito,” she said. “Ang adbokasiya lang po namin talaga when we did ‘When I Met You in Tokyo’ [is] not even Best Actress, Best Actor. We just want to do a simple love story sa edad po namin.”
(I didn’t expect this. Our advocacy when we did “I Met You in Tokyo” is not even Best Actress or Best Actor. We just want to do a simple love story for our age.)
The film, in which Santos is paired with screen veteran Christopher de Leon, tells the story of Azon who meets divorcee Joey who’s struggling to move forward from his ex-wife’s infidelity.
LOOK: Vilma Santos of “When I Met You in Tokyo” is #MMFF2023‘s Best Actress. | 📸: MMFF/Facebook via @HMallorcaINQ pic.twitter.com/ivuzvIk3zP
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) December 27, 2023
In her speech, Santos also hoped that the turnout of the MMFF would encourage Filipinos to support local cinema. “Ang adbokasiya po namin ay maging successful ang Metro Manila Film Festival (Our advocacy is to ensure that the Metro Manila Film Festival is successful).”
“At the same time, mabalik sana ‘yung mga tao sa sine, ‘yun ang dream. Bumalik sa sine, sana magtuloy-tuloy (…we wish that people will return to the cinemas. That’s the dream. To return to the theaters [and] continue to do so),” she continued.
The actress, who dedicated her win to fellow nominees, said the entertainment industry needs the support of the public and that the annual festival is a way for families to bond together.
“Ito ang kailangan ng ating industriya, ang ma-appreciate po nila, ang makasama po nila ang kanilang pamilya, family bonding and I think it is happening now, sana po magtuloy-tuloy (This is what the industry needs, for families to appreciate our films and to encourage family bonding. And I think it is happening now. I hope it will continue),” she said.
The romance film bagged a total of four awards including Fourth Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Float, and the FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence.
