Vilma Santos brushes off intrigues about her MMFF Best Actress win

Vilma Santos

Vilma Santos debunked claims that she had a hand in the voting among jurors that resulted in her winning Best Actress at the recent Metro Manila Film Festival awards.

In an interview with show biz writer Jun Lalin, Santos said she could only laugh at intrigues swirling in certain social media circles alleging that she could have rigged the awards in her favor, thus, preventing another “more deserving” nominee for Best Actress to win.

Laughing off the insinuation, the veteran said that in the first place, winning the coveted award was the farthest from her mind, as she and her “When I Met You In Tokyo” costar Christopher were more intent on bringing back moviegoers to cinemas.

“Natatawa nga ako syempre andami daming nang-iintriga sa akin about getting the Best Actress. Alam nyo, ‘di po ako nakikipag away (for the) Best Actress (award). Hindi ko po alam, ibinigay lang po iyon sa akin. Kung kinukwentiyon nila, yung mga jurors ang tanungin nila kasi wala naman akong alam dyan. Andami nilang ano — me nilakad, me pa-(inaudible). Sanay na tayo dyan,” she said.

(I found that funny because there were so many intrigues about me and that Best Actress award. You know, I won’t go into a fight over that Best Actress award. I didn’t know I was going to win, they just game me that award. If they are questioning that, they should address that with the jurors because I know nothing about that. They had so many insinuations about rigging it, (but) I’m used to that.)

Having been in the entertainment industry for six decades, Santos said she was no longer driver by awards, nor gets bothered if she does not win them. In fact, that was why when she accepted the plaque during the awards night, she dedicated the award to her fellow nominees.

“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Ganun lang naman talaga. Sa tinagal-tagal ko na rin sa business na ito, hindi naman para gumawa pa ako ng mga ano sa mga awards. I’m very very thankful with all the blessing, kahit paano nakatikim nanaman tayo nyan. Kaya dun sa mga nagba-bash, ‘wag na kayo mag alala at di ko naman sosolohin yan. Kung gusto nila, they can ano, lahat naman ng nominees they gave their best, all of us,” she claimed.

(Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. That’s how it is. In my many years in this business, I’ve not made this movie just for the awards. Still, I’m very very thankful with all the blessing, that I was still able to win this award. So for the bashers, don’t worry because I won’t take sole credit for that award. If they want, they can… all of the nominees, they gave their best. All of us did.)

“Di naman pwedeng ako lang ang anak ng Diyos. Lahat kami nagdeliver ng best sa acting namin. It doesn’t bother me, sa totoo lang,” she further said.

(It’s not that I’m the only child of God. All of us delivered the best in our respective movies. It’s doesn’t bother me, to tell the truth.)

Thus, the veteran actress advised fans who were rooting for their idols not to take it too badly since she did not ask to win the award for herself.

Santos won the award over five other nominees, namely Sharon Cuneta (Family of Two: A Mother and Son Story); Marian Rivera (Rewind); Beauty Gonzalez (Kampon); and, Eugene Domingo and Pokwang (both for Becky and Badette).