Vilma Santos recalls fond memories with Mother Lily Monteverde

(From left) Vilma Santos and Mother Lily Monteverde. Images: Facebook/Vilma Santos-Recto, Regal Entertainment Inc.

A tearful Vilma Santos looked back on some of her fondest memories with the late Mother Lily Monteverde, saying the film producer was one of the people she consulted when she decided to run for mayor.

In a video uploaded by ABS-CBN News on YouTube, Santos recalled how her close relationship with the Regal Entertainment matriarch started, with the actress-politician sharing that her first film under the production company was “Pinay American Style” in 1979.

“Sa Regal, nagsimula ako noong 1979 sa movie ‘Pinay American Style.’ Si Mother ay madalas kong nakakasama sa mga byahe and if I may go back, gumawa ako ng 14 na movies kay Mother. My last movie with Mother was in 2004, ‘Mano Po,’” she said.

(I started with Regal in 1979 through the movie “Pinay American Style.” I was always with Mother during trips and if I may go back, I made 14 movies with her. My last movie with Mother was in 2004, “Mano Po III: My Love.”)

Santos said that she considers Monteverde her “second mom,” who was as close to her as the late film producer Marichu Maceda, fondly known as “Manay Ichu,” saying they enjoyed sharing showbiz-related stories during breakfast while filming abroad.

“Si Mother ay hindi ko lang producer. She’s like a second mom to me. Papaano ko siya hindi magiging second mom, ninang ko siya sa kasal. [Si] Dondon, ang anak niya, ninang ako sa kasal niya. Si Kit [na] apo niya, ninang ako sa kasal. Kaya Mother, kahit wala ka na, hindi mawawala ang bonding natin at ang family niya. We are one family. Kung si Mother, may ‘Regal Babies,’ baby rin niya ako. Mas mature nga lang,” she added.

A portrait of Mother Lily Monteverde at her wake — ALLAN POLICARPIO

(Mother was not only a producer. She’s like a second mom to me. Why wouldn’t I consider her as a second mom? She was a godmother at my wedding. I was also a godmother at the weddings of her son Dondon and grandson Kit. So Mother, even if you’re gone, our bond between our families will never go away. We are one family. If Mother has her “Regal Babies,” I’m her baby too. Just more mature.)

‘What you see is what you get’

Santos also recalled how the majority of her Best Actress awards came from the films she created with Monteverde, touching how the latter allowed her to be part of “relevant movies.”

“Karamihan ng natanggap kong Best Actress awards, galing sa nagawa ko kay Mother Lily under Regal Films… si Mother ang nagbigay ng chance sa’king gumawa ng relevant movies,” she said. “Nag-iisa si Lily Yu-Monteverde. Nag-iisa siya. What you see is what you get… even if she’s a producer, pero para sa kanya, hindi siya manghihinayang na magkaroon ng prestige ang kanyang production.”

(The majority of the Best Actress awards I received came from the movies I created with Mother Lily under Regal Films. Mother gave me the chance to make relevant movies. There is no one like Lily Yu-Monteverde. What you see is what you get. Even if she’s a producer, she won’t waste any time ensuring that her productions are of prestige.)

One of Ate V’s consultants

Vilma Santos talks to Mother Lily’s children Roselle and Dondon Monteverde. Image from Vilma Santos’ Instagram

While crying, Santos pointed out that Monteverde and Maceda were the people she consulted with when she decided to run for Mayor. “One very important thing, noong kahilingan kong tumakbo bilang mayor, dalawa po sila ni Manay Ichu [Maceda] ang kinonsulta ko.”

“Binigyan pa ako ng press con ni Mother Lily noong kampanya. Basta sabi niya sa akin, ‘Bilib ako sa’yo and you can do the work,’” she continued. “Every time meron akong magandang nagagawa, tumatawag siya at si Manay Ichu. Nagsusulat sila, congratulating me. Now they’re both gone. One thing [I did] as a public servant, hindi ko sila pinahiya. Kaya Mother, Manay, maraming salamat.”

(One very important thing — when I decided to run for mayor, she and Manay Ichu were the first ones whom I consulted with. Mother Lily even organized a press con for me while campaigning. She told me, “I believe in you and you can do the work.” Every time I did something good, she and Manay Ichu would call me. They would write to me, congratulating me. Now they’re both gone. One thing I did as a public servant was I never embarrassed them. Thank you very much, Mother and Manay.)

Mother Lily died at the age of 85 on August 4, barely a week after the death of her husband, Leonardo “Father Remy” Monteverde last July 29.

The late film producer was laid to rest at The Heritage Park in Taguig City with various celebrities in attendance.