An older family member may have told you how the “Star for All Seasons”, Vilma Santos, has dominated Philippine television and cinemas over the past decades. From her movies, tv-series, to variety shows, the queen of all queens owned the title the “multi-awarded icon” for her contribution to the industry- one is the Philippine musical variety show, “Vilma”.
Veteran actress and Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto reminisced her old “Vilma” days as she returned to the newly renovated Manila Metropolitan Theater in Manila, where she filmed the episodes of the hit reality show “Vilma for 9 years”, a Friday evening lineup she hosted back in 1986 to 1995.
“It’s been 27 years since I’ve been to this special place. Sobrang dami pong happy memories na nangyari sa lugar na ito. And I felt so many emotions when I returned. I can’t help but reminisce about the good old days with friends who became family to me,” Vilma wrote in a description for her Sunday YouTube video.
In her latest vlog, Vilma Santos toured the theater with her “Vilma” friends and co-host Roderick Paulate, executive producer Chit Guerrero, and choreographer Maribeth Bicharra who took their turns sharing the fun memories they spent together for almost 9 years in Manila Metropolitan Theater. While Vilma Santos recalled how the supporters have showered her with love for the long year run of “Vilma”.
“Ganun ko kamahal ‘yung mga fan. Parang hindi ko alam kung paano susuklian ‘yung pagmamahal nila sa akin. Para magtagal ako sa industry talaga. Nakikita ko silang nahihirapan. Imagine, minsan ‘yung iba hindi pa nagla-lunch nakapila na, umaga para makita ka lang. bumabyahe, may mga nanggagaling sa probinsya na dala ‘yung bus nila. Hindi kumakain- just to see you.”
Mentioning how fans have inspired her throughout her showbiz career, Vilma Santos also shared that whenever her service car arrived at the shooting location, she wouldn’t want to miss at least shaking hands with her fans to see and hold her.
Meanwhile, Vilma stars and staff Roderick, Chit, and Maribeth shared the most memorable production of “Vilma” that whenever they remember still leaves them in awe of how Vilma has been dedicated, energetic, and had inspired everyone on the entire set of the variety show.
In the middle part of the vlog, clips of young Luis Manzano, Vilma’s son with former lover Edu Manzano, dancing for the first time was shown which Vilma remembered as an outro part of her show with the segment ‘I love you, Lucky.
In between her recalling moments with fans and how “Vilma” has helped her to explore, the Philippine Cinema queen also reminisces how “Vilma” commemorates the memories of the fans who passed away by emptying the chairs the fans used to occupy in the theater and tying black ribbons around to remember the memories they shared with the entire set of “Vilma”.
Nearing the last part of the 28-minute video visit of Vilma in MET, she revealed that she misses her life in showbiz saying “When I see this, when I see you, people, I miss this life. Imagine, matagal akong wala sa showbiz because of my job as a public servant. Nag-COVID pa, nakatago ka talaga sa bahay, work from home ako. Mask isa constituents ko sa Lipa, video call ako palagi. So now I am starting to go out, and then ito pa yung nararamdaman ko.” Referring to why she got sensitive and emotional while spending time with her former colleagues, Chit, Bechay, and her friend Roderick.
While Vilma had already shared a lot of memories she had in Metropolitan Theater in Manila, the Star for all Seasons announced that there is still more to recall in part two of her ‘BALIK METROPOLITAN THEATER SI ATE VI (A reunion after 27 years) to be uploaded next week.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkMQdCgyV5SsN4IayJNCK6A
Photo Credit:https://www.instagram.com/p/CR1XNsXD_Ov/
