VILMA Santos‘ special guesting on ‘2WAD (2nyt With Allan Diones)’ in time for her birthday today was a big hit, with her friends Tirso Cruz III, Roderick Paulate, Ricky Davao and Chit Guerrero showing up to greet her, so did writers Gorgy Rula, Noel Ferrer and Gerry Olea to grill her.
Ate Vi says her birthday wish is not for herself but for the whole world. “Hindi talaga naging mabuti ang 2020 para sa ating lahat. Ang daming calamities, hindi lang dito sa atin kundi worldwide. Pumutok ang Taal, nagkaroon ng pandemic, may bagyo pang dumating, so ang prayer ko, Lord, sana tama na po. Nagsa-suffer tayo, ang buong mundo. Let’s just continue to pray for each other.”
So what does she do during the lockdown? “Iniiwasan ko talaga lumabas. Work from home lang, kasi unang-una, 35 years old na ako, e. Sa Congress, Zoom ang meetings namin, pati sa ibang agencies to make sure our programs in Lipa ay tuluy-tuloy. Buti na lang because of technology, sanay na sanay na akong mag-zoom. Ngayong may pandemya, we learn to cherish more ang buhay ng tao. Sa ngayon, makalabas ka lang sa kalye, kumain ka three times a day, hindi ka mawalan ng trabaho, it’s already a gift. I learn to value my family more. Mas may time kaming mag-bonding, but we follow all the protocols.”
Has she felt any stress? “Yes, I felt stressed din naman. May anxiety, but ginagawaan ko ng paraan para di ako matalo ng anxiety. I do my regular exercises, nagtiktok din ako, sinubukan ko lang. Nag-viral daw, sayaw for frontliners. I eat healthy, hindi ko pinababayaan ang health ko and just hope for the best and, definitely, with prayers.”
How about her wish for an apo? “Yes, wish ko ng apo. Siguro, very soon. Yehey!”
Allan Diones says: “Sabi nga ni Jessy Mendiola, may pinagagawa na silang bahay ni Luis by the beach. Mukhang may pag-iisandibdib na malapit ng maganap?”
Ate Vi replies: “Karapatan ko lang sabihin na, very soon.”
Kay Luis or kay Ryan Christian? “Kay Lucky. Basta okay na ako roon. Very soon!”
Noel tells her Ryan has his own lovelife at the Ateneo. Ate Vi says: “Si Ryan, tinatapos pa ang pag-aaral niya, so huwag na muna natin siyang lituhin.”
Does she plan to run for president? “Yes, pangarap ko maging president ng senior citizens club.”
Did she have time to watch movies of Nora Aunor when they were younger? “No time to watch each other’s movies. We’re so busy, kasi kung minsan apat na pelikula sabay-sabay naming ginagawa then pino-promote pa namin personally, unlike now you have all the time. Ngayon ko pa lang napapanood ‘yung movies namin dahil pinapalabas sa TV.”
What movies of Nora has she seen? “Napanood ko ‘yung movies naming dalawa, ‘T-bird at Ako’, ‘Ikaw ay Akin’, ‘yung sila ni Pipo, ‘Bilangin ang Bituin’, marami pa.”
Can she deliver some lines identified with Ate Guy like ‘Walang himala’? “Naku, huwag na nating intrigahin ‘yang mga linya na ‘yan. Para kay Ate Guy ‘yan, so let’s leave it na to her. At this point in time, hindi na importante kung Noranian ka o Vilmanian. I admit, noong 70s, kainitan ng rivalry namin, nag-iisnaban kami, di kami nagkikibuan. But when we matured, we became friends, we even texted each other. Basta nagkaroon na kami ng tatak ng kumare ko. Sa ngayon, may nag-aaway pa rin namang fans, pero hindi na namin sineseryoso.”
The fact remains that they are the two most legendary actresses in Philippine Cinema and no other actresses surpassed their rivalry. Is it true Direk Brillante Mendoza offered them a movie together?
“Yes, may in-offer si Direk Brillante sa amin about Mindanao, kaso hindi in-allow ng schedule ko. He was asking kasi for ten days straight shooting, e hindi pa recess ang Congress noon. Sayang, kasi maganda ang script, kaya lang may priorities din ako as a congresswoman. Hindi ito ‘yung just a local executive ka lang in an office, kasi gumagawa ka na ng batas. Hanggang ngayon pinag-aaralan ko pa rin. But I admit na napabayaan ko ang paggawa ng pelikula. Pero hindi ko kinakalimutan ‘yan at gagawa pa rin ako ng pelikula. I saw ‘Lola’ ni Direk Brillante with Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio. Ang ganda! Malay mo kahit lola na kami ni Ate Guy, may pag-asa pa. Kailangan lang ng right timing. Ako nga ang nahihiya, e kasi may trabaho akong hindi puedeng balewalain.”
What are her top 3 favorite films among those she has done? “Mahihirapan akong pumili, kasi andami kong ginawang pelikula na gusto ko talaga. Unang-una, Darna at Dyesebel. Lahat pinapangarap gampanan ‘yun. Malaki ang naitulong noon sa akin. Tapos, ‘Relasyon’ kasi diyian una akong naka-grand slam. ‘Burlesk Queen’, turning point ‘yun sa career ko. ‘Sister Stella L’, ‘Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa’, ‘Tagos ng Dugo’, ‘Dolzura Cortez’, ‘Pahiram ng Isang Umaga’, ‘Broken Marriage’, andami pang mga gusto ko talaga.”
