VILMA SANTOS received her Famas Best Actress when she was nine years old in the movie Trudis Liit in 1963.
She reigned supreme in the box office hits in early 70's with her movies; among others were, Lipad Darna, Lipad, Dyesebel, Kampanerang Kuba, Wonder Vi, Anak ng Aswang, at Batya't Palu-Palo.
She was paired with different matinee idols with Edgar Mortiz as her perennial love team. Her movies included Teenage Señorita, Young Lovers, The Sensations, The Young Idols, Sixteen, Love at First Sight, My Pledge of Love and other Vi-Bot (Edgar Mortiz) starrers.
She graduated from sweety sweety roles and showed more flesh in the controversial Burlesk Queen. Paired with Philip Salvador, she almost bagged the Best Dramatic Actress Award as a rape victim in Lino Broca's Rubia Servios.She was megged by the best directors of the movie industry such as Celso Ad Castillo in Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-Itim ng Tagak; Ismael Bernal in Relasyon in 1982. This movie gave her the Grand Slam awards from Urian, FAP, Famas and Catholic Mass Media. Films that she made before she involved herself in politics were Broken Marriage, Sister Stella L., Tagos Ng Dugo, Pahiram ng Isang Umaga, Imortal, Ipagpatawad Mo, The Dolzura Cortez Story, Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa Anak, Dekada '70, and Mano Po 3.
She is currently the mayor of Lipa Batnagas and wife to Senator Raffy Recto and mother of Luis Manzano. I love you Lucky. hehehe
It was also in the 70's when a skinny brown girl emerged as a winner in the popular singing contest, Tawag ng Tanghalan.
Nora Villamayor, known as Guy mesmerized the bakya record. She was practically worshipped by her fans. Her ascent to the celluloid world as the darling of the masa had no precedent in the Philippine cinema where only the mestizas and the beautiful became stars. But she is the Superstar.
Her songs broke records in the local music industry. The Nora mania was unstoppable. The Guy-Pip (Tirso Cruz III) love team was worshipped by the fans, so much so that there was a doll Maria Teresa who became their virtual love child?
Her sing-song dance unforgettable movies became hits that she was paired to a scion of a political clan, Victor Laurel for the movie filmed in the US with no other than Don Johnson of Miami Vice and Nash Bridges actor as the third party in the love triangle.
She started producing movies. Banaue, And God Smiled At Me, showed Nora's intensity as an actress. Vilma was no match with her subdued acting. She did not have to be hysterical to express anger or outrage. Her eyes showed them all.
She produced many movies in 1970's. Among them were:
ora Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976), Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (1979), Bulaklak Sa City Jail (1984), Bilangin Ang Bituin Sa Langit (1989), and Andrea, Paano Ba Ang Maging Isa Ina (1990), Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), and Bakit May Kahapon Pa (1996).
Nora bagged three international best actress trophies: Cairo International Film Festival for The Flor Contemplacion Story, Malaysia International Film Festival for Bakit May Kahapon Pa and Brussels International Film Festival for Naglalayag.
She is now in the United States.
Temple of Doom,
Harrison Ford,
Nora Aunor,
Vilma Santos
