Last Friday, March 20, a group of MA students and a fan club of Vilma Santos staged a tribute for her landmark film Sister Stella L. First screened in 1984, this Regal Entertainment-produced film tells the story of a nun who became an activist when she became involved in the labor disputes of factory workers.

How does she feel about being given a tribute for portraying the role of Sister Stella Legaspi in this Mike de Leon classic?

"Definitely, malaking karangalan ito sa akin. Sinabi nga natin na after 25 years, nandito pa rin at kinikilala pa. Sabi nga nila [students], hanggang ngayon nagi-inspire pa rin sa kanila. Malaking karangalan yun at malaking prestige na gumawa ng ganito kahit na noong ginawa ko ‘yan, hindi pa ganun kalawak ang pag-unawa ko sa kapaligiran ko. Ngayon lang na public servant ako, naintindihan ko ang meaning ng mga binanggit ko diyan," admitted Vilma after the two-hour forum conducted at the University of the Philippines Film Institute in Diliman, Quezon City. This event was organized by the Film 280 class of the College of Mass Communication and the Vilma Santos Solid International Inc.

What changes has she seen in society since Sister Stella L was screened on the big screen in 1984? "Ang masakit nga, ang Sister Stella L after 25 years, ganun pa rin. It's the same, yung mga napatay, yung mga na-kidnap, it's the same issues...Ang maganda lang mas malawak ang kamalayan natin ngayon.

"I hope bago umabot ang Sister Stella L ng 50 years, may nagbago na. But I'm very thankful na binigyan nila ngayon ng tribute ang pelikula. I'm very, very grateful," says the Star for All Seasons.

When asked if she is willing to do another socially relevant film like Sister Stella L, she replied, "Oo naman, all the way!"

Would she want to do a sequel to this film? She points out: "Not necessarily Part 2 kasi it could be any relevant movie that could tackle sa issues ng panahon ngayon na makaka-inspire sa tao. It could be about autism or AIDS, like Dolzura Cortez [her 1993 film titled Dahil Mahal Kita featured the life of the first Filipino HIV/AIDS patient to reveal her condition to the public]."


MAINSTREAM MOVIE. With regards to her upcoming Star Cinema film tentatively titled A Mother's Love, Vilma says that they had already started taping for it. "Nag-sushooting na at nakaka-pitong araw na. Kukunin ko yung summer vacation ko sa Batangas to go to New York kasi may three weeks shooting kami dun."

She then told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that she will be leaving for New York on April 19.

What scenes has she done so far? "Sa akin pa lang saka other family members. Kasi sila ung imi-meet ko dun sa New York!"

In this movie, which will be directed by Olivia Lamasan, the politician-actress will act opposite her son, Luis Manzano, and Box-Office King for 2008 John Lloyd Cruz.

Currently the governor of Batangas, Vilma was last seen in the 2004 movie Mano Po III: My Love. However, she did have a guest appearance in Star Cinema's D' Lucky Ones in 2006.  (Click HERE to read more about Ate Vi's political plans in the future.)