"Kung walang kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?"
Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto uttered these famous lines again when she graced the two-hour forum conducted at the Film Institute of the University of the Philippines last March 20, 2009. Dubbed as Sister Stella @ 25: Tuloy ang Pakikibaka, this event commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Mike de Leon classic film about a young nun who became involved in the labor disputes of factory workers.
The forum and the screening of Sister Stella L that night was organized by the Film 280 class of the UP College of Mass Communication (headed by Prof. Ed Piano) and the Vilma Santos Solid International Inc.
After answering questions from the MA students regarding the film, Vilma talked with the entertainment press regarding the film that allowed her to bag the Best Actress Award from the Gawad Urian.
"I'm so excited because I saw the cast after 25 years. Natutuwa ako, but ang pinaka-meaningful para sa aking ay yung fact na ang pelikula na sinasabi nilang hindi kumita, after 25 years nandito at pinag-uusapan pa rin. Nagkataon na isa itong pelikula na very, very meaningful. Palagay ko walang kamatayan ang Sister Stella L," she says proudly.
What are the issues that still need to be confronted today?
She points out, "Dapat ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mga tao at karapatan ng mga manggagawa. Now that I'm a public servant, may mga bagay diyan na na na-apply ko na pero hindi 100 percent. I need to learn more... Bago pa lang akong public servant, pero masasabi ko na ang ugat ng lahat ng 'yan ay kahirapan at kakulangan ng edukasyon."
Vilma speculated that doing this socially relevant film might have helped prepare her for public service. "When I did this movie, wala sa hinagap ko na magiging public servant ako. Maybe it's why I became a mayor and a governor, I don't know. But it was meant, may purpose siya. Wala ito sa pangarap ko, pero now na binigyan ako ng tiwala ng mamamayan, I'm just doing my best and definitely God will do the rest."
NO TO NATIONAL OFFICE. When asked to confirm or deny rumors saying that she will run for vice-president in the 2010 elections, Vilma admitted, "I'm not entertaining it. Ang focus ko talaga sa Batangas. Nagpapasalamat naman ako sa tiwala [from those who are asking her to run for national office], kasi I must be doing something good. Pero hindi ko ini-entertain kasi sa dalawang taon, wala ka masyadong magagawa.
"'Saka ano yun, dahil sa pangalan? Gusto ko kung pagkakatiwalaan ako, yun ay dahil kaya ko ang ginagawa ko. Pero two years for the whole of Batangas, hindi kaya 'yan para masabing may nagbago sa pamumuhay ng mga Batangueño. Two years in not enough."
ON LUIS AND ANGEL. Although her son Luis Manzano and Angel Locsin have been together for some time now, Vilma dismissed rumors saying that the two stars would be getting married soon.
"Hindi! Wala pa, nag-e-enjoy lang sila sa buhay nila," said the Star for All Seasons.
What has she observed about her son lately? "Masaya ang anak ko at alam ko ini-inspire siya ni Angel. I'm aware of that and I'm thankful."
Will it be all right for her if Luis marries his current flame Angel?
"Okay lang, Lucky [Luis' nickname] is 27 and he will turn 28 this April 21, so happy na ako dun. Ang anak ko napakabait nun. Kung ganun, hindi ako makikialam, pero gusto ko lang handang-handa na sila."
Is she open to the possibility of becoming the mother-in-law of Angel?
"Why not? Basta kung sino ang gusto ng anak ko, okay lang sa akin. Mabait si Angel."
Does she think that Luis has found the perfect match in Angel?
"Hindi ko alam, kasi siya ang nakakaramdam. Ang sa akin lang, basta alam ko na magiging napakaligaya ang anak ko at magiging stable yung kanyang emotion, dun ako all the way!"
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) took this opportunity to ask Vilma about her trip to Macau last December with Angel. (Click HERE to read related article.)
"Masaya kami. 'Saka nakasama ko na dati si Angel sa Mano Po. 'Saka ang tingin na namin dun, pamilya kasi we're comfortable with each other," says Vilma about her former co-star.
Angel and Vilma worked together on the film Mano Po 3: My Love, which was shown during the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Also present during the 25th anniversary celebration of Sister Stella L were Mother Lily Monteverde and Roselle Monteverde-Teo of Regal Films, the producers of this socially relevant film. Other guests during the forum were Jose "Pete" Lacaba, the screenplay writer of Sister Stella L; Raquel Villavicencio, who played a nun in this film; and Rody Vera, who played a character named Roger.