Five Decades of Vilma Santos

Multi-awarded actress and politician Vilma Santos-Recto celebrates her fifty-ninth birthday today. She started her career as a child star with a breakout title role in the 1963 film Trudis Liit. In July 2012, Star Cinema released The Healing, a horror film, to mark her fiftieth year in the Philippine entertainment industry. Santos also highlighted many television programs including VIP (Vilma in Person) and Vilma!

Santos' political career started in 1998 when she was elected mayor of Lipa City in Batangas province. After winning three consecutive three-year terms as city mayor, Santos ran for and won the position of provincial governor in 2010.

Each of the following movie screen captures represent a decade in Santos' in show business:

Movie Ads: "Ikaw Lang" (1993)

On January 12, 1993, a movie having the same title as the Chad Borja hit song Ikaw Lang was shown in theaters. Under the direction of Chito Rono, Ikaw Lang stars Vilma Santos, Ronnie Ricketts,  Cesar Montano. Other cast members include Janine Barredo, Dencio Padilla, Zeny Zabala, and Vangie Labalan.

The film was shot in many towns in Bulacan, mainly Malolos and Paombong. This is a newspaper advertisement for the film:

POSTCRIPT:

* Vilma Santos is now the provincial governor of Batangas. She was elected in 2007 and 2010, each for a three-year term. The recent blockbuster film The Healing, marked  Santos' fiftieth year in show business.

* Ronnie Ricketts is now the chairman of Optical Media Board, an anti-piracy agency of the Philippine government.

* Cesar Montano eventually starred in many critically-acclaimed films, including Jose Rizal in 1998.  He is now a host of the reality-based talent search Artista Academy on TV5.

Luis Gonzales in "Iginuhit ng Tadhana: The Ferdinand E. Marcos Story"

In commemoration of the ninety-fifth anniversary of the birth of  former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, I'll be sharing some screen captures from the 1965 biographical film Iginuhit ng Tadhana (translated as 'Destined by Fate'). The film stars Luis Gonzales in the title role and Gloria Romero as Imelda Romualdez-Marcos.

Mia Rosa is featured in this film as Doña Josefa, Ferdinand's mother.  Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is cast as himself, while Vilma Santos and Chona portray Imee Marcos and Irene Marcos, respectively.

Iginuhit ng Tadhana is a Sampaguita Pictures presentation of a 777 Films production.  Three directors collaborated in making this film: Conrado Conde, Jose De Villa, and Mar S. Torres.