Vilma returns to television, Charo’s Maalaala turns 18

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

There’s a lot of buzz at the Kapamilya lot lately. And it’s not an imagined frenzy. It is for real. And why not?

Vilma Santos, the star for all seasons (which is rather vague in a country that has only the wet and dry seasons), is finally back on TV, not in a soap opera or drama anthology, much less a variety show, something she had before she plunged herself into politics, but in a one-of-a-kind special that will showcase her talent as an actress and television star.

And then there’s the 18th anniversary of Maalaala Mo Kaya, which is now the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television.

Charo Santos, the show’s narrator/host, said during a press conference that it is like her own debut, admitting to everyone that she never had a coming-out party when she turned 18. Her sister, Malou, who is also the show’s executive producer, said “We were poor then, so all of us didn’t have a debut.” The revelation shocked the younger members of the entertainment press who have known Charo and Malou as what they are now—the most powerful women in Philippine entertainment.

Ate Vi conducts master class in performance

The Kapamilya Network’s five-part TV special starring Vilma Santos called Vilma: A Woman for All Seasons will start airing tomorrow and four Saturdays thereafter.

Presented in a documentary-magazine and reality TV format, the audience will see the former child actress that blossomed into one of Philippines’ best in various stages of her life culminating in the making of In My Life in which she stars with son Luis Manzano (by ex-husband Edu Manzano) and John Lloyd Cruz.

The first episode which airs tomorrow night is hosted by Claudine Barretto who has worked with Vilma in Anak. It showcases Vilma as an actress with a highlight as Vilma and Laurice Guillen conducted a master class for Star Magic talents amomg whom were Kim Chiu (who acted out the scene in the film Dolzura Cortez where PDA scholar Bugoy bravely faced Kim’s slapping hand), Coco Martin, Nikki Gil, and Megan Young.

Two Saturdays from today, the fans will be delighted to see Vilma as a TV host, dancer and performer. With Vhong Navarro as host, Ate Vi shares insights and her experiences during tapings and shootings—from unavoidable health concerns and even to romantic problems with her good-looking leading men. The episode relives the good old days of VIP, which became her trademark as a TV star, appearing in specially-choreographed opening numbers by Maribeth Bichara and colorful costumes. Joining her are Shaina Magdayao, Angelica Panganiban, lya Villania, Empress Shuck, Nina Dolino, Princess Ryan and Dianne Medina.

On Aug. 15, television audiences will see Vilma in her own private world. Angel Locsin, girlfriend of Vilma’s son Luis, hosts the episode.

Then on Aug. 22, the episode is devoted to Vilma as a hands-on and first woman governor of Batangas that has been given the UP Gawad Plaridel Award for her achievements both as an actress and public servant.

Capping the five-week special on Aug. 29 is a peek into the making of In My Life. Luis and John Lloyd will host the episode. The special will show behind the scenes while the production staff was in New York shooting the movie.

Vilma could have chosen the easy way to mark her return to television and film, a variety show, something in which she excelled the most, but she opted for something she had never done before.

She likes the term master class as I suggested it during a dinner-press conference with her. “I really want to share my experiences with the younger stars of today,” she repeatedly said. “And at my age, it wouldn’t look good that I strut on stage dancing. I’d rather that I am able to reach out to talents who are all dreaming to be stars.”

Now, Ate Vi is no longer Trudis Liit, Sister Stella L, Dolzura, Baby Tsina... she is the master actress.

Director for all seasons

Alco Guerrero, who directs Vilma: A Woman for All Seasons, loves to tell this story about Vi:

“Vilma Santos made me a director before I even knew I was one. As a teen in the late ’80s and early ’90s, I tagged along with mom [referring to Chit Guerrero, special projects director at ABS-CBN] in Vilma shows [which Chit used to produce for the other channel] in the US. With a handicam slung around my neck and Vilma Santos right in front of me, I did what any star-struck teen would do—I pointed shot. I followed her everywhere, shot everything, and later on back at home, mom and her staff saw that the footage was good enough to air as behind-the-scenes footage for the Vilma episodes of the US shows.”

For the job, teenage director Alco was paid a pair of nice leather shoes.

Two decades later, the shoes, he revealed, are still with him. And the job.But with a great difference now.

He has decent career as director that started 10 years ago, one that has seen him headed such projects as U Can Dance Version 2, KC in Paris, Sharon, The Mega Story, Globe Telecoms Iphone Launch and spiels of Maalaala Mo Kaya.

Alco admitted that when he saw Vi right in front of him, as he directed her in the five episodes of Vilma: A Woman for All Seasons, he still felt star struck.

Alco started working at ABS-CBN in 2000. He was a writer of Martin Late @ Nite. He has been the director of the bi-annual Araw Values Awards—an awards night for the advertising industry that celebrates Filipino values in advertising.

He has been directing the annual Gawad Geny Lopez Bayaning Pilipino awards as well as a number of advertiser-related TV materials, including that of Globe Telecoms, J&J and Clear.

Five for MMK’s 18th

Maalaala Mo Kaya, the longest running drama anthology in the Philippines, continues to touch the hearts of Filipinos worldwide. It has featured the most heartwarming and inspiring stories of Filipinos. Families and children grew up with the show, and it has been an integral part of television viewing for the past 18 years.

The unique viewing experience that show has provided our countrymen did not go unnoticed. In an effort to show lives of ordinary people with extraordinary stories, coupled with high-production values, engaging, emotionally-charged storytelling, the show has bagged countless recognitions from various prestigious award-giving bodies namely: Catholic Mass Media Awards, KBP Golden Dove and has set an unprecedented record by winning in PMPC’s Star Awards for Television for 11 consecutive times. Most of the highly-respected and brightest acting luminaries have graced memorable episodes of the show like Dolphy, Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Nora Aunor, Maricel Soriano, Christopher de Leon, Eddie Garcia, Gloria Romero, Susan Roces, Gina Pareño, Gabby Concepcion, Eula Valdez, Roderick Paulate, Dawn Zulueta and young stars in offbeat roles like Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Jericho Rosales, Judy Ann Santos, Claudine Barretto, Bea Alonzo, Angel Locsin, Sarah Geronimo, KC Concepcion, Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu and a whole lot more. The program promises to reinforce values and life lessons, inspiring and hope-providing stories as it journeys further with the Filipino family.

Now, as MMK celebrates its 18th anniversary, five very special episodes will be aired for the month of August showcasing stories of love and friendship, forgiveness, healing and inspiration.

Comedian Ai Ai de las Alas turns dramatic in the first episode tomorrow with young star Erich Gonzales in a story of a mother and daughter who face the challenges of life and come out of them triumphantly.

The succeeding Saturdays will feature episodes all shot in the US and featuring stars now based in North America. According to Malou Santos, it took the production team nearly a year to put the four episodes in its final form.

On Aug. 8, the travails of Filipino war veterans in America is the subject of the episode, with Noel Trinidad, Nanding Josef and US-based Filipino actors Joji Isla, Prospero Luna, Louella Albornoz and Lucita Soriano. Dado Lumibao directed the episode.

Ryan Eigenman and Giselle Toengi play a young migrant couple who experience hardships and trials trying to start a new life in “the land of milk and honey”. Will love help them to survive? The episode directed by John-D Lazatin airs on Aug. 15.

On Aug. 22 , Princess Punzalan returns on primetime television in a story of a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage. As she reaches mid-life, will she have the courage to return to a love she thought she had lost a long time ago? The episode, directed again by John-D Lazatin, also stars Michael de Mesa and Miguel Vera.

Gina Alajar stars in the concluding story with up-and-coming young star Lauren Young. The two play mother and daughter who, by circumstances, are forced to live in America. As Grace (Alajar) journeys with a career as a caregiver, she meets Milly (played by American actress Lynn Waters). Overcoming their differences in culture and language, the two women learn strength and the essence of family from each other, ultimately changing each other’s existence. Episode is directed by Dado Lumibao.

Charo Santos, now president and chief executive of ABS-CBN, seemed mesmerized at the fact that the show that came out of a paper clip is now 18 years on the air. While other drama anthologies in other networks had folded up, giving way to soap opera, Maalaala Mo Kaya, even if it has gone through the networks programming matrix a few times, from Wednesday to Friday and to its present slot on Saturdays, remained solid with a steady following watching each and every episode and wanting more.

Olive Lamasan, the creative head of the program, is just too happy that they didn’t close the pages on the show and glad that the 18th anniversary will be the start of something big for the show. In fact, the four episodes that will be shown in August are all in cooperation (rather collaboration) with The Filipino Channel (TFC) in North America.

Jeff Remigio of TFC promised to bring stories of Filipinos abroad where the TFC is available. “We have lots of stories that we can share to our countrymen, and with this partnership, we are very optimistic that we will in the coming years.”

Source: Manila Standard Today

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