Vilma Santos-Recto (born Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos November 3, 1953 in Bamban, Tarlac) is the most awarded and one of the most popular actresses in the Philippines. She is known as the “Star for All Seasons.” She is currently in politics as the first woman Governor of Batangas. She was also the first woman Mayor of Lipa City for 9 years (3 terms).
Vilma Santos began acting at the age of nine, after winning the title role for the hit drama film Trudis Liit (Little Trudis). She immediately received her first acting trophy as Best Child Performer from FAMAS for the same film.
Groomed as a lead actress in her teens, her popularity grew further, bolstered by her loveteam with actor Edgar Mortiz and rivalry with contemporary actress and real life friend Nora Aunor. At the height of her showbiz career she was a consistent box-office drawer highlighted by comic-book adapted films like the Darna series and Dyesebel, and dramatic/daring films like Burlesk Queen and Sinasamba Kita, among others.
In 1998, she entered politics and ran for mayor of Lipa City, Batangas where she won by landslide victories in three consecutive elections. As the first woman mayor of Lipa City, she helped bring not just economic progress and infrastructure development to Lipa City, but more notably her various programs on public health, education and environment, which again earned various local and international awards and recognitions.
In 2005, the University of the Philippines conferred to her the Gawad Plaridel Award for her achievements and contributions both as an actress and a public servant. In the same year she was conferred an honorary doctorate degree (honoris causa) in humanities by the Lipa City College. She was again honored in 2006 by the University of the Philippines as one of the four awardees in UP’s First Diwata Awards.
Governor Vilma Santos is married to Senator Ralph Recto, who belongs to a well-known political clan in the Philippines. Together they have a son, Ryan Christian. She is also mother to actor/model/television host Luis ‘Lucky’ Manzano, from previous marriage to actor Edu Manzano.
Santos-Recto was proclaimed as the Governor-elect of the province of Batangas on May 21, 2007 after garnering 475,740 votes against Sanchez’s 344,969 for a winning margin of more than 130,000. She is the first female governor of the province of Batangas.
Other Information
- Name : Maria Rosa Vilma Tuason Santos-Recto
- Also known as : “Star for All Seasons”
- Birthday : November 3, 1953
- Birthplace : Bamban, Tarlac, Philippines
- Nationality : Filipino
- Political party : Lakas-CMD
- Spouse(s) :
- Edu Manzano (1st husband)
- Ralph Recto (2nd husband)
- Children :
- Luis Manzano
- Ryan Christian Recto
- Profession : Politician, Actress
- Religion : Roman Catholic
Awards and Recognitions
- Awards in Television
- 1972, Most Effective TV Actress, EMEE Awad
- 1987, Best Musical Variety Show Host, Star Awards for TV
- 1988, Best Musical Variety Show Host, Star Awards for TV
- 1998, Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award, Star Awards for TV
- 2006, Best Actress in a Single TV Persformance for Maala-ala Mo Kaya: ‘Regalo’ episode, Star Awards for TV
- Awards in Film
- 1963, FAMAS, Best Child Actress for Trudis Liit
- 1968, San Beda College Awards, Best Supporting Actress for Kasalanan Kaya?
- 1972, FAMAS, Best actress for Dama de Noche
- 1975, Bacolod City Film Festival, Best Actress for Nakakahiya?
- 1977, Metro Manila Film Festival, Best Actress for Burlesk Queen
- 1978, Gawad Urian, Best Picture for Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (as Producer)
- 1978,FAMAS Best Picture for Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (as Producer)
- 1981, Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress for Karma
- 1981, Cebu City Film Festival Best Actress for Karma
- 1981, FAMAS Best Actress for Pakawalan Mo Ako
- 982, First Grand Slam for Relasyon
- 1982, FAMAS Best Actress for Relasyon
- 1982, Gawad URIAN Best Actress for Relasyon
- 1982, Film Academy of the Phils. Best Actress for Relasyon
- 1982, Catholic Mass Media Awards for Relasyon
- 1982, Let’s Talk Movies Awards for Relasyon
- 1983, Gawad URIAN Best Actress for Broken Marriage
- 1984, Gawad URIAN Best Actress for Sister Stella L.
- 1987, FAMAS Best Actress for Tagos ng Dugo
- 1987, Catholic Mass Media Awards Best Actress for Tagos ng Dugo
- 1987, Movie Magazine Awards Best Actress for Tagos ng Dugo
- 1987, Cinemascoop Awards Best Actress for Tagos ng Dugo
- 1988, FAMAS Best Actress for Ibulong Mo sa Diyos
- 1989, Star Awards Best Actress for Pahiram ng Isang Umaga
- 1989, Gawad URIAN Best Actress for Pahiram ng Isang Umaga
- 1989, Movie Magazine Awards Best Actress for Pahiram ng Isang Umaga
- 1989, Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress for Imortal
- 1989, Channel 2 Viewers Choice Award Best Actress for Imortal
- 1989, FAMAS Hall of Fame
- 1990, Gawad URIAN AKTRES NG DEKADA ’80 (Actress of the Decade ’80)
- 1991, Gawad URIAN Best Actress for Ipagpatawad Mo
- 1991, Movie Magazine Awards for Ipagpatawad Mo
- 1991, Intrigue Magazine Reader’s Choice Award Best Actress for Ipagpatawad Mo
- 1992, New Fame Magazine Reader’s Choice Award Best Actress for Sinungaling Mong Puso
- 1992, FAMAS Circle of Excellence Award in Acting for Sinungaling Mong Puso
- 1993, Second Grand Slam for Dolzura Cortez Story
- 1993, Manila Film FestivalBest Actress for Dolzura Cortez Story
- 1993, Gawad URIAN Best Actress for Dolzura Cortez Story
- 1993, Film Academy of the Phils. Best Actress for Dolzura Cortez Story
- 1993, Star Awards Best Actress for Dolzura Cortez Story
- 1993, Movie Magazine Awards Best Actress for Dolzura Cortez Story
- 1993, Intrigue Magazine Reader’s Choice Award Best Actress for Dolzura Cortez Story
- 1993, New Fame Magazine Reader’s Choice Award Best Actress for Dolzura Cortez Story
- 1993. FAMAS Circle of Excellence in Acting for Dolzura Cortez Story
- 1997, FAP Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1998, Third Grand Slam for Bata, Bata…Paano ka Ginawa?
- 1998, Film Desk of the Young Critics Circle Best Actress for Bata, Bata…Paano ka Ginawa?
- 1998, Gawad URIAN Best Actress for Bata, Bata…Paano ka Ginawa?
- 1998, Star Awards Best Actress for Bata, Bata…Paano ka Ginawa?
- 1998, Film Academy of the Phils. Best Actress for Bata, Bata…Paano ka Ginawa?
- 1998, Gawad Sineng-Sine PASADO Awards (Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro) Best Actress for Bata, Bata…Paano ka Ginawa?
- 1998, Siasi, Jolo Critics Awards Best Actress for Bata, Bata…Paano ka Ginawa?
- 1998, FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1999, Brussels International Film Festival Best Actress for Bata, Bata…Paano ka Ginawa?
- 1999, Star Special Citation for winning at the Brussels Int’l Film Festival
- 1999, Natatanging Artista ng Taon
- 2000, Star Awards Best Actress for Anak
- 2000, Gawad Sineng-Sine PASADO Awards (Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro) Best Actress for Anak
- 2000, Gawad URIAN AKTRESS ng DEKADA ’90(Actress of Decade ’90)
- 2000, Cinemanila Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2002, Fourth Grand Slam for Dekada ’70
- 2002, Film Desk of the Young Critics Circle Best Performer for Dekada ‘70
- 2002, Gawad Sineng-Sine PASADO Awards Best Actress for Dekada ‘70
- 2002, Star Awards Best Actress for Dekada ‘70
- 2002, Film Academy of the Phils. Best Actress for Dekada ‘70
- 2002, Gawad URIAN Best Actress for Dekada ‘70
- 2002, Gawad TANGLAW Best Actress for Dekada ‘70
- 2002, Cinema One’s RAVE Awards Critic’s Choice – Best Performer for Dekada ‘70
- 2002, Cinema One’s RAVE Awards People’s Choice – Best Performer for Dekada ‘70
- 2002, CineManila International Film Festival Best Actress for Dekada ‘70
- 2002, Cinemanila Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2003, S Magazine’s Actress of The Year
- 2004, Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress for Mano Po 3
- 2004, Gawad Suri Awards Best Actress for Mano Po 3
- 2004, Gawad TANGLAW Best Actress for Mano Po 3
- 2004, Star Awards Best Actress for Mano Po 3
- 2004, PMPC Star Dekada Award in Acting
- 2004, Natatanging Gawad Tanglaw
- 2005, FEMINIST CENTENNIAL FILMFEST- Outstanding Achievement in Film Acting
- 2005, Gawad Plaridel for Outstnading Achievement in Film Acting
- 2005, GMMF All-Time Favorite Actress
- 2005, Gawad Suri Award for Exemplary Film Practitioner
- 2006, First Pioneer Filipino Animation Awards – for Darna, given by the United Animation Inc. and United Staffing Registry Inc.
- 2006, University of the Philippines Diwata Awards
- Awards in Box Office
- 1970 Most Popular Movie, TV and Radio Love Team
- 1971 Miss Philippine Movies
- 1972 Reyna ng Pelikulang Pilipino
- 1973 Queen of Phil. Movies
- 1974 Box-Office Queen of Phil. Movies
- 1974 Queen of Movie Stars
- 1974 Miss R. P. Movies
- 1975 Miss R. P. Movies
- 1975 Queen of Southern Luzon Movies
- 1978 Phil. Movies Box-Office Queen
- 1978 Box-Office Champion
- 1979 Box-Office Champion
- 1979 Box-Office Queen of Phil. Movies
- 1980 Box-Office Queen of Phil. Movies
- 1980 Miss Philippine Movies
- 1981 Miss Phil. Movies – USA
- 1981 Box-Office Queen of Phil. Movies
- 1982 Box-Office Queen of Phil. Movies
- 1982 Cinehan Awards’ Box-Office Queen
- 1982 Top Female Star – Takilya Award
- 1983 RP Movies’ Queen of Queens
- 1983 Her Highness Queen of Phil. Movies
- 1984 Box-Office Queen of Phil. Movies
- 1986 Hall of Fame Box-Office Queen
- 1988 Queen of Philippine Movies
- 1996 Longest Reigning Box-Office Queen awarded by the City of Manila
- 2000 Box-Office Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2001 Box-Office Queen of Phil. Movies
- 2006 Gawad Suri Gintong Alamat ng Sining (Longest Box Office Reign)
Discography
- Singles
- 1969 – Sixteen
- 1969 – Wonderful to be in Love
- 1969 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause
- 1970 – Something Stupid
- 1970 – Bring Back Your Love
- 1970 – I Wonder Why
- 1971 – Abadaba Honeymoon
- 1971 – Bobby, Bobby, Bobby
- 1971 – Dry Your Eyes
- 1971 – Love, Love
- 1971 – Mandolin in the Moonlight
- 1971 – Sealed with a Kiss
- 1971 – Tweedle Tweddle Dee
- 1971 – Wonderful World of Music
- 1971 – You Made Me Love You
- 1972 – Rikitik
- 1973 – Palung-Palo
- 1974 – Tok Tok Palatok
- Albums
- 2000 – Anak Soundtrack
- 2005 – Vilma CD – collection of 23 songs
- Awards in Recording
- 1970 Sixteen given by Willears Records
- 1974 Palong-Palo given by Vicor Records
- Awards in Socio-Civic/Public Service
- 1975 Most Outstanding Nueva Ecijana
- 2000 Best Over-All Local Council Performance given by the Boy Scout of the Philippines
- 2000 Outstanding mayor in Region IV given by the Asosasyon ng Komentarista at Anaunser sa Pilipinas
- 2000 Outstanding City Mayor given by the Civil Service Commission
- 2001 Regional Sandugo Outstanding Local Executive Award given by the Dept. of Health
- 2002 Presidential Award as the Cleanest & Greenest Local Government Unit in Region IV
- 2002 Ten Outstanding Young Achievers
- 2005 Gawad Suri Award for Exemplary Public Servant
- 2005 Presented the Honorary Key to Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
- 2005 IAPD (International Association of Pediatric Dentistry) Bright Smiles Bright Futures Award, at the Sydney Convention Center in Sydney, Australia. The Philippines’ Dental Health Program “Mga Munting Ngiti” in Lipa bested all finalists from Scotland, Australia, Rumania, China and Mexico.
- 2005 Conferred as Honorary Member of the UP College of Public Health Alumni Society and Keynote Speaker to their 26th Annual Convention in Manila.
- 2005 Huwarang Pilipino Award conferred by the 2005 Parangal sa Pamilyang Pilipino Organization Inc and by the Office of the President (May 21, 2005 at Ateneo de Manila University)
- 2005 Regional Sandugo Outstanding Mayor Hall of Fame
- 2005 Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa by Lipa City Public College
- 2006 Unlad Pilipinas Award (for ‘Mga Munting Ngiti’)
- 2006 Topped survey among students as ‘Positive Youth Role Model’
- 2006 Outstanding City Mayor Award from the Dept. of Social Welfare & Devt.
- 2006 Gawad Munting Ngiti Awardee & Keynote Speaker to the 7th Annual Conference of the National Association of Dental Trade Inc. at PhilTrade, Roxas Blvd, Pasay City Oct. 8, 2006.
- 2007 People of the Year by the People Asia Magazine
Rodolfo Gantuangco