Vilma Santos-Recto (Photo courtesy of Vilma Santos-Recto Facebook)
MANILA – Vilma Santos-Recto, considered the most-awarded Filipino actor in and out of the country, has been formally nominated for the Order of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts.
Dingdong Dantes, president of Aktor (League of Filipino Actors), announced in a press conference at The Manila Hotel Friday that their group submitted the nomination, along with documents and video materials, to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in Intramuros on Thursday.
Other categories for the prestigious honor are in the fields of Architecture and Allied Arts, Dance, Design, Literature, Music Theater and Visual Arts.
Santos-Recto, 70, started acting at nine years old via the film “Trudis Liit” and has never been inactive since then.
“Vilma Santos has turned in incomparable works for six decades,” Dantes said. “She is a paragon of professionalism, a cultural champion and nation-builder.”
He added that the actress is known across all generations, has an untarnished reputation and is a symbol of empowerment.
Former Department of Education undersecretaries Tonisito Umali and Jesus Mateo also graced the event.
They said the Philippine Alliance of Retired Educators and Metro Manila Association of Retired and Retiring Educators likewise endorsed the nomination.
“The film is a very effective tool in teaching, a visually appealing way,” Umali said. “I, myself, remember, watching Sister Stella L and the lessons I learned on labor issues, I carried until my government service.”
Santos-Recto played a nun involved in labor woes and the indigent sector’s plight in the 1984 movie “Sister Stella L.”
Mateo recalled working with Santos-Recto on classrooms and scholarship initiatives during her term as Batangas 6th District representative from 2016 to 2022.
“I witnessed her commitment to education-related issues, that’s why we didn’t hesitate in joining the groups that endorsed her nomination,” he said.
Santos-Recto likewise served as three-term mayor of Lipa City (1998 to 2007) and three-term governor of Batangas City (2007 to 2016). She gave up running for her third and last term in Congress due to pandemic restrictions.
Among the groups which endorsed Santos-Recto’s nomination are the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, Bicol University through president Baby Boy Benjamin Nebres III, Fashion Designer Association of the Philippines through chair Gil Granado, Society of Filipino Archivists for Film, University of Santo Tomas Department of Communications and Media Studies, Multimedia Press Society of the Philippines through president Ambet Nabus and chair Jun Nardo, Ladlad, Viva Communications, Inc., Hundred Islands Film Festival, Montañosa Film Festival, Mapua University Digital Film Program, Regal Entertainment, Star Cinema/ABSCBN, GMA 7, Ako Bicol party-list and Bantayog Film Festival Cam Norte.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and Lone District of Santa Rosa (Laguna) Rep. Danilo Ramon Fernandez, a former actor, likewise submitted their endorsements.
Long-time fan clubs whose members follow the personal and career track of the nominee sent their endorsements, too -- Vilma Santos Solid International Inc., Association of Millennials for Vilma Santos, Vilma Santos-Recto the Star for All Seasons Group, Silent Incomparable Legit Vilmanian international, Friends Forever Vilmanian and Vilma Santos Friends Forever, Inc.
A National Artist is one who has made significant contributions to the cultural heritage, achieved artistic accomplishments at the highest level, promoted creative expressions for the development of a national cultural identity and whose works paved the way for future generations of Filipino artists, according to criteria.
Other actors who have been named National Artists are Nora Aunor (2022) and the late Fernando Poe Jr. (2006 or two years after his death).
Fellow actor Tirso Cruz III said the story of Santos-Recto is not yet done.
“She still has several things to offer,” he said.
Dantes said they are positive Santos-Recto would be conferred the honor, which is expected to be finalized between 12 to 18 months.
“We don’t have back-up plans because we’re focused on this nomination. We want to make this work,” Dantes said. (PNA)
