Vilma Santos facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honorable Vilma Santos
Portrait during the 18th Congress
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office August 13, 2019 – June 30, 2022 Serving with 33 others
House Speaker	Alan Peter Cayetano Lord Allan Velasco
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Batangas's 6th congressional district
In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Preceded by	District established
Succeeded by	Ralph Recto
22nd Governor of Batangas
In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016
Vice Governor	Jose Antonio Leviste II
Preceded by	Armando Sanchez
Succeeded by	Hermilando Mandanas
Mayor of Lipa
In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2007
Vice Mayor	Fernando Manguera (1998–2003) Lydio Lopez, Jr. (2003–2007)
Preceded by	Ruben Umali
Succeeded by	Oscar Gozos
Personal details
Born	Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos (1953-11-03) November 3, 1953 (age 71) Manila, Philippines
Political party	Nacionalista (2018–present)
Other political affiliations	Liberal (2009–2018) Lakas–CMD (1998–2009)
Spouses	Edu Manzano ​ ​ (m. 1980; annulled 1982)​ Ralph Recto ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	Luis Manzano Ryan Recto
Relatives	Jessy Mendiola (daughter-in-law)
Occupation	Actress, singer, dancer
Profession	Politician

Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto (born November 3, 1953) is a famous Filipino actress and politician. She has been acting for over 70 years! People know her for being great in many different types of movies and TV shows.

She started acting when she was a child in 1963, in a movie called Trudis Liit. She even won her first big award, the FAMAS Award for Best Child Performer in that movie. Later, she won the FAMAS Award for Best Actress for playing two roles in the movie Dama de Noche (1972). She also played the Filipino superhero Darna in four movies, starting with Lipad, Darna, Lipad! in 1973. Vilma Santos also produced a movie called Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (1978). This movie won awards for Best Picture from both the FAMAS and the Gawad Urian.

As a politician, Vilma Santos served as the governor of Batangas for three terms. Before that, she was the mayor of Lipa City for three terms. In 2016, she was elected as the Representative for the 6th District of Batangas, which includes only Lipa City. She was also a House Deputy Speaker from 2019 to 2022.

Vilma Santos: An Acting Legend

Santos in 2024

Vilma Santos is known as one of the most successful Filipino actresses ever. She has been in the entertainment industry for almost six decades. Even though she started focusing on politics in the late 1990s, she still won the most Best Actress awards in the 21st century.

She began her acting journey because her uncle, who was a cameraman, encouraged her. She first tried out for a child role in a movie called Anak, Ang Iyong Ina (1963). But she ended up auditioning for Trudis Liit (Little Trudis) instead.

During her audition, she was asked to sing, dance, and cry on cue. She got the part of "Trudis Liit" and won the FAMAS Awards Best Child Performer award for 1963.

She then appeared in many other films. These included Sa Bawat Pintig ng Puso (1964) and Maria Cecilia (1965). She also starred in Iginuhit ng Tadhana (1965) and its sequel Pinagbuklod ng Langit (1969).

Vilma Santos: A Political Journey

Serving as Mayor of Lipa City

In 1998, Vilma Santos decided to enter politics. She ran for mayor of Lipa City, Batangas. She won three elections in a row, becoming the first female mayor of the city.

In 2005, the University of the Philippines Diliman gave her the Gawad Plaridel Award. This award recognized her achievements as both an actress and a public servant. In the same year, she received an honorary doctorate degree in humanities from Lipa City College.

Becoming Governor of Batangas

Vilma Santos - the Enduring Grand Dame of Philippine Cinema

By 2007, Santos-Recto was finishing her third term as Mayor of Lipa. She could not run for mayor again. Many people wanted her to run for Governor of Batangas.

On March 12, 2007, she decided to run for Governor. She ran against the current governor, Arman Sanchez, and other candidates.

She was announced as the Governor-elect of Batangas on May 21, 2007. She won with 475,740 votes. This made her the first female governor of the province. She was reelected for her second term in 2010. She won her third and final term as Governor in 2013.

Serving in the House of Representatives

After her time as Governor, many thought Santos-Recto would run for a national position. However, she chose to run as the first representative for the new 6th District of Batangas. This district includes only Lipa City. Santos-Recto won by a large number of votes.

She became the chairman of the Committee on Civil Service. But she was later removed from this role because she did not support bringing back the death penalty. She also served as vice chair for other committees. She was a member of committees on Basic Education, Cooperatives, and Women and Gender Equality.

She helped write several important bills. These included the SOGIE Equality bill (Anti-discrimination bill) and the Magna Carta for Day Care Workers. She also supported bills for Cancer Awareness and expanded benefits for Senior Citizens.

In September 2018, she changed political parties. She moved from the Liberal Party to the Nacionalista Party.

On July 10, 2020, she voted to grant ABS-CBN's legislative franchise. She supported the network because it helps people and culture. ABS-CBN also helped restore some of her films, like Kapag Langit ang Humatol and Anak.

Even though she could have run for a third term as Representative, she decided not to. She wanted to give way for her husband to run for the same position. She also chose not to run for any position in the 2022 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal Life

Vilma Santos-Recto is married to Senator Ralph Recto. They have a son named Ryan Christian. She also has another son, Luis Manzano, from her earlier marriage to Edu Manzano.

Filmography

Television Shows

Movies

Awards for Movies

• 1983 – FAMAS Medallion of Excellence (Child Actress)
• 1983 – FAMAS Medallion of Excellence (Lead Actress)
• 1983 – FAMAS Medallion of Excellence (Producer)
• 1989 – FAMAS Hall of Fame
• 1990 – PMPC Star Awards Darling of the Press
• 1990 – Gawad Urian Aktres ng Dekada '80 (Actress of the Decade '80)
• 1997 – FAP Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1998 – FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1999 – PMPC Star Awards Special Citation for winning at the Brussels Int'l Film Festival
• 1999 – Natatanging Artista ng Taon
• 2000 – Gawad Urian Aktress ng Dekada '90(Actress of Decade '90)
• 2000 – Cinemanila Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2000 – Pelikula At Lipunan Special Award
• 2002 – Cinemanila Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2004 – Natatanging Gawad Tanglaw
• 2005 – PMPC Star Dekada Award in Acting
• 2005 – Feminist Centennial Filmfest – Outstanding Achievement in Film Acting
• 2005 – GAWAD PLARIDEL for Outstanding Achievement in Film
• 2005 – GMMSF 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
• 2008 – 25th PMPC Star Awards Lifetime Achievement Awardee
• 2008 – Fil-Am Visionary Legend Award
• 2009 – 7th ENPRESS Golden Screen Awards Lifetime Achievement Awardee
• 2009 – FAMAS Exemplary Achievement Awardee
• 2009 – Cinema One Original Filmfest Legend Award
• 2011 – Golden Screen Awards Movie Icon of our Time Awardee
• 2011 – Gawad Tanglaw Artista Ng Dekada
• 2012 – Yahoo Awards Major Impact
• 2014 – Cinema One Numero Uno Icon Award
• 2015 – NCCA Ani ng Dangal for Ekstra
• 2016 – FAMAS Presidential Award
• 2016 – FAP Golden Reel Award
• 2017 Gawad Tanglaw Presidential Jury Award - Best Film Performance
• 2017 – PMPC Star Awards for Movies Ginintuang Bituin ng Penikulang Pilipino
• 2017 – Natatanging Gawad Urian
• 2019 – Gawad Pasado Best Actress Hall of Fame (Films Bata Bata Paano Ka Ginawa?,(1998), Anak (2000), Dekada 70 (2002), Everything About Her (2017)
• 2019 – MMFF Best Actress Hall of Fame
• 2019 – PMPC Star Awards for Movies Natatanging Bituin ng Siglo
• 2019 – SPEED Awards for Movies – Eddys Icon Awards
• 2021 – PEP Greatest Movie Actress for the Years 2000-2021
• 2022 – MMFF Marichu Vera Perez Memorial Award
• 2023 – FDCP Sining Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2024 – GAWAD DANGAL - Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2024 – PMPC - Dekada Award
• 2024 – EdukSine- Pinay American Style - Gawad Alamat ng Sineng Filipino sa Harap ng Camera
• 2024 – CCP Cine Icons Series - Anak - UST - Award of Excellence
• 2024 – CCP Cine Icons Series - Anak - SPUQC - Certificate of Appreciation
• 2024 – FDCP - Tagos ng Dugo - Cinematheque - Certificate of Appreciation
• 2024 – FDCP - Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa? - Metropolitan Theater - Certificate of Appreciation

Awards for Television Shows

Santos on a 2022 stamp of the Philippines

• 1998 – Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award – Star Awards for TV

Music Albums and Songs

Albums

• 2000 – Anak Soundtrack
• 2005 – Vilma (CD, collection of 23 songs)

Songs and Covers

• 1969 – "Sixteen"
• 1969 – "Da Doo Ron Ron"
• 1969 – "Wonderful to Be in Love"
• 1969 – "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
• 1970 – "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"
• 1970 – "Something Stupid"
• 1970 – "Bring Back Your Love"
• 1970 – "You're All I Want for Christmas"
• 1970 – "I Wonder Why"
• 1971 – "Abadaba Honeymoon"
• 1971 – "Bobby, Bobby, Bobby"
• 1971 – "Dry Your Eyes"
• 1971 – "Love, Love"
• 1971 – "It's Been a Long Long Time"
• 1971 – "Baby Cakes"
• 1971 – "I Love You Honey"
• 1971 – "Then Along Came You, Edgar"
• 1971 – "Mandolin in the Moonlight"
• 1971 – "Sealed with a Kiss"
• 1971 – "Tweddle Dee"
• 1971 – "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"
• 1971 – "Don't You Break My Heart"
• 1971 – "Wonderful World of Music"
• 1971 – "You Made Me Love You"
• 1971 – "The Birds and the Bees"
• 1972 – "Rick Tick Song"
• 1972 – "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)"
• 1972 – "My Boy Lollipop"
• 1973 – "Palung-Palo Ako"
• 1973 – "Walang Umiibig"
• 1974 – "Tok Tok Palatok"
• 1974 – "Isipin Mong Basta't Mahal Kita"
• 1974 – "Batya't Palu Palo"
• 1974 – "Mamang Kutsero"
• 1976 – "Mga Rosas sa Putikan"

Awards for Music

See also

In Spanish: Vilma Santos para niños