Vilma Santos Urban Legends Part 3: More Urban Legends Debunked

German Moreno—still harboring ill-feelings towards a "son" who did him wrong—said in his speech at SOP's celebration of his birthday last Sunday, that today's stars should work on durability in the business rather than getting the faster, bigger bucks.
Kuya Germs may have been waxing very personal, but today's celebs should take to heart what the Clover Theater Janitor-turned-Master Showman said.

There are stars who, after so many years, managed to stay in show business but lost their brilliance and got content playing supporting roles. This is actually better than those who just faded away and sulked in obscurity, completely forgotten by everyone.
That's why Vilma Santos is unique. She holds the distinction of being the only actress in Philippine showbiz to have gone through four-and-a half decades without being unseated from her throne as one of the most admired and most bankable movie stars in local cinema.
She may have rested in some years during those 45 years to give way to new stars, like Sharon Cuneta, Maricel Soriano, Manilyn Reynes, Claudine Barretto Judy Ann Santos and others. And yet, when a Vilma movie comes out, fans queue the theaters to see her perform. Because of her box-office successes, she was accorded the title—Star for All Seasons. This is the last of the three-part series on the urban legends connected to the Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos-Recto.
RECAP. In Part 1, PEP probed the "mysterious hanky," Ate Vi's so-called trademark.
Jojo Lim, president of Vilma Santos Solid International, Incorporated (VSSI, Inc.), said, "Si Papa [Amado] Santos, lagi siyang pinagdadala ng lampin para pamunas ng pawis niya." Later on, Vilma gave up the "lampin" for soft, signature hankies.
On the other hand, Al Valencia, VSSI auditor—and encyclopedia for anything about Vilma—said it was Vi's friend Connie Reyes who told her to switch from using tissue paper to hankies when wiping her face.
As for the rumors about bulging veins and the sweaty hands, this writer can attest that none of this is true. We have personally seen and held the legendary actress's hands. Her hands were in fact very soft, smooth and not sweaty at all. We have also heard from Vilma herself.
Vilma started the habit back in the ‘80s, during her Vilma! days. "Protection ko sa pawis, sa alikabok, sa dumi," the Star for All Seasons simply said.
The second Vilma urban legend: Who among the many men who got linked to Vilma became her boyfriend in real life? Who were just plain rumors.
Among the suitors, co-stars, and screen partners (that include international stars Meng Fei and AMB Junior, and the King of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe Jr.), only five men became her real-life boyfriends—Edgar "Bobot" Mortiz, her "ka-love team"; Ronnie Henares, the suitor singer; Romeo Vasquez, the controversial boyfriend; Edu Manzano, the balikbayan model, and Ralph Recto, the business economist.
During her relationship with Romeo "Bobby" Vasquez, the "Betamax" issue came out. It was later proven to be just a smear campaign against Vilma, when her business adviser Marichu Maceda dared that she's willing to give P1 million for anyone to who can give her the "betamax" showing Vi's sex bout with Bobby. No such betamax tape came out. It was ruled just a nasty rumor.
Vi married Edu in 1980 and had Lucky (Luis Manzano). After her divorce with Edu in 1985, she met young Ralph Recto, they dated, and then married in 1992. They are still together and blessed with their son Ryan Christian.
THE OTHER URBAN LEGENDS. And now, PEP probes not only one, but three urban legends about Ate Vi:
1) During the late ‘60s, in an attempt to match her chief rival's career, she also came out with music records. Critics of hers swear she used a ghost singer or singers for these albums.
2) In her first Darna movie, Lipad Darna Lipad, since she was still in her teens, she refused to don the Darna costume without body stockings. So, the producers had to use a body double for some of the scenes.
3) She had a nose-lift and other work done on her face.
ANSWERS. On the first urban legend, PEP again asked the help of Jojo Lim.
"Aminado naman kami, hindi naman ganung kagaling na singer si Vi. Pero hindi siya gumamit ng ghost singer," said Jojo over the phone.
It was the convincing power of her reel and real love team Bobot Mortiz and her manager William Leary that got Vilma to sing.
"Nahihiya pa nga si Vi noon. Hindi naman talaga siya singer, pero kinarir niya," related Jojo. And Vilma's "kinarir" attempt paid off. Her single vinyl (in those days, a single recprding was done in 45 rpm vinyl discs) "Sixteen" reached gold-sales status within days. Not bad for someone who admitted she was not actually a singer.
"Partida pa nga yun. Kahit na manipis ang boses ni Vi, nakuha pa rin niyang kantahin nang maayos ang mga pinapakanta sa kanya. At nag-gold pa!" Jojo proudly said.
Vilma went on to make 19 singles, all hits and getting two gold-record awards ("Sixteen" in 1969 and "Palung-Palo" in 1973).
In Pinoy Rock, Vilma's single, "My Boy Lollipop" is regarded as the very first Pinoy Ska record ever produced. A hit in 1964 by Jamaican bluebeat singer Millie Small, Vilma covered the song in 1969. Ska and bluebeat are Jamaica's fusion of blues, jazz, and Jamaican island beat. They are also the direct ancestors of the Jamaican music style reggae popularized by Bob Marley.
Vilma's waxing of "My Boy Lollipop" made her the first Pinoy "rude girl." The "Rudies" or "Rude Boys and Rude Girls" are Jamaican terms for ska music lovers and musicians.
If Vi admits not being too good in one area, she made it a point to give her best in other fields—acting and dancing. Seventy-five acting awards prove beyond doubt that she is a fantastic actress. As for the dancing—
"Nagsimulang ipakita ni Vi ang galing niya sa pagsayaw nung pinauso niya yung ‘The Shaft,' ang usong sayaw noon sa U.S. pagkagaling nila ni Bobot Mortiz doon para sa pelikulang Don't Ever Say Goodbye (1972). Mula noon, lagi nang inaabangan ang mga dance numbers ni Vi dahil sa galing at charisma niya sa pagsasayaw," related Jojo.
Her skills in dancing continued to be admired even until the late ‘80s to early ‘90s via the show Vilma! where her dance numbers were always a spectacle because of the lavish production and beautiful choreography.
The second urban legend says that Vilma refused to wear the Darna costume if she would not be allowed to wear body stockings with it. Jojo answered:
"Nung in-offer sa kanya yung Lipad Darna Lipad, alam niyang medyo daring yung costume at that time. So kinonsulta niya yung mga madre ng RVM Sisters of Mary Academy Manila kunsaan siya nagtapos ng elementary at high school. Ang sabi nila, tanggapin niya ang role, pero kailangan niyang magsuot ng body stockings."
The body stockings were not a hit with the press when Vilma was presented by Cine Filipino executives as their new Darna. Vilma was convinced by one of the producers Douglas Quijano to lose the stockings and just wear the costume. Gauging the reaction of the press and being a professional, Vilma wore the costume without the stockings when she made the movie.
Lipad Darna Lipad became a hit at the box-office, staying in theaters for three months. Vilma went on to do three other Darna movies: Darna and the Giants (1974), Darna vs. The Planetwomen (1975), and Darna and Ding (1980).
For the third urban legend, the "retoke" rumors. Vilma herself answered the accusations.
"No. I don't think I need it, do I?" she asked her interviewer Ricky Lo (published in his "Conversations" column, Philippine Star, November 3, 2003).
"Every part of my face is original. Walang binago; nothing has been changed. Wala akong ‘salamat po, doktor.' I have good genes."
She was even proud of her being petite.
"I guess that's the advantage if you're small. Hindi madaling tumanda," she said.
POSTSCRIPT. There may be other urban legends about Vilma Santos-Recto that we may have overlooked, but those are completely irrelevant now to what Vilma has become. Any rumor or urban legend brought up about her will just be dismissed completely.
What Vilma has become is what Kuya Germs would like today's stars to emulate—An unfading star, who's respected and well-loved. A real Star for All Seasons.
Source: pep.ph