Best Actress Vilma Santos gives her speech during the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival award night at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City on December 27, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Over the weekend, multi-awarded actress and Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos had a thrill viewing a rare exhibit of posters, never-before-seen photos, magazines, and even vinyls of her rare recordings all in her six decades in the industry in “Vilma Night.”

Santos has played a gamut of memorable roles – from a nun (“Sister Stella L”), to a mistress (“Relasyon”), to an AIDS victim (“Dolzura Cortez”), to a suffering mother (“Anak”)to a mermaid (“Dyesebel”).

“When I became a public servant, I’m used to presenting exhibits for different people, but for the first time I’ve experienced, ako ang binigyan ng ganito,” Santos told ABS-CBN News. “First time I’ve experienced ako ang binigyan ng tribute.”

When Santos entered the site of Archivo Gallery in Makati, where the event was held, she had goose bumps when she saw the rare exhibit of her old pictures some even in her sexiest outfits, posters or videos from her “Vilma” TV show.

She had a thrill seeing her posters and photos in classic films like Maryo J. De losReyes’ “Tagos ng Dugo” (1987), Butch Perez’s “Haplos” (1982), Celso Ad Castillo’s “BurleskQueen” (1977).

“I feel so honored that I was given this kind of tribute and I truly, truly feel so elated.Again, from the heart, thank you for this tribute.”

Snippets of 20 of Santos’ most memorable films were shown to the guests and the actress had a chance to reminisce when she worked on those films.

From “Iginuhit ng Tadhana: The Ferdinand Marcos Story” (1965) to “Dyesebel”(1973) to “Darna and the Giants” (1974) to other memorable works, Santos had the chance to fondly look back at what happened and briefly shared trivia about her films: “Tag-ulan sa Tag-araw” (1975), “Burlesk Queen” (1977), “Ikaw ay Akin” with NoraAunor (1978), “Romansa” with Edu Manzano (1979), “Langis at Tubig” (1980), “Ang Galing,Galing Mo, Mrs. Jones” (1980).

“I also played a dancer in ‘Ang Galing Galing Mo, Mrs. Jones,’ directed by CirioSantiago,” granted Santos. “Tinulad nila ‘yan sa ‘Burlesk Queen’.”

“Pakawalan Mo Ako” (1981). “I was pregnant there with Luis,” Santos shared.

“T-Bird at Ako” was Santos’ other film with Nora Aunor (1982), where she donned a tangga as instructed by her director, Danny Zialcita.

“In order for me to compete with Nora Aunor, gusto nila akong pakantahin na walanaman akong ilalabas sa kantahan, sinayaw ko na lang,” Santos stressed. “I preferred dancing than singing.

“I made films where I really danced, ‘Disco Fever’ under Lea Productions (1978),‘Rock, Baby, Rock’ with Junior (1979). Even ‘Burlesk Queen’ (1977) sa ending, I studied that dance.”

“Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan” (1982) and “Relasyon” (1982), where Santos got a bestactress grandslam. “I first did that film after giving birth to Lucky,” the actress recalled about “Relasyon.”

“Broken Marriage” (1983) gave Santos an Urian best actress, followed by “Alyas Baby Tsina” (1984), megged by National Artist Marilou Diaz-Abaya.

“Sister Stella L” (1984) directed by Mike de Leon, “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” (1986), “Palimos ng Pag-ibig” (1986), “Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig” (1987) with Tonton Gutierrez, Ricky Davao, Alicia Vergel.

Santos lamented that one of her underrated films was “Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig,” where Tonton played a retardate and won a grandslam best supporting actor award.

“Pahiram ng Isang Umaga” (1989) is Santos’ last film with National Artist Ishmael Bernal.

“When I did ‘Sister Stella L,’ ang feeling ko artista lang ako,” said Santos. “But lateron, when I became more mature and I became a public servant, that was the only time Irealized ang ganda pala ng movie.

“This is about workers who are fighting for their rights. That was how meaningfuland relevant the movie was. In the end, when you mature, that was when the realization came in. I’m so proud of that film.”

One of the films that was overlooked, Santos pointed out, was Rory Quintos’ “Anak”(2000).

The veteran actress lamented how some of her memorable films don’t have any copy in our film archives. Like “Lipad, Darna, Lipad” (1973) or “Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itimng Tagak” (1978), which she produced under her VS Films.

“We finished ‘Pagputi ng Uwak’ with Celso Ad Castillo my director, in a total of threeyears, but you cannot equal the prestige the film gave to VS Films,” Santos disclosed.

“There are so many other films that I can be proud of up to this generation, but it’sjust so unfortunate that we cannot find a copy. Sayang. I’m so blessed that I was given achance to do those films. That meant a lot to my career.”

Santos still wishes to do a lot of other projects. “Expect a dark movie next year,” she said. “From When I Met You in Tokyo, a very simple love story, there is a 360-degree turn with my next project, a dark film that’s very challenging with directors Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas.”

Santos’ friends in the industry graced the event, including showbiz couple TirsoCruz III and Lyn Ynchausti, Agot Isidro, Vilma’s sister Emelyn, the owner of the ArchivoGallery, Dr. Marty Magsanoc.

Hosts of the event were Erwin Romulo and Jerome Gomez.