UST to publish 3 books on Vilma Santos
A book titled “Vilma Santos: Icon, Cinema, Culture, Society,” which compiles scholarly articles on the films of the award-winning actress, will be one of three literary projects of University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 2025.
This was announced during a recent special screening of the restored version of “Dekada ’70,” a Chito Roño masterpiece featuring Santos and Christopher de Leon in the lead.
The book is a collection of articles written by academics and scholars of top universities, said UST professor Augusto Antonio Aguila, who is also one of the project heads.
“It is now being laid out by the UST Publishing House. Hopefully, the book will come out in the first week of January,” said Aguila during the talk-back session right after the screening at the Frassati Auditorium of UST.
“It is an intensive study of the works of Ate Vi. It features 90 different scholarly articles. There’s literature on some of her critically acclaimed films like ‘Ekstra,’ ‘Sister Stella L.,’ and ‘Relasyon,’” he added.
Only articles by authors with master’s and doctorate degrees were included, Aguila pointed out.
The second, a coffee-table book, will be cowritten by Aguila and journalist Lito Zulueta, who is also a UST professor, a member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, and a former Inquirer Lifestyle Arts editor.
“It’s is going to be a glossy book, and it is already in the works,” Aguila told Lifestyle. Managing the production is Chit Guerrero, who also produced Santos’ variety show, “Vilma,” in the 1980s.
The third book catalogs all of Santos’ films from the time she started acting at age 9 (1963). “It features summaries and notes on how important every film is,” said Aguila. “This is not just for Vilmanians like us, but for students and researchers. Hopefully, all Vilma fans will also support the books.”
Grateful
Sought for her reaction, Santos promised to support the project in any way she can. “I don’t know what to say except that I’m grateful. For these academicians to agree to submit their works and for these authors to make time to write the books, it only means they appreciate what I have been doing as an actress for the past 62 years,” she told Lifestyle.
“Hearing about this now, I still can’t imagine how big this project of the UST Publishing House is going to be, but I know it’s not going to be easy,” the actress said. “I promise to make time for it in January.”
Santos is busy promoting her film entry to the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival, Dan Villegas’ “Uninvited,” which will run from Christmas Day to Jan. 7. She is also expected to start campaigning for the upcoming national elections, where she is running for Batangas governor.
“Working on this book will surely be difficult because the people who are handling this will not settle for less. Definitely, this is not just for the sake of releasing books. They have to be worth the readers’ while,” the actress added.
Also part of the day-long affair, called “Vilma Santos, Woman, Artist, Icon: A Retrospective,” was the screening of the restored version of the 1998 drama “Bata Bata Paano Ka Ginawa,” also directed by Roño. Another screening on Nov. 29 featured Maryo J. delos Reyes’ “Tagos ng Dugo,” and Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Ekstra.”
“It’s an honor to have been offered to do relevant and meaningful movies like these. I cannot believe that a film like ‘Dekada ‘70,’ something that I did 22 years ago, is still relevant up to this time. This film, even with its political insinuations, tackles family values. At its center is a woman restricted by men’s bloated egos, from the father down to the sons,” she said.
