The Philippine entertainment industry has a strong inclination towards love teams, and the collaboration of Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos and the distinguished King of Philippine Drama Christopher "Boyet" De Leon is widely recognized as an emblematic example of this phenomenon.

The two actors, who have received numerous accolades for their performances, have had a prolific onscreen partnership spanning 48 years. Their collaboration began in 1975 with the release of the highly successful film, Tag-ulan Sa Tag-araw. Since then, they have shared the screen in several movies, captivating audiences with their remarkable acting abilities.

Some of the other hit and award-winning projects they had together are Relasyon, Hanggang Ngayon Ika’y Minamahal, Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan, Sinasamba Kita, Imortal, and Dekada ’70. The last time Boyet and Vi, as they are lovingly called, worked together for a movie was in 2004 for Mano Po 3.

Vilma and Christopher are set to star in the upcoming film "When I Met You in Tokyo" produced by JG Productions. One of 10 official entries for the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival, the movie is written by Suzette Doctolero and directed by Rado Peru and Rommel Penza, with Christopher serving as the associate director. Fans are eagerly anticipating the reunion of the iconic onscreen pair.

During a recent media conference in Quezon City, Vilma and Christopher discussed their lasting on-screen chemistry.

"Based sa experience namin ni Boyet, ang nanaig talaga sa amin ay respect sa isa't isa. When we did our first movie together, 'Tag-Ulan sa Tag-Araw,' he was already married," said Vilma.

(Based on my experience with Boyet, what really prevailed between us was respect for each other. When we did our first movie together, 'Tag-Ulan sa Tag-Araw,' he was already married.)

She added: "Imagine nagsasama kami ni Boyet, ilang taon na si Lucky, he's 42. Nagsama kami sa movie hindi pa ako nagbubuntis kay Lucky. There was time I was pregnant for eight months with Lucky and our scene was a kissing scene. Dinaanan namin yan.

(Imagine Boyet and I are together, how old is Lucky, he's 42. We did a movie together before I was pregnant with Lucky. There was a time I was pregnant for eight months with Lucky and our scene was a kissing scene.)

"Sabi ni Boyet, 'Ano ba ito?' I was 27 years old then at kaya pang daanin sa mukha. Even if I was pregnant then kaya pang daanin sa mukha kasi bata pa ako nun. So ganun na kahaba ang pinagsamahan namin sa isa't isa. There's respect for each other. Inalagaan namin yung friendship namin.

(Boyet said, 'What is this?' I was 27 years old then and I was younger. Even if I was pregnant I looked so young. So that's how long we spent with each other. There's respect for each other. I nurture our friendship.)

"Isa pa sa naging maganda sa tambalan namin na hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling kundi ang chemistry namin. Ang chemistry hindi mo ginagawa eh. You just feel it. Sa tagal namin I believe meron pa rin kaming chemistry up to these days na hindi ko alam saan nanggaling. Basta kilala ko si Boyet.

(Another thing that was good about our team is that I don't know where our chemistry came from. You don't create chemistry. You just feel it. I believe we still have chemistry. I know Boyet.)

"And nakatulong din sa amin ang professionalism. Every time we do a movie, we do our roles. So kapag ang role ko is asawa ko siya, asawa ko talaga siya. Paninindigan ko yung role ko na asawa ko s'ya.

(And professionalism also helped us. Every time we do a movie, we justify our roles. So when my role calls to be a wife, then I'm a wife.)

"Then dumating kami sa point ng magic of chemistry, even during the time of movies with Ishmael Bernal, Laurice Guillen, iniiwas namin ni Boyet yung eksena. Meaning we just improvise. Kami ang gagawa ng eksena. Halimbawa sasabihin lang sa amin ganito ang eksena at kami ang gagawa. If we don't have that chemistry, hindi namin mabubuo yung eksena.

(Then there's the magic of chemistry. When we did movies for directors Ishmael Bernal, Laurice Guillen, Boyet and I avoided the scene. Meaning we just improvise. We create the scene. For example, we will just be told about this scene and we will create it. If we don't have that chemistry, we won't be able to create the scene.)

"I don't know where the magic is coming from. In our latest movie, our approach is more mature. Marami rin kaming eksena rito na walang rehearsals," Vilma said.

(I don't know where the magic is coming from. In our latest movie, our approach is more mature. We also have many scenes here without rehearsals.)

Vilma and Boyet believe that actors in a love team should not develop real feelings for each other.

"Halimbawa may ginagawa kang movie na may iba kang partner, siyempre magseselos yung isa. Nangyari sa akin yun," Boyet recalled.

Vilma said: "Pareho kaming Scorpion ni Boyet. Lagi kaming may girlfriend-boyfriend. Basta I remember noon, kapag ako libre, si Boyet hindi. But the thing is, nirerespeto namin ang isa't isa. Kung alam kong may girlfriend si Boyet, I know where I stand. May girlfriend siya so I will respect him. Pero kapag ang eksena namin ay mag-asawa kami, asawa ko sya. After the scene, may girlfriend ka. And vice versa."

"Dumadalaw pa noon yung mga boyfriend niya sa set. Sabi ko, 'ano ba yan?' May eksena kaming love scene andyan yung mga boyfriend niya. Sabi ko pauwiin mo na muna 'yan," the drama king said.

Vilma laughed and answered: "Pero Boyet kahit ganun ginagawa ko yung eksena ko."

"May ginagawa kaming movie noon 'Ikaw Ay Akin,' si Nora (Aunor) at si Vilma tapos ako yung nasa gitna. Tapos ang barkada ni Guy, si Sandy (Andolong). May eksena sila magkakabarkada sila. Eh crush ko yun. That was funny. I was caught between two giants," Boyet also said.

Boyet was married to Nora in 1975. Their marriage was annulled in 1996. In 2001, Boyet got married to Sandy. 

"So you see the circumstances? These are the circumstances sa tagal ng pagsasama namin ni Boyet. Who would think after more than 40 years that we're still here? Hindi mawawala yung attraction mo like kay Boyet, but that's just spark. But binigyan namin ng importance yung respeto sa isa't isa. Hindi namin ginugulo ang buhay namin sa isa't isa," said Vilma.

"Our boundary is clear, it's the respect. Ayaw namin guluhin ang buhay sa isa't isa. The boundary is the respect. Kasi kung gusto kong gawin at guluhin gagawin ko kahit andyan ang partner mo eh. But no. Nire-respeto namin ang isa't isa kaya kami nagtagal," she also said.

Boyet continued to reminisce about Vilma. "Dati may shooting kami sa San Francisco, andun si Edu (Manzano)."

Vilma remembered getting married to Edu after her shoot with Boyet. "After the shooting, nagpunta kami ng Las Vegas at nagpakasal." Vilma and Edu have separated. Their marriage was annulled in 1982.  Vilma is happily married to Sen. Ralph Recto.

"So kung nililigawan ko si Vi, patay ako," Boyet said.

Vilma also shared her thoughts on the breakup of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

Vilma added: ":After nagpakasal ako sa Las Vegas, doon na kami nag-honeymoon. May continuation pa kami sa Manila. Pag-uwi ko buntis na ako. Honeymoon baby si Lucky. Nasa kotse ako then sabi ko kay Boyet, 'May sasabihin ako. Buntis na ako.' Sabi ni Boyet, 'Ano? Bakit sinasabi mo sa akin mga ganyan?' Sabi ko sinasabi ko kasi dapat ipalabas muna yung pelikula natin bago ko i-announce. See the circumstances ng relationship namin. Ang dami ring dinaanan ni Boyet sa buhay and I was there kahit sa girlfriends niya at asawa niya. Alam ko rin."

"So kung nililigawan ko si Vi, patay ako," Boyet said.

Vilma added: "After nagpakasal ako sa Las Vegas, doon na kami nag-honeymoon. May continuation pa kami sa Manila. Pag-uwi ko buntis na ako. Honeymoon baby si Lucky. Nasa kotse ako then sabi ko kay Boyet, 'May sasabihin ako. Buntis na ako.' Sabi ni Boyet, 'Ano? Bakit sinasabi mo sa akin mga ganyan?' Sabi ko sinasabi ko kasi dapat ipalabas muna yung pelikula natin bago ko i-announce. See the circumstances ng relationship namin. Ang dami ring dinaanan ni Boyet sa buhay and I was there kahit sa girlfriends niya at asawa niya. Alam ko rin."

KathNiel

Vilma also shared her thoughts on the breakup of Kapamilya stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

"Isa sa magdadala talaga is love team muna. Ang usapan naman dito ay longevity. Puwede kayong sumikat ng five years, six years but the question is hanggang kelan? What happened to KathNiel marami ang nalungkot because they are famous. They were together for 11 years. Ang 11 years is not a joke.

"Plus factor din doon ang age nila. Ito ang age na aggressive sila to the point na we don't know it can also affect yung mga movies na gagawin dahil magka-eksena sila. May kasama kasing emotion at puso. Kami talaga ni Boyet, na practice talaga namin yung tinatawag na professionalism.

"Like huwag nating paglaruan yung movie na kunwari in love kami sa isa't isa. Hindi eh. Let's do our job (as actors). We respect each other's talents. Let's just hope for the best for KathNiel both personal and career. That's the only thing we can wish for them," she said.

Promo tour

Vilma and Boyet have actively promoted their upcoming movie, particularly in the provinces.

"We're very serious about promoting. After the pandemic, medyo nawalan ng gana ang mga tao pagdating sa cinema. So we're pushing a little more para bumalik ang mga tao sinehan, especially for the Metro Manila Film Festival," Boyet said.

"Aminin natin nagkaroon ng problema ang industry for a while. Isa sa mga naapektuhan ay ang theater dahil na rin sa maraming platforms. We have the social media and streaming platforms. Yan ang mga kalaban mo dahil pinapanood sila sa bahay," Vilma lamented.

(Let's admit that the industry had a problem for a while. One of the affected industries is the theater because of the many platforms. We have social media and streaming platforms. Those are your rivals because people watched at home.)

"But I believe iba pa rin talaga ang sine. Di ba minsan sa family nabubuo ang family bonding? Minsan date night ito. Then after n'yo manood kwentuhan kayo. Parang nawala na yun. Then nag pandemic. Lalo ng nakalimutan (ang sine) and they relied on social media.

(But the movie is still really different. Isn't it sometimes in the family that family bonding is formed? Sometimes it's date night. Then, after you watch it, you discuss it. It seems to have disappeared. Then there was a pandemic. Even more (the movie) was forgotten ) and they rely on social media.)

"Parang yun ang gusto naming ibalik a iba pa rin ang entertainment when you watch it on the big screen at kasama yung family bonding then you eat out. Nawala na yun at na relax na tayo sa bahay. For me that family bonding is still important.

(That's what we want to bring back. Entertainment is still different when you watch it on the big screen. That's gone. For me, family bonding is still important.)

"Noon pag sinabi mong blockbuster nakikita mo yung pila na parang ahas? Hindi na natin nakikita yun ngayon. Wala na. Sana yung enthusiasm ng tao sa pagpunta sa sinehan ay maibalik. Sana, let's find time and let's enjoy the movie," she said.

(Did you see the queue like a snake when you said blockbuster? We don't see that anymore. It's gone. I hope people's enthusiasm for going to the cinema will be restored. I hope we can find time and enjoy the movie.

Vilma mentioned why she chose "When I Met You In Tokyo" as her comeback project.

"When I came back sa movies, ang dami kong offers. But I chose the project with this one. I had three offers and nakausap ko na sila. But when I learned there's a project with Christopher de Leon, a love story na nasa age namin, ito yung tinanggap ko. Walang umay at naging excited pa ako. Lalo kong nagustuhan when I read the synopsis na it's a love story pero sa edad namin," Vilma said.