Little did many know, especially those eagerly anticipating a sighting of Ate Vi, that the “Star for All Seasons" was, in fact, present at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Friday night.

During the annual banking community reception at the BSP complex in Manila last Jan. 26, veteran actress Vilma Santos-Recto discreetly waited for her husband in a car outside Fort San Antonio Abad, skillfully evading the attention of guests and even central bank officials.

This unintentional disclosure was made to the Department of Finance (DOF) press corps by none other than Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto.

Recto, while attempting to negotiate and avoid an impromptu interview, told reporters, “Sige sige, yung asawa ko nag-iintay sa akin, I have to go, naghihintay sa kotse, naghihintay sa kotse.” (All right, my wife is waiting for me in the car. I have to go.)

The BSP-hosted bankers' night is an annual event that brings together the country’s top financial executives, government officials, and other stakeholders to recognize their contributions to the economy, all while fostering networking opportunities.

In keeping with tradition, the spouses of the Monetary Board (MB) members, of which Recto is now a part, are also invited to the cocktail party.

But what led Ate Vi to decide against making an appearance at the bankers' night, especially considering that it marked her husband's debut as the finance chief and a member of the MB?

Simple, Santos-Recto didn't want to cause a scene during the BSP reception.

Well, it was a shrewd decision by Ate Vi, as it’s certain that even the big shots in the banking community would have found it challenging to resist snapping a photo or taking a selfie with the veteran actress upon seeing her.

However, it was a missed opportunity for many, including business journalists, who were looking forward to an appearance by Santos-Rectos. Anyway, there's always the possibility for the future.