A second viewing of the Chito Rono film, Dekada ’70, allowed us an opportunity to go back in time to that turbulent era in Philippine contemporary history.

More than that, it was the happy or sad realization that 22 years after it was made, it has remained relevant and timeless, in light of socio-political issues that confront society in the present time.

Occasion was the second in a series of Vilma Santos film screenings held at the University of Santo Tomas’ Frassati campus on Nov. 27. The series of events is called Woman, Artist, Icon and is designed to showcase the veteran actress’ and government official’s legendary acting career.

Tasked to pose the first question, I asked former Batangas Governor Vilma how her exposure to socially relevant films influenced or impacted on her political career. She said that playing the roles of women like Amanda, her character in Dekada (2002), had been an eye-opener for her.

She said she felt the same way while doing Bata, Bata, Paano Ka  Ginawa and Sister Stella L. she thanked author Lualhati Bautista for having entrusted her with the filmization of her two novels, Dekada and Bata, Bata.  

When she entered politics, she saw for herself the social conditions of ordinary people. This was real life and no longer a movie set, she discovered. Those movie roles heightened her sensitivity to the needs, the sensibilities of ordinary people.

Sponsored by the Faculty of Arts and Letters, the event was attended by students and faculty members, members of the media and fans of the veteran actress.

Tirso Cruz III, though not a part of the movie’s cast, joined Vilma at the talkback after the film screening. Christopher de Leon played her leading man in Dekada ’70.

It was also announced during the talkback that three books on Vilma Santos will soon be published by the UST Publishing House. One of these, according to project head, Prof. Augusto Antonio Aguila, is titled “Vilma Santos: Icon, Cinema, Culture, Society,” a compilation of 90 scholarly articles on some of the critically acclaimed films of the award-winning actress.

The book promises to be an exhaustive study of Vilma’s films, including ‘Ekstra,’ ‘Sister Stella L.,’ Dekada ’70, and ‘Relasyon.

A second book, a yet untitled coffee table edition, is being co-written by Aguila and arts journalist Lito Zulueta of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

The third book will be a catalog of all her films, beginning from 1963 when Vilma was nine years old and launched as a star via Trudis Liit by Sampaguita Pictures.