LIPA CITY—Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos-Recto was escorted by her son Ryan Christian Santos Recto during the three-day 2024 Barako Festival kick-off ceremony in this city on March 14.

During a media conference for the annual festival on Thursday, Vilma addressed queries about Ryan's potential political career.

"Someday, we don't know; he's still young, kung papasok siya sa politics. Just in case he will be a public servant, ang unang-unang ituturo ko sa kanya, mag-Tagalog," said Vilma, whose other son is actor and television personality Luis "Lucky" Manzano.

(We don't know when he will join politics; he's still young. If he becomes a public servant, I will first teach him to speak Tagalog.)

When asked to choose between politics and showbiz, Ryan said: "I like music. Politics is also interesting. I grew up with my parents (in politics), so either way."

Ryan was also asked to name his showbiz crush. "Marami naman magaganda. I can't just pick one. There are so many beautiful ladies. I can't choose now. Dapat kasimbait ni mom." (There are many beautiful ladies. I can't just pick one. There are so many beautiful ladies. I can't choose now. She should be like my mom.)

The 27-year-old son of Vilma and Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said he loves music. "Our family loves music in general. I grew up with my dad and my mom loving music. "

Vilma said Ryan needs to become more familiar with showbiz personalities.

"Hindi pa siya gaanong familiar sa showbiz because he's focused on his studies. Minsan kapag nanonood ako ng TV at napadaan siya, sasabihin niya, 'Mom sino yan? Maganda yan ah!' Do hindi pa siya ganoon ka well-verse sa mga artista natin. Sino ba yung nakita mo noon na sinabihan mo na maganda? Was it Bela Padilla? Pero hindi lang talaga niya kilala. Basta maganda," Ate Vi recalled.

(He's still getting familiar with showbiz because he's focused on his studies. Sometimes, when I'm watching TV, and he passes by, he'll say, 'Mom, who's that? That's beautiful!' He's not that well-versed with our artists. Who did you see before that you said was beautiful? Was it Bela Padilla? But he didn't know her. She was just beautiful.)

Vilma added: "Mahilig talaga ang pamilya namin sa music. Wala lang talagang hilig ang music kay Lucky. At saka sa akin walang hilig ang music. Pero bayad ako kapag kumakanta ako. Pero si Ryan, bata pa lang ito may tono na. The way I see it, talagang sa music siya eh. Parang hindi acting. But he loves to sing. Gusto niya magkaroon ng banda. Naka-focus talaga siya sa music."

(Our family is really into music. It's just that music doesn't like Lucky. Music doesn't like me. But I get paid when I sing. But Ryan, he's just a kid who already has a tone. The way I see it, he's really into music. It's not like acting. But he loves to sing. He wants to have a band. He's focused on music.)

The former congresswoman also said her granddaughter Rosie, daughter of Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola, frequents Batangas province.

"Si Peanut, madalas sila sa The Farm. Madalas din sila sa Batangas, sa Tanauan sa Vineyard. So sanay yung apo ko mamasyal. Nakarating na yun sa Palawan, sa Singapore, sa Hong Kong. So si Peanut, layas! Layas na baby yun. I'm very proud of my son Jessy and Lucky kasi hindi nila masyadong sine-shelter yung bata. Kung saan man, pinababayaan nila ang anak nila to be normal. For that I commend Lucky and Jessy. So sanay mamasyal si Peanut," Vilma added.

(Peanut and her parents are often at The Farm. They are also often in Batangas, Tanauan, at the Vineyard. So my granddaughter is used to going around. She has been to Palawan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. So Peanut loves to visit places. I'm very proud of Jessy and Lucky because they don't shelter their child too much. They are raising their child typically. For that, I commend Lucky and Jessy. So Peanut is used to going for walks.)

'Payback time'

Ate Vi, 70, said she is not interested in holding government or non-government positions at the moment and focuses on reviving the local movie industry.

"Modesty aside, they were asking me to lead the Film Academy of the Philippines. And then na mention na rin ang FDCP (Film Development Council of the Philippines). Wala na rin si Pipo. Pero kasi when it comes to showbiz, isa na akong private citizen ng showbiz.

"After my movie 'When I Met You in Tokyo,' ang naging advocacy ko ngayon is maibalik ang mga tao sa sinehan. Namatay yun eh lalo na nag-pandemic. Namatay ang mga sine talaga. So yun ang naging advocacy namin noong ginawa namin ang 'When I Met You In Tokyo.' Maibalik lang ang mga tao sa sinehan.

"Sa tinagal-tagal ko rin sa industry, naging nanay ako ng Lipa, naging nanay ako ng Batangas, naging representative ng Lungsod ng Lipa, parang ang advocacy ko ngayon is payback time.

"If there's anything I can do to be of help, even in show business, nandito ako palagi. Hindi ko man tinanggap ang director ng Film Academy, andito ako para sumuporta sa kanila. Tawagan lang nila ako," said Ate Vi.

Following the success of her film "When I Met You In Tokyo," Vilma revealed that she was inundated with numerous enticing offers to star in more movies.

"Ang dami kong script sa bahay ngayon. Modesty aside again, maraming offers pero hindi ko naman kayang gawin lahat. I'm taking my time. Gagawa na lang ako ng pelikula a gusto ko. A movie that will challenge me again. Pero kung tulad ng dati (na maraming ginagawang pelikula), hindi na muna.  Thirty-five years old na po ako.

"Gusto ko naman ngayon ay ma-enjoy ang sarili ko, my family, my apo. So meron din ako mga time para doon. So time management lang. Hindi ako nagmamadali," she also said. 

"I'm happy because I'm here in Batangas, my home. At nakita ko yung pamilya ko mula sa mga mayor. Siguro para tumagal ako ng 24 years sa public service, I must have done something good. Minahal naman ako ng Batangas at ito ang mga taong unang nakasama ko. That's why kahit na medyo nakakapagod physically, nandito ako for them," she said.

Vilma said there's an offer for her to work on projects for Mentorque Films under producer Bryan Dy. "May dalawa siyang sinasabi sa akin. So nagre-review ako ngayon. He's very good, and I wish him good luck."

In her message for Women's Month, Vilma said: "Hindi puwedeng babae lang. Dapat babae kami. Hindi puwedeng babae lang. Dapat babae kami. Ang kayang gawin ng iba, kaya rin namin. And it's about time what we can do at kung ano ang halaga ng isang babae. Yun ang pinaka-importante. Women empowerment!"

Asked if she's interested in running again in Lipa City, Vilma said: "They're asking me to be the nanay again. Just help me pray. Hindi ko alam what will happen next but ipagdarasal ko kung ano man ang magiging decision ko sa mga susunod na panahon."

Given a chance, Vilma said she would also like to produce a showbiz project. "Pero sa ngayon, puno ang plato ko. Ang dami kong dapat gawin. In fact, itong mga susunod na araw, since it's Women's Month, yung nga pelikula ko dati, ipapalabas. And they're inviting students. After watching the movies, meron kaming talkback. Puwede kong i-share sa kanila kung experience ko bilang actor at kung ano ang relevance ng movie na ginawa ko during the 80s and 90s. Nagbibigay ako ng oras doon. So payback time to inspire them and educate kung ano ang pagiging artist."

Vilma became the mayor of Lipa from 1998 to 2007. Then, from 2007 to 2016, she was governor of Batangas.  From 2016 to 2022, she was a congresswoman for the 6th district of Batangas.