Vilma Santos gets nostalgic over restored ‘Sister Stella L’
After fourdecades, the iconic film of Vilma Santos, “Sister Stella L,” gets a glow-up in its remastered version. The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) spearheaded the 4K restoration of visionary director Mike de Leon’s masterpiece.
Since “Sister Stella L” is one of Philippine cinema’s treasures, it’s but fitting that the premiere of its restored form was held at the historical Metropolitan Theater. Watching it all over again was an ultimate throwback moment. Just as Ate Vi’s character, Sister Stella L, had an epiphany and transformation, the movie was a turning point in Ate Vi’s career.
Now that the film has been given a second lease on life, it serves as Vilmanians’ dose of nostalgia, and for younger generations, it’s a chance to discover why Ate Vi is the Star for all Seasons. The film may have been remastered, but the Vilma charisma? That never needed fixing.
Here’s my chat with Ate Vi:
What made you emotional about watching the remastered version of ‘Sister Stella L’?
“I got teary-eyed. It was surreal to watch an improved version of my film that I shot 42 years ago. It made me senti to watch my colleagues who have passed away, Jay Ilagan, Anita Linda and Tony Santos Sr. My mind went on flashback mode to our filming days. Direk Mike de Leon has long been wanting to have ‘Sister Stella L’ remastered. He poured his heart out to me about how hard it was to get the master copy of our film. It’s sad that direk Mike is no longer around to see that his longtime dream has finally come true.”
What’s your fondest memory about Jay Ilagan while shooting ‘Sister Stella L’?
“Jay is one of our most brilliant actors. I’m proud that he was my very first love team partner. Before Vi and Bot, it was Vi and Jay. Jay is gone too soon, but his body of work lives on.”
How did ‘Sister Stella L’ impact you as a woman and actress and now as a governor?
“It reminds me to always step out of my comfort zone as a woman, just like how the movie broke the stereotype of nuns. As an actress, ‘Stella L’ left an indelible mark in my career. As a governor, ‘Stella L’ embodies my principles of making an impact on society. We must not be trapped in a bubble. We must get involved and have a holistic approach.”
In what ways are you like Sister Stella L?
“Just like Sister Stella, who proved that there’s more to being a nun, after 26 years as a public servant, I’ve shown that there’s more to me than being an actress. I must have done something good because I was given a Presidential Lingkod Bayan award. Palaban ako like Stella L, especially when I was younger. Lahat pinapatulan ko. Now I choose my battles and protect my peace.”
What’s your advice to women in the same boat as Sister Stella who are torn between love and duty-work?
“Don’t close your doors. Be open-minded. Make your life matter.”
WilBea’s first movie
The love team of Bea Binene and Wilbert Ross has definitely arrived. A sure sign of it is their silver screen debut in the Philippine adaptation of the Thai blockbuster, “Pee Mak.” It will be screened on Oct. 14 in cinemas.
Produced by Viva Films, the horror-comedy love story is packed with chaos as the characters try to outsmart each other to achieve their opposing goals. Mak and Pee-Nang fight to remain together, while Mak’s friends devise desperate plans to drive them apart.
WilBea are joined by Vandolph, Janno Gibbs, Candy Pangilinan, TJ Valderama, Jerome Ponce, Jairus Aquino and Cup of Joe’s Gian Bernardino.
Let them tickle your funny bone and send shivers down your spine.
Here are quotes from Wilbert and Bea:
Bea: “Being able to pull off my scenes wearing a harness was not as difficult as it was for me to try to suppress my laughter when the boys deliver their punchlines. They catch me off-guard with their wacky adlibs and facial expressions.”
Wilbert: “Of course, Bea and I feel the pressure because it’s our first movie together. But we don’t let it overpower us. We would like to believe that the support that our fans give us in our online shows will translate into the big screen.”
Bea: “Even if it’s an adaptation of a Thai hit, we added Pinoy humor and flavor. There are elements of Pinoy folklore. Even the little details like the color of our teeth. It’s more black than the teeth of the Thai actors because of our local delicacy, nganga.”
Wilbert: “At first, I was intimidated by Vandolph, but he made it easy for all of us to be at home with him. There was an instant connection off-cam, which helped us jell as magka tropa on-cam.”
Bea: “My takeaway from the character I portray, who is a dead wife, who refuses to rest in peace and stays by her husband’s side, is that true love transcends death.”
Wilbert: “I did not watch the original Thai version because I might unconsciously copy the Thai actor’s portrayal. I want to attack the role in my own way.”
My birthday salubong
As I turned a year zanier, I opted not to have a big showbiz party this time around. My BFF Buboy, Cesar Montano, and his fab GFF/my Kumareng Kat Angeles threw a birthday salubong for me at BFF’s hip restobar, G Cellar Winery, located at The Royale Place, Don Antonio Drive, Matandang Balara, Q.C.
Party people are G na G in G Cellar, where GV (good vibes) is in the air. Since Buboy is a wine connoisseur, his bar has a premium selection of wines and mouth-watering charcuterie boards. My favorites in their menu are truffle pasta and hamachi. The highlight of my intimate bash with my “constants” was BFF and my Kumpareng Bayani Agbayani’s interview with me for my DollywoodPH YT Channel. The episode will drop soon. It was non-stop kulitan and laglagan, among close friends.
Thanks with all my heart to BFF Buboy and Mareng Kat for making my nth debut possible. Even if I’m unlucky in love, I am extra lucky in friendship because I have Buboy, his fam and Kat and our Tivoli group through thick and thin, sick and sin.
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