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Dingdong Dantes believes it's about time for Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos to be given the prestigious National Artist Award.

At a press conference held on Friday, June 28, Dingdong represented the group of Filipino actors called AktorPH, which is one of the 20 groups that endorsed Vilma's nomination for National Artist for Broadcast and Film.

In his speech, the actor-TV host said, “Today, we celebrate Vilma Santos. A name that is synonymous with versatility. A name that is synonymous with excellence and unparalleled craftsmanship in Philippine cinema.

“For 60 years, has graced the silver screen with an incomparable body of work, portraying a diverse array of characters that showcase immense talent. Renowned for breathing roles that describe her as a woman of substance, she has garnered numerous awards from prestigious bodies whether here locally or internationally, solidifying her status as the most awarded actress in Philippine cinema.

“Beyond the accolades, Vilma Santos continues to leave an indelible mark in our cultural landscape, portraying iconic roles that deeply resonate in the Filipino psyche.”

Also included in his speech were some of Vilma's unforgettable movie projects and her years in public service.

“Known as Star For All Season, she continues to excel in both reel and real life, always bringing pride to the country. Her enduring legacy as a pioneer and an icon of Philippine cinema will forever shine bright in our hearts and in our minds, inspiring excellence across all seasons--not just all seasons, but also all generations,” Dingdong said.

The Family Feud host also acknowledged Ate Vi's major contribution to the development of Filipino culture.

The Aktor PH director said, "We believe, naniniwala po kami that Vilma Santos has contributed significantly to the Development of Filipino cultural impact and identity," he said. "So today, we would like to honor her as a paragon of professionalism we would like to honor her as a protector of a community, we honor her as a cultural champion and more importantly, we also honor her as a nation builder.

"Sa ngalan po ng aming organisasyon, sa aming officers, sa aming board of directors, at ang aming board of advisers, we whole heartedly endorsed the nomination of Rosa Viima Santos-Recto to be order of national artist for film and broadcast," Dantes said.

Vilma's iconic roles included Darna and Dyesebel. She was also a socially conscious nun in Sister Stella L (1984), a burlesque star Burlesk Queen (1977), an AIDS and a terminally ill patient Because I Love You: The Dolzura Cortez Story (1992), and a rape survivor Rubia Servios, 1978.

The Star for All Seasons has won numerous acting awards from prestigious local and international bodies, including Gawad Urian, FAMAS, Catholic Mass Media, the Metro Manila Film Festival, PMPC Star Awards, and international film festivals in Brussels and Dhaka.

Beyond her film career, Vilma Santos has made significant contributions as a public servant. She has served with distinction as mayor (1998 to 2007), governor (2007 to 2016), and congresswoman (2016 to 2022) in Batangas.

Meanwhile, during the Q&A, Dingdong mentioned that the nomination of Vilma Santos for National Artist is the first board resolution issued by the new Aktor PH directors. Aside from him, the directors also included Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Iza Calzado, Mylene Dizon, Cherry Pie Picache, and Piolo Pascual. The group's president is Agot Isidro.

"Nagkataon na meron kaming general assembly over a month ago. And then, nakuha namin yung balitang may nabubuong movements, and we're just fortunate we became part of that movement. So, we discussed it among us, the officers, and issued our first board resolution, nominating Vilma Santos for National Artist,” he said.

Personally, Dingdong said Vilma has a great impact on his life.

Then, he recalled. "Ang unang encounter ko kay Ate Vi na hindi ko makakalimutan ay noong mga late '80s, noong nag promote kami ng aming school play sa GMA, sa kanyang programang Vilma sa Broadway Centrum. Hindi ko makakalimutan yun. Siyempre, hindi ko siya nakausap noon dahil Vilma Santos na siya noon. Pero mula noon kakaiba talaga yung naging impact niya sa akin.

"Nang pumasok ako sa industriya, naging bahagi ng aking consciousness ang kanyang body of work, persona, and appearance physical or not. Ramdam mo ang kanyang involvement, hindi lang isang season or one generation. Up to this day, she managed to make herself very, very relevant, di ba? I think, yun ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat.”

Dingdong then reiterated in the end, "Yung impact niya is generational din talaga--across all seasons and across all decades."

Meanwhile, know more about Ate Vi as a mom in this gallery: