‘Not every actress of this generation has an opportunity to work with Vilma. Evidently, Gabby made the most of hers.’
After winning Best Actress in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for “When I Met You in Tokyo,” “Star for All Seasons” Vilma Santos is back. Playing a mother named Eva Candelaria seeking justice for her child, she crashes a party in Mentorque Productions’ “Uninvited.”
The project, directed by Dan Villegas and written by Dodo Dayao, has the elements of a potential box-office hit and award-winning film: glossy production values, a riveting story, a topnotch cast.
With Vilma is a star-studded ensemble composed of two-time MMFF Best Actor Aga Muhlach and 2022 MMFF Best Actress Nadine Lustre, with Ron Angeles, Cholo Barretto, Gio Alvarez, Ketchup Eusebio, Elijah Canlas, RK Bagatsing, Gabby Padilla, Lotlot de Leon, Mylene Dizon, and Tirso Cruz III.
By all indications, “Uninvited” is much anticipated. As of December 13, 2024, Vilma’s own “Uninvited Trailer Eva” posted on the Mentorque and Project 8 Projects Facebook pages has gotten 8.7 million views, 17 thousand positive reactions, 1,200 shares and 470 comments.
Equally worthy of talking about is the first-time team-up of Vilma with award-winning actress Gabby Padilla.
The “Star for All Seasons” is known to be always gracious. But during the media launch of “Uninvited,” Vilma singled out and praised Gabby.
“Malaking karangalan din sa akin na malaman ko rin na makakasama ko yung nanalong Best Actress ang ka-tie ni Marian Rivera sa Cinemalaya, walang iba kundi si Gabby Padilla.” Vilma was, of course, referring to Gabby’s win for the film “Kono Basho.”
Addressing Gabby, Vilma said, “Thank you, I love you.”
Gabby was visibly floored. And by the time it was her turn to speak at the media con, the younger actress returned the appreciation.
Gabby declared, “Hanggang ngayon hindi pa nagsi-sink in that I am part of this cast and part of this team. I worked closely with Ate Vi on this and I am very lucky to see her work first hand.
“Naintindihan ko kung bakit siya si Vilma Santos. But more than celebrating her as an actress, what I really love is that I saw the heart that she has and the way that she treats everyone on set.”
Addressing Vilma, Gabby said, “I love you, Inay.”
Not every actress of this generation has an opportunity to work with Vilma. Evidently, Gabby made the most of hers. It’s great to see how the “Star for All Seasons” continues to inspire today’s Filipino actors.
