Vilma Santos to get Urian Lifetime Achievement Award

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran actress and politician Vilma Santos will receive the Natatanging Urian Lifetime Achievement Award at the 40th Gawad Urian on July 20.

When asked why it is only now that Urian is giving Vilma the award, one of the award-giving body’s members, Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, explained that it is because the award is given not exclusively to actors, but also to producers, cinematographers, and even makeup artists, or anyone who has contributed to the growth of the local filmmaking industry.

“It is no longer a question of why her. The Natatanging Urian is about excellence in cinema as personified by all elements in a film, so it is given not only to actors,” Tiongson said in a press conference in ABS-CBN earlier.

Vilma, who has the most Urian awards for Best Actress, was a controversial choice for Best Actress after her character in “Relasyon” famously beat Nora Aunor’s “Himala” in 1982.

According to Tiongson, they chose Vilma over Nora that time because Vilma’s portrayal in “Relasyon” was quiet and subtle yet powerful.

“We really saw the growth of her character and her relationship with other characters,” Tiongson expounded.

He said all past winners, including Nora, who received the Natatanging Urian two years ago, were invited to the awards night.