Will Vilma do another movie? How will Bea fare as Betty La Fea?

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos misses the movies. A true blue child of the business who started as a child actress, Vilma was at the peak of her career when she entered politics and made a good career out of it. Now  Governor Vi would like to do movies again. “Gusto ko na po. Meron na ulit inihahanda ang Star Cinema, meron pang indie film, and I am looking forward to making a movie this year. It has been five long years na hindi ako gumagawa ng pelikula. I owe it to my audience. I owe it to my public. Yong Vilma Santos na artista utang na loob ko yon sa publiko at miss ko na po.”

Vilma also intimated to The Buzz about how happy she and her family were during their three-week vacation in America. “We were complete as a family except Lucky. But I understand that he is busy with work. It is during vacation time that I do things like other people do — we go shopping, we go anywhere, pag ayaw maligo, wag muna, ganun.”

As governor of Batangas, Vilma feels “like the mother of the whole province of Batangas. Para akong ina na may anak na 2.3 million, that is the population of the entire province.” Her husband Ralph Recto has been her guiding force. “Ralph is doing good. Siguro yong hindi muna pagkakaroon ng posisyon sa gobyerno plus factor yon kasi he guides me on how to run Batangas. Kung wala si Ralph, hindi ko alam kung paano ko ito uumpisahan.”

* * *

Bea Alonzo is Betty La Fea! Ms. Charo Santos, president of ABS-CBN in a message said, “Bea, your talent, your dedication and loyalty truly make you deserving of this challenging role and the biggest break in your career. ABS-CBN has acquired the franchise to one of the most successful telenovelas of the world that has won millions of viewers around the globe. And now through our Kapamilya network, our very own version of the show is set to capture the hearts of the Filipino viewers. Bea, we entrust you with ABS- CBN biggest offering this 2008.”

Betty La Fea is Bea’s first time to play an ugly duckling and she is looking forward to it. “I really can’t wait. First time kong maging pangit, pangit, pangit sa show.” Bea has been studying her character and has even asked for copies of the original Betty La Fea. “Pinoy na Pinoy pa rin ang Betty La Fea. Local Pinoy color will be added.”

As to who will play her love interest, Bea is clueless. She rattled off the names of Gabby Concepcion, Aga Muhlach, Piolo Pascual, Diether Ocampo, Jake Cuenca, as possible leading men. What about John Lloyd Cruz? “Matagal na plano na paghiwalayin muna kami. Para mag-grow din kami as individuals and as actors.”

And as to the status of her love life, Bea smiled, “I am very happy now. I am free and happy.”

Bea is included in Maxim’s Hot 100 where she was named the ninth sexiest woman in the country. “I didn’t expect to be included in the Top 10 sexiest. Thank you to all those who voted for me.”

Is it true that another young star actually pushed Bea backstage during ASAP and jeered at her pretending she did not know the culprit? Bea, according to the story, got up with poise and moved away like a princess that she is.

Back to school

A few weeks from now, I will be back in school but I will write more about this in a future column. It is refreshing to know that some of our movie stars have gone back or are back to school: Sharon Cuneta, Rica Peralejo, Sarah Geronimo, Erik Santos, among others. One remains a student in his lifetime. There is no age limit to it, no creed, no race, no boundaries. Three of my office staff are currently enrolled in workshops — Judy Santos in accounting, Almed Garcia and Eden Flores in writing, conducted by the indomitable, beautiful, Barbara Gonzalez also a columnist of The Philippine Star Lifestyle section.

Recently, I got a very heartwarming story about Maritoni Cabangon who graduated magna cum laude with a degree of Philosophy and Political Science at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where she is a Dean’s Lister at the Bellarmine College of Liberal arts. Maritoni’s father, D. Edgar Cabangon who is the president of Isuzu Gencars and chairman of Eternal Gardens Memorial Park must be very proud of his daughter.

In a letter to Maritoni earlier this year, College Dean Rev. Michael Engh, S.J., acknowledged her “exceptional academic performance” and informed her that her grade point average “placed you among the top students in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts.” Dean Engh also said, “This special honor is recorded on your official transcript. It is a distinction that is often noted by graduate schools and prospective employers who are looking for our most outstanding students. Please know that I am proud of you and your accomplishment and I wish you continued success.”

Congratulations, Maritoni!