When Vilma Santos-Recto was announced as a Dekada Awardee of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) for the 40th Star Awards for Movies, the public, especially the Vilmanians rooted and wished she could physically attend the awards night held on July 21, 2024 at the Irwin Lee Theater of the Ateneo de Manila University in Loyola Heights, QC.
Additionally, Vilma Santos was also nominated as Best Actress for the film “When I Met You in Tokyo” of JG Productions.
The more her fans wanted her to be around on that Sunday evening to claim the coveted award where she was pitted against rival actress Nora Aunor for “Pieta” and other nominees like Maricel Soriano for “In His Mother’s Eyes”; Gina Alajar for “Monday First Screening”; Kathryn Bernardo for “A Very Good Girl”; Sharon Cuneta for “Family of Two”; Ai Ai de las Alas for “Litrato”: Alessandra de Rossi for “What If”; Gladys Reyes for “Apag” and Marian Rivera for “Rewind.”
Weeks before the 40th Star, Santos-Recto went to the US for a vacation but she planned to get back home before the event.
After Vi returned to the country, she fell ill. “Sumama ang pakiramdam ko. Nagkasakit ako (I didn’t feel good. I got sick),” informed Ate (a term of endearment to an older woman by blood as in sister or by affinity) Vi in her text message to this writer.
Much as she wanted to be around during the event of the PMPC, an org she loves dearly, she couldn’t because of her health condition.
Many press people, including Erlinda Rapadas T., missed the Star for All Seasons and among the artists being screened to be a National Artist for Film.
Vi won Best Actress and tied with Nora and Maricel.
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