Vilma Santos was quite happy interacting with young students of the University of Sto. Tomas, recently.
She loved it that they all seem familiar with many of her past works, including “Anak,” a digitally remastered version of which was screened at the Pier Giorgio Frassati Auditorium as part of the CCP Cine Icons event held in in collaboration with the UST-SHS student council in honor of National Artist Ricky Lee.
“Nakakatuwa makita at marinig how they were very much into it,” she told us relating the screaming throng that greeted her. “Very animated sila. And for someone who have been in the film industry as long as I am, nakakataba ng puso.”
The actress, together with Ricky, took part in an interactive talkback sessions meant to enrich film appreciation within the UST community.
Both gamely answered all of the questions thrown at them.
As Vilma explained, “You have to give back. You have to return the enthusiasm. Makikita mo ang appreciation nila sa effort mo and I was only willing to oblige them.”
So how does she feel about “Anak” seemingly still able to touch so many lives years after it was made?
“It speaks so much of the film’s beauty,” she said. “Maganda ang pagkakasulat ni Ricky e, and the lines, the characters, the story – they are all still very relevant today. Nangyayari pa rin e.”
“Anak,” starring Vilma, Claudine Barretto, Joel Torre, Amy Austria, Baron Geisler, among others, as directed by Rory Quintos, delves into the difficulties experienced by an overseas Filipino worker coming home to a family in disarray.
Said Ricky, “I was simply being truthful, taking inspiration from real life and obviously, film-goers appreciate that, naka-relate sila and it is what makes the film enduring.”
“I do believe na dahil sa truthfulness na ito, naging timeless ang pelikula, napagsama nito ang tamang sukat ng sining at commercial value,” Vilma added. “Ito basically ang legacy niya e. Yung innate na significance niya, ang maging relevant through generations.”
