Gov. Vilma Santos Will Rather Go Back To Showbiz Than Run For Higher Office In 2016

MOTHER LILY Monteverde is very open in saying she admires Gov. Vilma Santos a lot. “After 9 years as Lipa Mayor and 9 years as Batangas Governor, she has never been tainted by any ugly controversy as a public servant,” she says. “Ang ganda talaga ng record niya kaya everyone wishes she’d run for national office in 2016 and for sure, she’d win dahil sa sincere commitment and dedication niya sa public service. I always consider her as my daughter, my precious Regal Baby. She got her first grand slam best actress from our ‘Relasyon’ and won more awards for our ‘Broken Marriage’ and ‘Sister Stella L.’ She has proven herself as a best actress, and now, also as a public servant. She’s truly an inspiration and I’m glad to be the Mother of the Mother of Batangas.”

She’s fully supporting Gov. Vi’s “Ala-Eh Festival” to celebrate the 433rd anniversary of the founding of Batangas as a province, to be held from December 1 to 8, 2014. She not only hosted a presscon for this but also a birthday party for Gov. Vi who turned 61 on Nov. 3.

“Nagulat ako,” says Gov. Vi when she came in at Mother Lily’s Valencia Events Place, with Mother Lily herself playing the Birthday Song on the piano and everyone singing it for her. “Akala ko, for Ala-Eh Festival lang ito, may kasama palang birthday surprise. We started Ala-Eh Festival eight years ago kasi lahat ng towns sa Batangas, may sariling foundation day festival, but how come the province itself, wala? This year, the Mother of all Festivals in Batangas will be held at the Heritage Town of Taal, right in front of its historic church, with Michael Montenegro as Mayor and Pong Mercado as Vice Mayor. It starts with a Fun Run at 5 AM on December 1. Kasali si Mother Lily roon. Then we have a Trade Fair and Agri Fair where all our products from food to barong Tagalog will be sold. Meron ding Street Party sa gabi. May Mutya ng Taal beauty contest on December 2 and talent contest on December 3. Coronation night naman ng Mutya ng Batangas on December 5, with the swimsuit competition to be held at Mother Lily’s Taal Imperial Resort Hotel. The grand finals ng singing contest na Voices Songs and Rhythms will be on December 7. The week-long festival will end on December 8, birthday ni Mama Mary, with a mass at the Basilica of St. Martin, followed by a parade with street dancing and colorful floats. We’re doing this to attract more tourists to Batangas so come and visit us during the festival at siguradong you’ll enjoy it.”

How is her health now? “I’m much better. Sa sobrang stress at pagod, bumaba kasi ang immune system ko, I got drained, bumalik ang ulcers ko. Akala mo, kaya mo lahat, pero totoo pala, sisingilin ka. This was triggered ng biglang pag-alis ni Ate Aida (Fandialan, her most trusted assistant-confidante for whom she offered a special prayer later).”

What are her plans when her term ends? Is she running for higher office in 2016? “No plans. Hindi ako nagpaplano about that. Pinagbubuti ko lang ang trabaho ko ngayon kasi gusto ko, after my term, the Batanguenos will say: ‘She served us well.’ Ang mga taga-Lipa, kinukumbinsi ako to return as Lipa Mayor. But gusto ko sana mag-rest muna, kasi 18 years na kong dire-diretso sa public service. Mas nami-miss ko ang showbiz. Gusto kong mag-shooting. May offer ang Star Cinema na movie with Angel Locsin. Dapat noon pa nag-start, e nagkasakit nga ako. So we might start shooting in January, to be directed by Inang Olive Lamasan. Maganda ang story, naiiba, pati character ko at hitsura ko, iibahin.”

It was earlier announced her son Luis Manzano will be part of it but he backed out. “That’s true. Umayaw ang anak ko. Ayaw raw niyang magamit o ma-commercialized ang relasyon nila ni Angel. Baka raw kung mag-movie sila, mapaglaruan pa.”

Is it true Luis is running in the next elections? “I’m not encouraging him or discouraging him. I told him it’s not easy. Maganda pa naman ang takbo ng showbiz career niya, also his businesses. I told him kung pipilitin lang siya at hindi manggagaling sa puso niya, then don’t do it. In the end, the decision will be his. But if ever he’d run, I tell him to study muna about local government, which is what I did before I ran for mayor in Lipa.”