CinemaBravo

The one and only Star for All Seasons, Vilma Santos, graced the stage at New Frontier Theater with genuine humility last night. Overwhelmed with emotion, she graciously mouthed ‘Thank you,’ while offering a slight bow of appreciation. Santos earned the prestigious Best Actress accolade at this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Alongside the distinguished Christopher De Leon, known as the King of Philippine Drama, Santos played a pivotal role in the MMFF film, “When I Met You in Tokyo.”

READ MORE: ‘When I Met You in Tokyo’ reunites Vilma Santos, Christopher De Leon

Expressing her heartfelt sentiments in her acceptance speech, Santos humbly acknowledged her unexpected win, stating, “I’m sorry, because I truly didn’t anticipate this recognition. Our primary aim with ‘When I Met You in Tokyo’ was not necessarily to vie for the Best Actress or Best Actor titles. Instead, we simply desired to portray a genuine love story suitable for our age. Our true mission was to contribute to the success of the Metro Manila Film Festival and rejuvenate the cinema experience for audiences.” She joyfully added, “With the current lineup of 10 remarkable films at the Metro Manila Film Festival, we see audiences returning to theaters! Let’s hope this resurgence continues, as it’s vital for our industry.”

Gratefully, Santos extended her appreciation to the MMFF committee, devoted moviegoers, her dedicated producers, directors Rommel Penza and Rado Peru, the entire cast, and her cherished leading man and associate director, Christopher De Leon, affectionately referred to as Boyet. With an emotional voice, Santos acknowledged, “I owe a significant portion of this honor to my associate director and esteemed colleague, Christopher De Leon. Throughout our scenes together, he constantly guided and supported me, providing invaluable motivation. This award truly reflects our collaborative effort.” De Leon was visibly proud, capturing Santos’s heartfelt speech on video.

Santos’s genuine spirit resonated with her fellow nominees, including Sharon Cuneta, Marian Rivera, Eugene Domingo, and Pokwang, as she graciously acknowledged them and shared the spotlight.

In addition to the Best Actress title, “When I Met You in Tokyo” also secured accolades for Best Float, 4th Best Picture, and the FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence.

Leading up to the awards ceremony, Santos and De Leon embarked on a heartfelt cinema tour, personally expressing gratitude to avid moviegoers and dedicated fans who organized block screenings at various venues such as SM North EDSA, Ayala Malls Trinoma, Glorietta, SM City Calamba, SM Megamall, and Gateway Mall.

Feedback from audiences and critics alike has been overwhelmingly positive. Actress Carmina Villaroel shared her emotional response, stating, “This is the first film that deeply moved me. My husband and I were profoundly affected, even after the credits rolled. It was truly remarkable!” Actor Zoren Legaspi echoed the sentiment, praising the film’s initial scenes and stellar performances.

Film critics and bloggers also praised the on-screen chemistry and enduring talent of Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon.