Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto (born November 3, 1953) commonly known as Vilma Santos-Recto or Ate Vi is a multi-awarded actress and politician. She is known as the "Star for all Seasons" for her longevity in showbiz and holds the title of grand slam queen (4x) and the longest box office queen of Philippine movies.
Santos starred in Trudis Liit (1963), Lipad, Darna, Lipad (1973), Burlesk Queen (1977), Relasyon (1982), Broken Marriage (1983),Sister Stella L. (1984), Alyas Baby Tsina (1984), Pahiram ng Isang Umaga (1989), Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story (1993), Bata bata Paano Ka Ginawa (1998)Anak (2000) and Dekada '70 (2002), and recently, In My Life (2009).
She is currently in politics as the governor of Batangas province, Philippines. She is also the former mayor of Lipa City, Batangas
Santos started her acting career when one of her uncles, who was a cameraman at Sampaguita Pictures, convinced her to try out for the movies. Initially, Sampaguita Pictures had planned a child star role for her in Anak, Ang Iyong Ina (1969). When Santos was in the studio, she noticed a long line of little girls. Thinking that that line was the line for her audition, she decided to queue in. The long line turned out to be for an audition for Sampaguita Pictures' offering Trudis Liit (Little Trudis). When it was her turn to audition, she was asked by the panel to sing, dance and cry on cue. She got the part of "Trudis Liit" for which she received the FAMAS Awards Best Child Performer award for 1963.
She was cast in Sa Bawat Pintig ng Puso (1964), Maria Cecilia (1965), Kasalanan Kaya? (1968), Iginuhit ng Tadhana (1965) and later in its sequel Pinagbuklod ng Langit (1969).
In 1998, she entered politics and ran for mayor of Lipa City, Batangas where she won three consecutive elections, becoming the city's first female mayor.
In 2005, the University of the Philippines conferred to her the Gawad Plaridel Award for her achievements and contributions both as an actress and a public servant. In the same year she was conferred an honorary doctorate degree (honoris causa) in humanities by the Lipa City College. She was again honored in 2006 by the University of the Philippines as one of the four awardees in UP's First Diwata Awards.
Santos-Recto was proclaimed Governor-elect of the province of Batangas on May 21, 2007 after garnering 475,740 votes against Sanchez's 344,969 becoming the first female governor of the province of Batangas. Governor Santos-Recto was reelected Governor of Batangas during the May 2010 elections.
Vilma Santos-Recto is married to Senator Ralph Recto. Together they have a son, Ryan Christian. She is also mother to actor/model/television host Luis Manzano by her previous marriage to actor Edu Manzano.
