STAR FOR ALL SEASONS FILM REVIEWS: Politics

In 1998, she entered politics and ran for mayor of Lipa City, Batangas where she won by landslide victories in three consecutive elections. As the first woman mayor of Lipa City, she helped bring not just economic progress and infrastructure development to Lipa City, but more notably her various programs on public health, education and environment, which again earned various local and international awards and recognitions.

In 2005, the University of the Philippines conferred 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 with 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.

Dr. Vilma Santos is married to Senator Ralph Recto, who belongs to a well-known political clan in the Philippines. Together they have a son, Ryan Christian. She is also a mother to actor/model/television host Luis 'Lucky' Manzano, from previous marriage to actor Edu Manzano.

Governor of Batangas - Mayor Santos-Recto ran for Governor in the 2007 elections challenging incumbent governor and jueteng lord Arman Sanchez and even her brother-in-law, Vice Governor Richard Recto (who is said to be not in good terms with his brother). People in Batangas were eagerly waiting for this match up. Mayor Santos-Recto's decision to run for governor of the province of Batangas resulted in a family feud as Ricky,his brother-in-law, also said that he will run for the same post. After spending some time thinking about the predicament she was in, Mayor Santos-Recto said that she opted to give way to to Ricky but left people hanging as she said that she had until March 29 to decide and that it was still a long time before that date and anything may still happen. Mayor Santos-Recto was then being said to be interested in running as Congresswoman representing the 4th District of Batangas. To add spice to the situation, Vilma's husband re-electionist Senator Ralph Recto announced to the media that they would not support the candidacy of Ricky.

During the weekly flag-raising at the Lipa City Hall last March 5, 2007, political leaders from different parts of the province gathered at the Lipa City Hall grounds to announce their support and ask Mayor Vilma Santos to run as Governor. Mayor Santos-Recto was too emotional to make a decision at that point and asked for a week to make up her mind.

She made her promise good to announce her decision, and on March 12, she announced before a jampacked crowd at the Lipa City Cultural Center that she will accept the people's challenge and run for provincial governor. Banker Edwin Ermita, the son of incumbent Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, will be her runningmate. She ran under the banner of Lakas CMD after being endorsed by Speaker Jose de Venecia as the official candidate of the majority party. Kampi adopted her as their official bet for Batangas Governor instead of incumbent Governor Arman Sanchez.

Governor-elect Santos-Recto was proclaimed as the duly elected Governor-elect of the province of Batangas on May 21, 2007 after garnering 475,740 votes against Sanchez's 344,969 for a winning margin of more than 130,000. She will be the first female governor of Batangas. Read More

On November 16, 2009, along with her husband Ralph Recto, she moved from Lakas-Kampi-CMD to Liberal Party.

Santos Recto won the May 10 (2010) gubernatorial derby as she earned almost 60% of votes casted in the country’s first automated elections. Sen. Recto has also been proclaimed as among the victorious senatorial candidates, while Vice Gov. Mark Leviste and all re-electionist Board Members prevailed over their respective rivals (READ MORE).

Former Pres. Cory Aquino bilib kay Gov. Vi - "...Tita Cory sometimes sounded like she was making bilin to Kris. “She was telling me to plan my career the way Ate Vi (Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos) planned hers,” Kris continued. “Ate Vi was among the first ones who sent their words of support for my mom. Sabi ng mom ko, I should have another career after showbiz.” Helping Kris entertain her mom are Joshua and James Jr. “Josh keeps on telling my mom, ‘Lola, you’re not sick naman, eh!’ Tuwang-tuwa naman ang mom ko kay James who is fond of giggling. Sabi niya, si James daw is growing up to be like me, very jolly and very outgoing..." - Ricardo F. Lo, Philippine Star, March 27, 2008 (READ MORE)

On politics."...It was not written in the wall that I would get into politics. As a movie star, everything is given to you. In politics baliktad. You give everything. But it’s the fulfillment that you are able to make a difference. My focus is on Batangas. No, I am not entertaining thoughts about the Vice Presidency...” - Boy Abunda, The Philippine Star, July 31, 2009 (READ MORE)

Rep. Aga - "...In the same presscon, “Rep. Aga” also defended showbiz personalities like him who seek public office, and cited those who have vindicated themselves in local and national levels. “Just look at Vilma Santos,” he noted. “She served three terms as Mayor of Lipa City and now she’s the governor of Batangas.” When Vilma entered politics, several people were saying that she would amount to nothing and that proved to be a big challenge to her. She proved them wrong. “She’s performing really, really well,” Edmund quoted Aga as saying. “Also, look at Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, maayos ang track record nila as senators. But those actors who critics say join politics because they no longer have a showbiz career and would just want to make money, that’s beyond me. I don’t want to comment on that. I just want to assure you that I’m on top of my game as an actor and I’m banking on my name and my reputation to win this..." - Ricardo F. Lo (READ MORE)

2012 Presidential Award for Public Service - "...Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos is being given the 2012 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award. It’s Pres. Noynoy Aquino himself who will hand over the award to Gov. Vilma on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at rites to be held at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall in Malacañang Palace. Administered by the Civil Service Commission, the awards ceremony highlights the celebration of the 112th Philippine Civil Service (PCS) anniversary. The search covers outstanding public officials and PCS employees who have shown exemplary service to the public. Gov. Vilma is one of the public officials being awarded. In a letter to Gov. Vilma, PCS chairman Francisco Duque III wrote, “The Civil Service Commission is deeply pleased and honored to have you as one of the 2012 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardees for Outstanding Work and Exceptional Service in this year’s search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees…” - Ricky Lo (READ MORE)

2013 Landslide Win - "...In Batangas, Vilma Santos-Recto was proclaimed governor after a landslide win against her opponents, Marcos Mandanas and Prexedes Bustamante. Santos, now on her last term as governor of Batangas, garnered 902,827 votes against Mandanas’ 50,888. Santos’ running mate, vice governor Mark Leviste, garnered 530,389 votes, way ahead of his rival, broadcaster Rommel Arguelles..." - Jaime Laude, The Philippine Star, 15 May 2013 (READ MORE)

No Political Plans - "...Happy, because not all are being given this kind of trust,” the actress-turned politician told reporters after the Commission on Elections officially proclaimed her at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan building here on Wednesday afternoon. She said being the first female Lipa City mayor and first female Batangas governor was a “legacy itself.” Santos-Recto has been undefeated since entering politics in 1998, having served three terms or nine years as mayor of Lipa City and six years as Batangas governor since 2007, for a total of 15 years as a local politician. Not everyone has the chance to be given the kind of trust she is getting from Batangueños, she said. Saying she will always treasure the trust she has earned in Batangas, Santos-Recto said, “Though my service here will end soon Batangas will always have a big big part in my heart.” Now that Santos-Recto is on her third and last consecutive term, rumor has it that she is eyeing a higher office in 2016. She told reporters, however, that she had “no political plans at all” after her new term ends and denied she was eyeing the Senate in the 2016 elections..." - Jerome C. Balinton, Inquirer Southern Luzon, Saturday, 18 May 2013 (READ MORE)

Doctor of Humanities Honoris Causa - "...Congratulations to Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos who was conferred a Degree of Doctor of Humanities Honoris Causa by the Batangas State University for her clean-governance and humanitarian advocacy. The award was given to her during the university’s 46th Commencement Exercises (with the theme “Global Mobility; BatStateU Quest Towards Excellence”) last April 2 in Batangas City..." - Rikcy Lo, The Philippine Star, 05 April 2014 (READ MORE)

Awards and Recognitions in Socio-Civic/Public Service
1975	Local Gov't of Nueva Ecija	Most Oustanding Nueva Ecijana
1992	Quezon City Jaycees TOYA	Ten Young Acievers Award
1994	(Citation Needed)	Parangal ng Bayan Award
1997	Dove Foundation	Gintong Ina Award
1998	City of Manila	Most Oustanding Manileno
2000	Boy Scout of the Philippines	Best Over-All Local Council
2000	AKAP	Outstanding mayor in Region IV
2000	Civil Service Commission	Outstanding City Mayor
2000	GMMSF	Recognition in Gov't Service
2001	Dept. of Health	Outstanding Local Executive
2002	Presidential Award	The Cleanest and Greenest Local
2002	Ten Outstanding	Young Achievers Awardee
2003	Mary Kay Philippines	Woman With a Heart
2003	Pulse Asia, inc.	Most admired - Ranked #6
2004	BizNewsAsia Power 100	Most Powerful Filipino #86
2005	Gawad Suri Award	Exemplary Public Servant
2005	Gov't of Jersey City, NJ, USA	Honorary Key
2005	IAPD	Exemplary Public Servant
2005	Bright Smiles (Australia)	Bright Futures Award
2005	UPCPH Alumni Society	Honorary Member
2005	PPO Inc (Ateneo)	Huwarang Pilipino Award
2005	Regional Sandugo	Outstanding Mayor Hall of Fame
2005	Lipa City Public College	Doctor of Humanities
2006	Unlad Pilipinas Award	Unlad Pilipinas Award
2006	Survey among Filipino students	Youth Role Model
2006	DSWDevelopment	Outstanding City Mayor
2006	NADTI.	Gawad Munting Ngiti Awardee
2007	People Asia Magazine	People of the Year
2007	BAYI	Exemplary Women
2007	NVBS	Outstanding Local Gov't Exec
2008	FAMAS	Exemplary Award
2009	UNEP (Iriga)	Doctor of Humanities
2009	Malacanang Palace	One of the "Culture Friendly"
2009	PEMSEA	Recognition of Local Government
2010	Reader's Digest Asia - # 17	Most Trusted Filipino in Survey
2010	NCCT and the DOE	Lifetime Achievement Award
2010	Gawad Suri	Exemplary Award
2011	Go Negosyo	Starpreneur Awardee
2011	PASADO	PASADO sa Serbisyo Publiko
2012	CBMS	Outstanding Local Gov't Exec
2012	Philippine Civil Service (PCS)	Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award
2012	DoE	In Appreciation Award
2013	Batangueña Achiever	Achiever for Public Service
2013	17th ANF, City Albay Prov	Outstanding Provincial Governor
2013	Police Prov'l Office (PPO) Awards	PPO Citation
2013	The Movie Writers Welfare Foundation	Gintong Palad Public Service Awards
2014	Batangas State University	Doctor of Humanities Honoris Causa

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