MMFF clarifies Vilma Santos inducted into Hall of Fame in 2019

Supporters of veteran actress Vilma Santos are questioning why she has not yet been inducted into the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Hall of Fame, despite her numerous accolades, following the recent induction of Judy Ann Santos.

An open letter from Vilma Santos' fans, known as Vilmanians, expressed dismay over the MMFF's Hall of Fame selection process, alleging it prioritizes fan mentality over true merit.

The open letter highlights that Vilma Santos has won at least five MMFF Best Actress awards, while another actress with three wins was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Vilmanians called Vilma Santos a pillar of Philippine cinema whose MMFF achievements are unmatched and criticized the festival for potentially disregarding her record-breaking contributions.

MMFF spokesperson Noel Ferrer clarified on Facebook that Vilma Santos was already inducted into the MMFF Hall of Fame for Best Actress in 2019, alongside Maricel Soriano and Amy Austria, with Nora Aunor also being a recipient.

Ferrer also mentioned that Vilma Santos was invited to a recent MMFF book launch but had a prior engagement.

He urged critics to refrain from using strong words like 'fan mentality' and 'selective recognition' when discussing MMFF awards, suggesting that truth and fairness can be achieved through fact-checking.