NEWSFLASH

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MAYOR VILMA SANTOS RETURNS TO TV

Manila, Oct. 8, 1998 - Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos vowed that BATA, BATA, PAANO KA GINAWA is her last movie for at least three years, while she's concentrating on running the city and helping the people of Lipa improve their lives.

She did not promise to stay away from television.

A woman true to her words, Vilma refuses to make any commitment with any movie studio. But she is reported to be ready to face the cameras again .... in a TV studio.

Mayor Vilma Santos will definitely return weekly to the small screen, according to the Philippine Star's Ricky Lo, who also revealed that Vilma has abandoned GMA-7, home of her musical show for many years. Instead of driving to the GMA studios at Broadway and at EDSA, Vilma will make the weekly trip to Bohol Avenue, home of ABS-CBN.

Why the change of allegiance? Vilma's movie career may have something to do with it. After all, the box office success BATA, BATA, PAANO KA GINAWA? was produced by Star Cinema, sister company of ABS-CBN.

While the format of Vilma's new show has yet to be discussed in detail, Ricky Lo speculates that it is nowhere near the old Vilma musical presentations which opened with the star in death-defying dancing leaps and bounds.

No, it will not be a song-and-dance act for Vilma. It will be a show worthy of being hosted by Her Honor, The Mayor.

If not song-and-dance, will it be talking heads? A talk show perhaps to bloat the ranks of Kris, Dina, Michelle, Teresa, Dong, Teddy Man? Or an investigative semi-docu report to mimic Teddy Boy, Loren, Che Che, Jessica?

Only time, and ABS-CBN, can tell.