1. Trudis Liit, 1963 - a star, er, actress was born. Impressive start, easily cries on cue, rewarded by the FAMAS for best child actress. She had a movie with Gloria Romero and Rita Gomez in Anak, Ang Iyong Ina.

2. Larawan ng Pag-ibig, teleserye, 1963 - on ABS-CBN. She's the original TV drama princess. Buckets of tears, the familiar high- strung acting, but forgiveable, she's just a kid, please. Were there TV household ratings in 1963? The show was a hit, Larawan the movie had to be done. The little brown girl from Iriga, Nora Villamayor, was a big Vilma fan.

3. Sa Bawa't Pintig ng Puso, 1964 - Vilma, the junior actress, no longer a child, not yet a woman, found her niche in the adult drama troika of Marlene Dauden, Lolita Rodriguez, and Eddie Rodriguez as the proverbial daughter caught in the menage a trois. Good company of dramatic greats. Boring and unchallenging role of a good daughter in forgettable tearjerkers followed: Iginuhit ng Tadhana, De Colores, Kasalanan Kaya? and Sino Ang May Karapatan? (1968).

4. Dekada '70. The Nora Aunor phenomenon reduced the non-singer, middle-class crowd pleaser Vilma to only the Superstar's shadow. And the battle for the gullible fans' imagination and support has began. It's Nora all the way. Music, TV, radio. No contest. Vilma tried to sing, to dance and act her way but she's miles behind the superstar.

5. And God Smiled at Me vs. Dama De Noche, 1972 - a German Moreno- directed escapist fare vs. a dual-role directed flick by Emmanuel Borlaza at the QC FF. Nora's first best actress award, Vilma's first of many defeats vs. La Aunor in the acting field. Nora's role was simple, she was playing herself. Vilma's dual role had degree of difficulty. She had a breakdown scene, with the camera showing a close up of Vilma crying and laughing all at once - the "luka-luka role." Many fans and critics disagreed with the verdict. Come 1973 FAMAS awards, Vilma had her vengeance. She won over Nora, but she shared the award with Boots Anson-Roa. It's not a complete victory.

6. More escapist films. Trilogy thrillers like Takbo, Vilma, Dali and Hatinggabi Na Vilma did not prove anything new. It's Vilma Santos playing Vilma Santos. Nora was more serious and ambitious with Paru- parong Itim. She was always ahead of Vilma. She had the killer instinct. A natural, intuitive actor to Vilma's "intelligent" acting - the method acting. Then came Lipad, Darna, Lipad and the "other" Box Office Queen was born. Forget artistic films. Nora had to reclaim the throne. There was Super Gee. Vilma fought back with Wonder Vi, more Darna movies, even the forgettable Vivian Volta. It was Tit for Tat.

While Vilma was busy playing Darna et al, Nora was working with two National Artist directors, Lamberto Avellana and Gerry de Leon in Fe, Esperanza, Caridad and again with Gerry de Leon in the Ifugao epic, Banaue.

7. Those Nora Aunor Eyes. The Hilda Koronel challenge. In Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo and Insiang, Nora and Hilda duked it out at the 1976 MMFF for best actress. Hilda won over Nora. The critics hailed the new 2 Dramatic Queens. And there was the poor third-placer Vilma playing Vilma ad infinitum in escapist fares. Time to regroup.

The 1976 filmfest will forever be remembered for giving us Nora Aunor in Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo, Hilda Koronel in Insiang, and Christopher de Leon in Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon. All classic movies. Vilma's entry? Anyone remember Makahiya at Talahib?

8. Burlesk Queen, 1977 - in this film, Vilma proved she was ready for the big league: to be called an A-1 actress. It was a new Vilma, bold, daring, different. To hell with Miss Goody Two Shoes-image. Shocked and awed, the critics and the fans embraced Vilma, the Actress. She won the trophy for Best Actress, her first of 3 MMFF's. (She had a MFF trophy in 1993 for Dolzura Cortez Story). Who would forget her "abortion scene" as she gyrated and bled almost to death?. She was also good in her scene with her dying father (Leopoldo Salcedo). The critics took a second look at Ate Vi. But no, she was not yet in the league of Nora, Hilda, Lolita et al. There was still something missing.

9. The Battle Royale. Let the Acting Duel Begin. In 1978, there were Ikaw Ay Akin (Nora, Vilma, Christopher), Atsay (Nora) and Rubia Servios (Vilma). In the "eye-to-eye" dialogue of Nora and Vilma in Ikaw.. before the ending, Nora was superior to Vilma. But in her breakdown, pill popping, cigarette-puffing, angst-ridden scenes, Vilma was at her best. The Urian nominated the 2 deserving rivals for Best Actress. Of course, there was the Atsay and the rape victim contest at the MMFF. Nora and Vilma, as per the Manunuri movie anthology book were equally good in their roles, but again, Nora prevailed, with the Best Performer award. Ms. Santos was crushed. She had some re-grouping to do. She was humble in defeat as well in victory. She didn't give up. She would try harder next time. She is only second best, remember?

10. The early 80's belonged to Vilma. While she stuck with Ishmael Bernal, Nora was Lino Brocka's new protege. Mr. Brocka was so awed with Nora in Ina Ka ng Anak Mo, he cursed: "Ang galing ng p... niya!" The critics agreed. She received her 2nd. of 7 MMFF best actress trophies, tying with Ms. Rodriguez for said movie

Vilma tried to match the team-up of Nora & Lolita Rodriguez with Modelong Tanso, Vilma & Charito Solis. Not even close...

CONTINUATION (VILMA'S GROWTH AS AN A-1 ACTRESS --SEE ABOVE).

10. The 80's belonged to Vilma. Nora would rule the Metro Manila Filmfest (7 trophies), (Vilma has 4), but Vilma did better at the box- office nationwide with record-breaking commercial and artistic hits, from Sinasamba Kita to Saan Nagtatago Ang Pag-Ibig, et al. In 1983, she made history for scoring the real Best Actress Grand Slam for Relasyon. Even the critics were awed by her wide range of acting prowess. Thus, she won three Urian trophies three years in a row for 3 diparate roles: Relasyon (mistress), Broken Marriage (independent housewife)and Sister Stella L (activist-nun). Her other noteworthy scenes: slapping incident with Gloria Romero, and bursting into hysterical,albeit triumphant laughter in Kapag Langit ang Humatol. Brilliant in Tagos ng Dugo, esp. her breakdown scene after a murder spree: "Hindi ko sinasadya, hindo ko sinasadya." Guilt, remorse, helplessness all at once. Superb! FAMAS deservedly gave her her 4th. statuette. (She eventually won her 5th. FAMAS for Ibulong Mo sa Diyos, for her first role as a blind person, elevating her to the FAMAS HAll of Fame, years ahead of Nora, who would have her turn of course). In Sinungaling Mong Puso (with Aga Muhlach), while in a car, nervously smoking and anxious, and a flat, worried affect, after breaking up w/ Aga. In Pahiram ng Isang Umaga, as a cancer patient, a new Vilma has again revealed her range: her first, real, restrained turn, beginning with the scene where the doctor revealed she has malignant brain tumor, to her death scene at the beach. Urian gave her her 4th. trophy.

For us Noranians, Nora is the first Grand Slam winner, winning Best Actress from Urian and Famas in 1976. I know, you must win at least 4 awards in the same year before you can call it a grand slam win. But what can you do, there were only two award giving bodies in 1976, Famas and Urian - on its first year at that.

Nora became a Famas Hall of Famer in 1991, just two years later than Vilma. Again, what can you do, Nora gave us masterpieces like Bona and Himala in the early 80's, and Famas just ignored them.

11. The 90's - it's still Nora vs. Vilma, but on a higher level. Nora almost scored a real Grand Slam for Andrea..but Vilma spoiled it by beating her at the Urian (Vilma's 5th. Urian) for Ipagpatawad Mo, another restrained, brilliant turn as a mother of an autistic child. Her best scene was when she confronted Christopher De Leon on why he is embarrassed of their autistic son without the usual hysteria of Broken Marriage or Relasyon.

Nora is a Grand Slam winner for Andrea, winning Famas, Urian, Star and FAP. It was the following year that Vilma beat Nora in Urian, Ipagpatawad Mo vs Pacita M.

In Dolzura Cortez Story, Vilma as an AIDS victim scored her 2nd. Real GS, including her 6th. Urian. Nora Aunor did better than Vilma by scoring her 1st. GS in The Flor Contemplacion Story, and her 1st. International trophy (Cairo), followed her finest performance (next to Himala) in Bakit May Kahapon Pa, leading to her 2nd. international trophy (Penang). Vilma answered back with another tour de force performance and 3rd. GS via Bata, Bata, and her 1st. International award (Brussells). So who wins?

Nora flirted with international success as early as 1981 with Bona in Cannes and 1983 with Himala in Berlin and it must be noted here, she almost won the Best Actress award losing only by a point.

12. Dekada 70 - If Vilma wins in the Urian, it will be her 4th. Grand Slam victory and her record 8th. Gawad Urian, the winningest actress in Urian history. The role was originally offered to Nora but as fate would have it, Vilma was born to be Amanda Bartolome. The critics were unanimous in saying that this is one of Vilma's best in years. Brilliant! Pooh-pooh to the MMFF. Can Nora be far behind? Let's wait and see.

Nora has 6 Urian Best Actress Awards and she is still the most nominated actress for an Urian Best Actress Award according to an article by Butch Francisco.