Batangas Governor and Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos revealed that her son Luis Manzano was not the original choice to play the role of John Lloyd’s gay partner in the forthcoming Star Cinema flick, “In My Life.”

“I think (Star Cinema managing director) Malou Santos and Inang (director Olivia Lamasan) thought of Lucky when they saw the ‘chemistry’ between him and John while the two were bantering on ‘ASAP’ or ‘E-Live,’” said Vilma in Filipino during the “In My Life” press conference held Aug. 25 at the Dolphy Theater inside the ABS-CBN building.

Vilma added that when the idea of working with Luis was floated to her, she could only exclaim, “Oh my God, why not?!?”

"Pero hindi po ako nakialam sa negosasyon kasi ayokong pangunahan yung anak ko,” she explained.

“At kung ano ang makikita n'yo dito (sa pelikula) kay Lucky -- when it comes to kung paano niya dineliver yung kanyang character, yung acting na kanyang ibinigay -- wala po akong kinalaman diyan. Hindi po ako nagpaka-stage mother.” 

When asked how she felt seeing Luis kissing John Lloyd in one of the scenes during the shooting, Vilma could not give a comment.

“(E, kasi) pagka yun na yata ang kukunan, pina-pack up na ako ni Direk. Ang nakikita ko na lang, picture!” she exclaimed.

Turning serious, Vilma said that it wouldn’t have mattered to her even if she saw the kissing scene firsthand because she knows it is all part of the job.

"Besides, as an artist, this (the gay role) is a challenge for my son, a (real) opportunity (for him),” she said.

But does Vilma worry that people might think Luis is gay in real life?

“No! Secure ako sa (masculinity ng) anak ko,” she said. “So, kung tutuksuhin siya, sasabihan siyang gay, I don't think so. I know my son (kaya) hindi naging isyu sa akin yung (role niya).

“(And even if) magkaroon (ako) ng gay son, balewala sa akin yon. Kung paano yung pagmamahal, pag-aalaga, respeto sa isang masasabi nating normal na anak, at halimbawang magkaroon ako ng anak na gay, it doesn't matter. Dahil whether gay siya o hindi, anak ko pa rin siya at sa akin siya nanggaling."

Written by Senedy Que and Raymond Lee, “In My Life” took five years to finish because Vilma had to put the project on hold after she won as Batangas governor so she could concentrate on her political career.

In the movie, Vilma plays the role of a librarian named Shirley who suddenly decided to live in New York with her gay son and his partner.

“Yung character ko dito, lihis na lihis sa totoo kong character sa buhay. Kasi siya rito, parang ang feeling niya, hindi siya mahal. Cold siya sa pagse-share ng pagmamahal. Laging may iniisip na negatibo. Parang ang feeling niya, hindi siya mahal ng tao, hindi siya mahal ng pamilya niya, which is kabaligtaran naman sa totoo kong buhay. Very challenging ito (para sa akin) kasi lahat puro kabaligtaran," she said.

Other stars in the cast of “In My Life” are Rafael Rosell, Nikki Valdez, Dimples Romana, Arnold Reyes, Paw Diaz, Vice Ganda, and Tirso Cruz III.

“In My Life” will open in theaters on Sept. 16.