MANILA, Philippines - Alco Guerrero, director of the upcoming TV special for ABS-CBN, titled Vilma: A Woman For All Seasons starring Batangas City Gov. Vilma Santos, loves to tell this story about Vi: “Vilma Santos made me a director before I even knew I was one. As a teen in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, I tagged along with Mom (referring to Chit Guerrero, special projects director for ABS-CBN) for a number of Vilma shows (which Chit used to produce for another channel) in the US. With the family handycam around my neck and Vilma Santos right in front of me, I did what any starstruck teen would do — I pointed shot. I followed her everywhere, shot everything, and later on back at home, mom and her staff saw that the footage was good enough to air as behind the scene footage for the Vilma episodes of the US shows.”
For the job, teenage director Alco was paid a pair of nice leather shoes.
Two decades later, the shoes, he revealed, are still with him. And the job.
But with a great difference now.
His mind’s handicap still hangs around his neck. But now, behind him is a decent career as director that started 10 years ago, one that has seen him headed such projects as U Can Dance Version 2, KC in Paris, Sharon, The Mega Story, Globe Telecom’s Iphone Launch and spiels for Maalaala Mo Kaya.
Alco admitted that when he saw Vi right in front of him, as he directed her in the five episodes of Vilma: A Woman for All Seasons, he still felt starstruck.
The special will premiere Aug. 1 and every Saturday (Aug. 8, 15, 22 and 29), henceforth.
Alco started working for ABS-CBN since year 2000. He was a writer of Martin Late @ Nite. He has been the director of the bi-annual Araw Values Awards for the advertising industry.
He has also been helming the Gawad Geny Lopez Bayaning Pilipino awards as well as a number of advertiser-related TV materials, including that of Globe Telecoms, J&J and Clear.