Actor-politician Alfred Vargas is proud of his recent victory at the FAMAS awards, where he won Best Actor for his performance in “Pieta.” He shared the award with Piolo Pascual, who won for his performance in “Mallari.”
Despite the controversies surrounding the 72nd Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards held on May 26 at the Manila Hotel, the Quezon City councilor slept well that night. He even admitted to hugging his trophy as he went to sleep. The award was not only a validation of his acting prowess but also a victory for “Pieta,” which he produced.
During a thanksgiving event with the press at SuperSam on Sct. Tobias in Quezon City, Alfred expressed his pride in winning, especially considering the stiff competition from acting heavyweights like Dingdong Dantes, Alden Richards, Piolo Pascual, Cedric Juan, and Ken Chan. He described the victory as a surprise, sharing his thoughts with Jun Nardo of Marites University.
“Honestly, that night, I noticed all the nominees were present. Usually, only the winner attends the awards night, right? When Christopher de Leon announced there was a tie, I thought, ‘Uy, 33.33% may chance ako.’ I calculated it and realized my chances increased.
And even more so when my name was called first,” he recalled.
Before his name was announced, Alfred was already thinking about what to caption on Facebook to congratulate the winner. “Tanggap ko na. Hangga’t wala sa ‘yo, anything can happen.”
When asked about being tied for Best Actor with Piolo Pascual, Alfred responded, “Si Piolo, grand slam best actor ‘yun. Perennial best actor winner naman siya. Even during my Star Center days, he was already highly regarded. Idol ko rin siya nun kasi magaling. I’m honored to be tied with him. All the nominees are excellent. I’m happy that our simple and small film was noticed.”
Addressing the rumors he paid for the award, Alfred was emphatic. “Unang-una, hindi po totoo ‘yun. Pangalawa, sa lahat po ng nakapanood ng ‘Pieta,’ malalaman nyo [bakit ako nanalo]. So, manood po kayo ng ‘Pieta’,” he said.
Alfred considers “Pieta” one of his top three best movies of all time. The film features National Artist Nora Aunor, much-awarded actress-director Gina Alajar, and the late renowned actress Jaclyn Jose. He said the film is a tough act to follow, which is why he has yet to start a follow-up project.
He regards all three actresses – Nora, Gina, and Jaclyn – as inspirations. He felt the “Nora magic” upon meeting the FAMAS Hall of Famer, noting the expressive eyes of Nora, regarded as the country’s superstar. Direk Gina, he said, served as both his co-actor and acting coach. The late Jaclyn, whom he described as his guardian angel, gave him valuable advice during an emotional scene, telling him, “Damhin na lang natin.”
In honor of his co-stars, Alfred plans to tour “Pieta” instead of releasing it on streaming platforms. This is also a way to cater to the Noranians who miss seeing their idol on the big screen.
“Pieta” is by director Adolf Alix and written by Jerry Gracio.
While considering several movie offers, Alfred intends to focus on public service and his upcoming show on GMA, the inspirational series “Forever Young” with Nadine Samonte and Euwenn Mikael.
