Around GMA

LIVE - Simbang Gabi (December 20, 2025) | GMA Integrated News
28-anyos nga Lalaki, Gipusil sa Brgy. Calamba, Cebu City | Balitang Bisdak

Article Inside Page

Showbiz News

In this second part of our exclusive interview, Aflred talks about acting for the first time, investing in businesses, and his ex-girlfriend LJ Reyes.
Alfred Vargas got even hunkier in iGMA’s eyes after we talked to him. Because aside from those six-pack abs (which we assume he has), we found out that he actually has an equally appealing brain to match. In this second part of our interview, he talks about acting for the first time, investing in businesses, and his ex-girlfriend LJ Reyes. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Promo photos courtesy of GMA Network. For Part 1 of the article, click the link! Hey, I can act! Although Alfred is concentrating on his acting right now, he says he might venture into singing in the future and put his guitar skills to use. “My favorite music that I want to listen to is alternative. I like Incubus, Dave Matthews, and Maroon 5. Pero I would like to sing OPM – mga banda, such as Sponge Cola.” “Si Yael (Yuzon) is my friend,” Alfred says of the local band’s vocalist. “Si Yan (Yuzon), utol ni Yael, was my buddy-buddy in Tanghalang Ateneo (TA). Two batches higher sa akin si Yan (who’s part of the band Pupil). Sila ‘yung mga nagturo sa akin mag-act, kami-kami nina (Dr.) Ricky Abad (Artistic Director of TA and the Metropolitan Theater Guild Asia).” As Alfred mentioned, he was trained in theater. But take note that he never realized his talent in acting until his sophomore year in Ateneo De Manila, during a class play. “Nag-monologue ako for the last scene. Wala lang, no experience pa ako whatsoever. After the monologue, I saw two girls crying! Sabi ko, ‘Wow! Astig ito!’ That’s how you can communicate pala. That’s how powerful it is. Before everything, I was all set to go to law school. Pero dito na (ako sa industry na ito).” Alfred finished the course Management Economics in Ateneo in 2002, and although some may think that where he is now is a far cry from what he took up in college, he begs to differ. “For example, Alfred Vargas, the persona. I treat it as a business. Marketing, finance. I myself am a business entity. I am my own product.” He flexes his muscles and looks at us with a laugh, “So kailangan kong mag-gym, kailangan kong pagandahin katawan ko...!” The real deal with LJ We just had to ask Alfred about his ex-girlfriend and StarStruck 2 First Princess LJ Reyes. “I’m vulnerable pa rin.’Yun ‘yung (question) na natatakot ako!” he exclaims with a laugh. He frankly shares, “I want to (get back with her), but it’s not as simple as that. There are other things we have to think about first, it’s not as easy as college puppy love, or high school puppy love.” Right now, Alfred isn’t really looking for another relationship, though he hopes that it’ll just come at the right time. And when the right time comes, what exactly is he looking for in a girl? “Wit and charm. Wit speaks for this,” Alfred explains, while touching his forehead. "Physically, gusto kong malinis tingnan, tapos mabango. Titingnan mo pa lang, mabango na. I said ‘charm,’ kasi it doesn’t necessarily mean na dapat maganda. You can be beautiful but not charming. Pero charming, you can be charming without being beautiful. It’s an X factor.” He hasn’t been in showbiz his whole life, but Alfred has already gotten used to the one harsh reality of the industry: the grapevine. “Surprisingly, I got used to it, and I think I’m immune na. I’ve received all sorts of gossips – all kinds! And nasty ones; good ones. It’s part of showbiz, and I’ve accepted that. And I think once you already have, okay na. Wala nang problema. And my manager naman is Lolit (Solis). If I cannot take it anymore, (there’s already a venue for clarifying it)!” Lolit Solis is one of the regular hosts of the Saturday entertainment show Startalk, now on its 12th year. The businessman in him “I have a business now – Vente, the ‘20 peso store.’ That’s ours. Actually, we started noong 2005 with one branch in Market! Market! Now we have 30 branches na!” He shares this business with his brother, sister, and two good pals from Ateneo. Another investment he made is “Barracks,” a bar-restaurant along Timog where he invested along with other celebrities such as Dennis Trillo, Katrina Halili, JC De Vera, Diana Zubiri, and Anjo Yllana. “‘Yun naman, the owners of Zirkoh, sina Allan K, they were really planning it na. So naghanap na lang sila ng investors. And since malakas naman ‘yung mga ventures nila, (I got interested).” Like anyone else, Alfred wants to have a backup in case showbiz isn’t for him in the long run. This is the reason why he invested in these businesses. “It’s weird, when I see my friends, they have kids already. They’re bank managers na, ‘yung mga ka-batch ko. So, am I immature for my age? Sometimes, I think of it, pero it’s not my plan. (I want to settle down when I’m) 30 to 32. For me, naka-map out na, (I’ll just) follow it, and pray to God that he gives the breaks I need.” Tune in to Impostora every weeknight to see more of Alfred! You can also text ALFRED to 4627 to ask him your personal questions, at 2.50 per message. Talk about Impostora in the iGMA forums!