Alfred Vargas plans to keep on acting well into his 60s
Alfred Vargas has been acting since the early 2000s. An actor who has always believed in the showbiz maxim "There are no small roles only small actors," he's practically done the whole nine yards. He has appeared on TV (morning, afternoon, primetime), on the big screen, and even in the indie circuit. He has tried drama, sexy, comedy, fantasy, and a little bit of action. He has done lead, support, cameo. He has experienced being in front of the camera, behind the camera, in the producer's chair.
Currently, he's part of the GMA afternoon series Unica Hija, where he plays Christian Sebastian, the genius doctor who successfully makes a clone out of his dead daughter. Come 2023, he will also be seen in AraBella, the Kapuso drama series that will have Camille Prats, Shayne Sava, and Althea Ablan as the lead stars.
Alfred, who is an incumbent Quezon City Councilor, loves acting and public service in equal parts. But he knows that there will come a time that he has to give up one over the other.
"When the time comes that I feel that I have given everything I've got to the Filipino people and have made a real difference in their lives, that's the time I can say I can proudly leave politics with a legacy. But definitely, I'll still serve in other ways after that."
If he can have things his way (and if showbiz continue to be kind to him), Alfred hopes to keep acting well into his 60s.
"Loving what you do means you are willing to commit to hard work and dedicate your life to it. I have dedicated my life to public service and have sacrificed so much for it. No regrets at all. I love serving so much. Acting is my first love. I'll probably be doing it until I become a senior citizen. It's my passion."
Aside from the show Unica Hija and AraBella, Alfred has been busy with district-level projects, among which is the long running Mula Sinapupunan Hanggang Himlayan (From Womb to Tomb) Program, which gives prenatal care, scholarship, livelihood, medical, and burial assistance to his constituents. He's also started a basketball tournament for the youth in his district.
"Yes, aside from our established program of Womb to Tomb services, we recently launched 'NBA: Novaliches Basketball League,' which is a district-wide championship basketball tournament."
In case you didn't know, his Womb to Tomb program has benefited 15,000 scholars, 25,000 livelihood assistance beneficiaries, and more than 30,000 individuals in need of medical assistance.
With all the things on his plate, one couldn't help wondering how Alfred can attend to his responsibilities and commitments.
The actor and movie producer takes pride in that he has developed good time management skills. He says that the best way to accomplish all your tasks, no matter how many they are, is to stick to the schedule that you set yourself. Having an efficient staff has been a big help for him, too.
"I still have time for myself, my family, and my constituents," he says. "Throughout the years, I have mastered time management already. I schedule everything in advance, including all my personal time. I believe in checklists. I am blessed with competent and dedicated staff who make my work a lot easier."
Indeed, there's time for work and there's time for family. And when the boundaries between the two are clearly defined, it's easier to lead a well-balanced life, without having to sacrifice one over the other.
Just last month, Alfred managed to celebrate his 43rd birthday. Like his previous birthdays, Alfred went about his day updating his constituents about his office's achievements and plans, and having lunch with them. Later in the day, he took his family to their favorite restaurant for a simple and intimate dinner.
"I've had my birthday month celebration for the past 13 years where we implement projects for the people every day from October 1 to 31. It's my way of saying thank you to the people sharing my blessings to others.
"On the day itself, I celebrated it by reporting to my constituents our performance and achievements during our first 100 days in office. Then we had lunch together after.
"My family had a simple intimate dinner at our favorite Japanese resto in the evening. That's it."
And what was Alfred's birthday wish?
"To be able to continue to bring hope and inspiration to others so that together we can create positive change. To love wholly and unconditionally for the rest of my days."
At this stage of his life, Alfred is not asking for much. He's already got what he needs: a fulfilling career in public service, a stable career as an actor and a producer, and a supportive family who will always fill his days with joy and laughter.
"I will always grateful for family. For the opportunity to serve. The opportunity to lead. My talents."
At 43, he's realized that if he's got his priorities right and kept his circle tight, life wouldn't be so complicated. It's a meaningful lesson that took him many years to learn, but he's thankful nonetheless for learning to apply it in his life as a father and a public servant.
"Life is about meaningful relationships," he said. "Choose to surround yourself with real and sincere people who share your values and principles.
"Don't waste your time with people who are insecure, selfish, liars, and narcissistic."
CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS OF ALFRED'S BEAUTIFUL FAMILY IN THIS GALLERY: