Inside: Alfred Vargas

He’s twentysomething and fancy-free.

A tip for the ladies (and other, ehem, "predators"): The best way to Alfred Vargas’ (elusive?) heart is through his... stomach?

Guess again.

He’s voracious, all right, not as eater but as reader. He’s a happy combination of a sound mind and a sound body. The "body part" was for sure what prompted Walker to enlist him as its new endorser.

That body was showcased in Seiko Films’ 2003 Metro Filmfest entry, Bridal Shower, his first movie, where he played – what else? – a Body-to-Die For. He played an almost similar role in his second movie, also from Seiko, Bikini Open. Both were directed by Jeffrey Jeturian.

If you want to check if the guy can act, tune in to the GMA 7 shows Encantadia and Daisy Siete, where he’s a regular member of the cast.

Reminder: Last year, Alfred was cited for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor by the Golden Screen Awards and nominated for Best Supporting Actor (for Bridal Shower) by the Urian Awards. At the recent 55th anniversary celebration of GMA, he was the televiewers’ choice as Sexiest Male Idol.

Did somebody (a filthy-rich guy or a bored, equally filthy-rich matron?) really make a P1-million "indecent proposal"to him?

"No comment," blushed Alfred.

So what else do you want to know about this Management/Economics graduate from Ateneo who started his career at ABS-CBN and hopped ober da bakod to, well, "enemy territory"?

Here’s Alfred Vargas inside-out:

• Who

1. Who is your role model?

"My mother, lawyer Susana Dumlao. Why? Because she has been my constant example of integrity and hard work. She is a person who stands for what is right. Am I a Mama’s Boy? Yeah. But I think I’m just being malambing to my mom. Am I an only child? No, I am the third of four children.

2. Who was your first love?

"I won’t mention her name. I was in grade 7 then at Ateneo, a young eaglet. It was puppy love that lasted for one month. How did we break up? We just stopped seeing each other. I guess we were much too young then."

3. Who is the most important person in your life?

"One person lang? My entire family, starting with my father, Alfredo Vargas Jr., my mom, my sisters Vanessa and Veronica and my young brother Patrick. We are closely-knit family."

4. Who is your favorite fantasy?

"Nicole Kidman. For me, she is the ideal woman."

5. Who is your best friend?

"Joaquin Ancheta. He’s not from showbiz. He’s my college buddy. We have known each other since grade 7."

• What

1. What are your pet peeves?

"Plastic people. Can I tell if someone is plastic? Yes, of course! It’s easy to tell. Also backstabbers."

2. What is your ideal girl?

"One who is charming and simple. Do I have a girlfriend? Wala pa."

3. What makes you mad?

"Procrastination by whoever, even myself. And also stupidity. Liars. When Ateneo loses to La Salle in the games, it makes me mad."

4. What do you like most about yourself and what do you hate most about yourself?

"What I like about myself is my perseverance and my fighting spirit. What I don’t like about myself is my being suspicious. I’m very cautious. I don’t trust people easily."

5. What is your greatest fear?

"Failure in my career and life in general. But failure encourages me to do my best. Thus, it also serves as an inspiration."

• Where

1. Where are you most comfortable?

"In my room, especially on my bed. My room has everything I need. Beside my bed are the books that I’m trying to finish reading. What was the last book that I read? To Live by Liu Hua.

2. Where do you go to unwind?

"Out of town; I go back-packing. One time I did it in Europe and it was fun. Next time, I think I’ll go to Banaue."

3. Where in the world do you want to be aside from the Philippines?

"Italy, either in Venice or Florence. Why? Because I heard it’s one of the best back-packing places in the world where people are very nice and friendly. Also, I read that there are so much to see in those places. It has a rich culture daw."

4. Where is your Achilles’ heel?

"My eyes. When I’m tired, they hurt."

5. Where do you think you will go after showbiz (that will be long from now)?

"Maybe I will be in business, my own business. Eventually, I want to go into farming. I want to be a farmer."

• When

1. When are you happiest?

"When I’m in love and when I’m in triumph. I’m not in love now, but I feel triumphant in my career."

2. When are you saddest?

"When I am idle. I think I am a workaholic."

3. When do you feel insecure?

"When my body is out of shape."

4. When are you most at peace?

"At night, right before I sleep… When all work is done."

5. When did you realize that you could act?

"When I was a college freshman at the Ateneo. How? When I was doing a school play, as the lead role. That was when I realized I could act and I wanted to act.

• How

1. How were you discovered for showbiz?

"I auditioned for the Star Circle of the ABS-CBN Talent Center. Fortunately, I passed and that’s how it all started. I was with Star Circle Batch 10, late October of 2001."

2. How do you handle money?

"Everything is planned. A certain percentage of my earnings goes to my savings, a certain percentage goes to household contributions and a certain percentage goes to my allowance."

3. How did you get that nice body?

"I work out religiously. I go to the gym only twice a week now because I’m busy with work. Otherwise, I work out five times a week. I also observe balanced diet and I try to get as much sleep as I can. I take as much liquid as I can. I don’t take hard drinks; I’m a social drinker. I don’t take drugs. I’ve stopped smoking several years ago. I’m clean-living."

4. How did you lose your innocence?

"Have I?"

5. How do you pray?

"I have a personal way of praying. I pray anywhere… on my way to work, in the car, before I sleep, before I eat, on the set, anywhere! How do I pray? I say the regular prayers first, then I talk to God directly, through my heart. What do I usually pray for? To thank God but never to ask for more. I also pray for wisdom and strength."

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