Why they can’t throw ‘mud’ at Alfred

After three terms as councilor, Alfred Vargas is running for congressman in the newly-declared fifth district of Quezon City (along with the sixth district), confident that his opponents can’t throw “mud” at him. Fifth District covers Novaliches and Fairview where live such celebrities as Robin Padilla and his wife Mariel Rodriguez, Lolit Solis (and her 50 dogs), Johnny Revilla and Janet Basco with their children, Bulletin’s Crispina Belen, Baron Geisler, TV5 executive Wilma Galvante and others.

Reminded by his friend movie writer that his opponents might unearth his sexy photos as Walker Briefs endorser and use them against him, Alfred only laughed. You see, that same “naked” strategy was used against Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno (former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s running-mate in this May’s elections) when he first entered politics but instead of working against Isko it boomeranged on the perpetrators.

“Did you know that that Walker posters served as the bridge between me and my future wife?” asked Alfred who is currently on leave from showbiz while he’s busy with the campaign.

His wife Yasmine, said to be a deadringer for Marian Rivera, is half-Italian and half-Filipino who turned out to be an Alfred fan who hung that Walker poster on her bedroom wall, presumably dreaming of someday meeting her idol in the flesh. She finally did when Alfred had a show in a town in Laguna where Yasmine was staying with relatives.

“She stood out in the crowd,” recalled Alfred, “kasi ang puti-puti niya at ang ganda-ganda niya. I fell in love with her at first sight.”

The made-in-heaven romance led to the altar. Now, Alfred and Yasmine are parents of two beautiful children, Alexandra and Aryana, and more are sure to come…maybe after the elections?

Alfred can enlist Yasmine as his “secret weapon” like politicians with beautiful wives usually do, but he’d rather not because Yasmine is so shy and so private, like the makahiya flower that slowly closes at the slightest touch.

“I don’t have to resort to dirty tactics either,” said Alfred. “Mas maganda ang positive approach and let your performance speak for you.”

One thing that should work in Alfred’s favor is his latest film, Ang Supremo, which chronicles the heroism of Gat. Andres Bonifacio which Alfred himself is portraying. The movie is being shown for free in some schools where Alfred makes a personal appearance to answer questions from students.

When the movie had a special screening at a big theater, Alfred had it closed to protect his mother, lawyer Ching Vargas, who is suffering from third-stage cancer and had just undergone chemotherapy at that time.

“She came wearing a mask,” said Alfred. “I really wanted her to enjoy the movie sa big screen, so I requested the theater to be closed to protect her from infection.”

He’s also a staunch supporter of the city ordinance pushed by German “Kuya Germs” Moreno whose obsession is to make Quezon City “A City of Stars” because that’s where most stars live and where all the TV networks are located. All that’s needed is for the ordinance to be implemented. (It’s also Kuya Germs who’s the creator of Walk of Fame in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City, where stars are immortalized like that of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.)

“Sana nga we can set aside one day to celebrate Q.C. as The City of Stars maybe at the Quezon City Memorial Circle,” Alfred added. “There should be stage shows and the city government can ask the cooperation of the networks to devote a portion of their shows to the star residents of the city.”

Running with Q.C. Mayor Herbert Bautista (said to be unopposed) and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte under the Liberal Party, Alfred won “by a landslide” the three times he ran for councilor and he said that he hoped to be in a better position to serve the residents in gratitude for their continued support.

Alfred and Councilor Roderick Paulate (who’s running for reelection in another Q.C. district) are members of the city’s film commission, so they are behind Vice Mayor Joy’s plan to revive the Quezon City Film festival (in which Vilma Santos won her first Best Actress award [for Dalawang Mukha ni Rosa Vilma] in a tie with Boots Anson-Roa in the city’s filmfest in 1972).

“We really hope that the filmfest will be revived to add more color to the city as City of Stars,” assured Alfred.

A Management & Economics graduate from Ateneo and currently taking up Public Administration in UP, Alfred has been using his degree in the management of his businesses including three Elorde Boxing Gyms in different parts of Quezon City. He has two houses in the city’s fifth district.

“All that I have are fruits of hard work,” stressed Alfred, in effect nipping in the bud any attempt of his opponents to make false accusations. “I’ve been in showbiz for more than 10 years at okey naman ang mga negosyo ko. Everything that I have and I own ay pinaghirapan ko.”

That’s why he can never and will never turn his back on showbiz just like Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, and Congresswomen Lucy Torres and Lani Mercado who are serving two “masters” very well.

“Showbiz is my bread and butter,” said Alfred. “It’s through showbiz na nakilala ako ng mga tao, especially my fellow Quezon City residents. I owe showbiz a lot.”

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