Alfred Vargas enters the restaurant, clad in white tee and jeans and acknowledges me with a nod and a smile. At five feet ten inches, wonderfully packed at 165 pounds, olive-skinned, and Pinoy na Pinoy, he is definite head-turner.

As he walks towards me, the world seems to stop and everything turns into a blur. When he reaches out to shake my hand, the sudden jolt of electricity zaps me back to reality. I gather my composure as he takes his seat.

This, after all, was the guy who stripped down to his (Walker) briefs in a recently-released coffee table book by the underwear brand Alfred endorses. Moreover, Alfred doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’d turn out the way he did—a proudly single, 100% alpha male Blue Eagle. From elementary until completing his AB Economics Management course, Alfred spent his entire school life in the patrician halls of Ateneo de Manila. Needless to say, unlike most of those who graduate from the school, Alfred chose the path least taken.

He became part of Star Circle Batch 10 in 2001 and was handpicked from that pack to be part of the most popular soap opera at that time, Pangako Sa Iyo, which starred the former real life sweethearts, Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa

Trip-trip

“I was doing theater with Tanghalang Ateneo before so medyo sanay na ang parents ko na ako ay nag-a-act. At first they were surprised because originally I wanted to go to law school kasi my mom is a lawyer. My best friend, (model) Robby Mananquil prodded me to audition for Star Circle. Trip-trip lang nang una, and I had a deal with my parents na payag sila for as long as I finish my studies. I was in my senior year when I did Pangako. I was juggling deadlines and all sorts of academic papers and requirements while doing it and thank God, naka-graduate naman ako.”

But there was more to showbiz than overlapping schedules. “My parents’ naman, for as long as wala naman akong masaktan na tao saka, I don’t do things that I might regret. And that I don’t fall into the pitfalls of showbiz, supportive sila all the way. It also helps that they give me great advice. Kasi ang family mo talaga ang nagbibigay ng values mo.”

So, how did his friends react to his fame? “To my surprise, sobrang instant ng reaction! Noong debut ko as an actor on television sa Pangako, the following day, yung mga friends ko, sabi sa akin, ‘Napanood kita, ah!’ During that time kasi it was the highest rating soap. Nagulat ako sa positive response. Honestly, I never really knew that I know how to act...kaya cool lang ako with all the attention and notices that I was getting.”

Everything went Pfft

But doesn’t it all get to one’s head? “One thing good about being in showbiz is that it made me more grounded. Yun ang effect niya sa akin. You know why? You get to realize kasi na as time passes by, alam mo na may magaling sa iyo, na better-looking, who are willing to do things that you cannot do, and who are luckier kahit na walang talent. You realize those things along the way and at the end of the day, I get a reality check na I’m still vulnerable and that tomorrow, I may not be popular anymore. Those realizations have truly humbled me. Knowing na kahit gaano kasikat, pwedeng mawala sa iyo ang lahat. ”

His rise with Pangako was almost instantaneous and in spite of his level-headedness and his humble view of fame, he was unprepared for his sheer drop following the soap’s extended run. From being one of the most recognizable faces on TV, Alfred transitioned to…nothing. He simply didn’t have a follow-up project.

“I don’t know what happened that time,” he relates sadly. “I analyzed that situation to the hilt already. Feeling ko that time, na-freeze ako. Sobrang nasayang yung mga opportunities. Everything went pfft. I was so depressed that time. During that lull, I went backpacking sa States, mga two months. Nature tripping, soul searching, nag-iisa lang. That trip taught me a lot of things, especially patience. It made me a better person. It made me more confident. I learned to accept who people really are. When I was backpacking, every one was just so open. Every one was just seizing the day and life.”

Gamble paid off

Alfred soon had the chance to seize his own day. Serendipity had him walking down Tomas Morato Avenue when Seiko Films head honcho Robbie Tan and award-winning director Jeffrey Jeturian spotted him. They were in the restaurant Friday’s and were in the process of casting the box office and critical hit, Bridal Shower. “They saw me, and they told themselves, ‘Wow, okay ang dating nito, parang artista.’ They didn’t even know na artista pala ako.”

Robbie was unsure of Robbie’s offer to star in his new movie. “It was a very hard decision for me because director Jeffrey told me the exact scenes of the movie. Na I had to wear thongs. Na I will have a bed scene with Cherry Pie (Picache). Na sex comedy ito. There were so many factors to consider like my parents, siempre, Ateneo, yung wholesome image. And then it dawned upon me na, wait, ba’t ako mag-iinarte eh I have nothing to lose naman. Wala naman akong career that time. So sabi ko sa sarili ko, gawin ko na.”

His gamble paid off. Bridal Shower eventually screened in two international festivals and earned Alfred an acting award, the first Golden Screen Awards’ nod for his Breakthrough Performance by an Actor. He also received several supporting actor nominations from the Metro Manila Film Festival, Star Awards and the elite critic’s award, the URIAN.

A Li'l respect

Nowadays, his career is under the care of the one and only Lolit Solis and to say that it is in full swing is an understatement. He was Aquil, the loyal warrior in the Encantadia trilogy. In the top-rating I LUV NY, he is Seb, the rich hunk who acts as a foil to Mark Herras’ Baste. He is also starring in two movies, one with the legendary national artist for film Eddie Romero and the other a light comedy romance under the helm of Joey Reyes.

And then there’s the buzz on his sexy new book. So okay lang ba for him to be objectified? “It’s their choice on how they want to see me,” he says. “Okay lang naman kung malibugan sila sa akin.” He smiles sheepishly and continues, “All I want from them is respect. In time, the audience will see me less as beefcake and appreciate the fact that I’m working really hard to become a versatile, dramatic actor.”

As for his hunk image, he chuckles. “Siguro, it’s the Scorpio in me. I was born October 24.”

And yet there’s something about Alfred Vargas that goes beyond his sheer animal magnetism. He conveyed a genuine kindness that did more for my heart than the brilliance of his physicality.