Actor and former Quezon City congressman Alfred Vargas is widely admired for his remarkable acting talent and ability to balance his career with his passion for public service. Many also look up to him for being a model family man, never neglecting his wife and daughters despite his varied and multiple commitments.

Deservingly so, his steadfast ways in all aspects of his life have recently rewarded him both professionally and personally.

On May 26, Vargas won the Best Actor plum at the 72nd Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (Famas) Awards for his performance in 2023's intense family drama "Pieta," in a tie with Piolo Pascual for the horror film "Mallari." The remarkable win perfectly capped what has truly turned out to be a most memorable year, with the birth of his baby daughter, Aurora Sofia, on December 26, 2023.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, Vargas happily shared that these two momentous events have marked a period of deep fulfillment for him, setting him on a path of grateful reflection on his life.

Unexpected, bittersweet win

For Vargas, the mere experience of starring in the movie "Pieta" was already a triumph. In fact, it was a dream come true for the 44-year-old actor since the Adolf Alix Jr. obra finally allowed him to work with Philippine Entertainment's legendary superstar, Nora Aunor, along with two more of the industry's finest actresses, Gina Alajar and the late Jaclyn Jose.

Asked about his initial reaction when his name was called on as Best Actor on Famas night, Vargas replied, "It was really unexpected, but, of course, I was very happy."

Still seeming in disbelief, he admitted, "I thought I was dreaming! I mean, no less than Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon were the ones who announced it, so I was really overwhelmed."

Turning all the more emotional, he added, "It was a very special moment because it felt like, wow! Even if our film was so much smaller compared to all the others in competition that night, we got noticed.

"That's why I cannot be more grateful to Direk [director] Adolf, Ate Guy [Aunor's nickname], Direk Gina and Ms. Jaclyn — because I think Pieta was the last film she completed before she died — for agreeing to work on 'Pieta.' It's just all been overwhelming."

"Pieta" is a heart-wrenching mother-and-son narrative about an ex-convict who is reunited with his ailing mother when he is released from prison. Portraying this role as Isaac, Vargas is said to have delivered a performance that cemented his reputation as one of the Philippines' finest actors. The Famas win duly confirmed the reviews.

The Famas trophy is the latest addition to Vargas' collection of prestigious awards, most notable of which are his Best Actor recognitions for "Colorum" (2009) from the Cinemalaya Film Festival and "Supremo" (2012) at the 10th Golden Screen Awards, and "Tagpuan" (2020).

Even while he was on cloud nine at the Famas, Vargas admitted there was a side of him that also felt a certain sadness.

"When I got into the car, the drive from Manila Hotel to Novaliches, where I live — I could say it felt bittersweet. I was so happy, but at the same time, I also felt this loneliness because I missed my parents. I so wanted to hug them, show them my trophy and share the moment with them, but, of course, they're no longer here. "My mother succumbed to cancer in 2014, and my dad died a few years before in 2011 from multiple organ failure," the longing son disclosed.

"In my hand was the Famas trophy, and all I could think of was wanting to make them proud and wishing they were with me."

Getting misty-eyed, Vargas managed a slight chuckle to shake off the emotions and proceeded to talk about the humble celebration that followed his big night.

"The next day, I went to Mass, gave thanks and prayed. We went home for a simple celebration with my family, my brother [Representative PM Vargas of the fifth district of Quezon City] and his family, my manager of 21 years [Lolit Solis] and a few friends from the press.

"We all had dinner together — nothing extravagant. I just gathered everyone who helped me get to that moment."

Invaluable experience

Providing time in the interview to recall working on the film that served as his springboard for his latest acting accolade, Vargas described sharing the screen with showbiz luminaries like Aunor, Alajar, and Jose as an invaluable experience.

He told stories about how each of the renowned actresses brought their respective wealth of knowledge and utmost dedication to the project, which led him to enrich his performance and understand his craft all the more.

"On our second shooting day, I was with Ms. Nora Aunor in a mother-and-son scene, which was quite emotional. During the take, I was truly in awe of her incredible talent. Her presence as the character was so intense, and I could really feel it," he reminisced.

"Then, during our preview, Direk Adolf pulled me aside and said, 'Watch this.'" I knew right away why he wanted me to see it. Because while I was already blown away by Ate Guy on the set, seeing her on-screen was all the more compelling."

Asked about his relationship with Aunor and the other two acting greats, Vargas shared, "With Nora Aunor, she never made me feel like she's a Superstar. That's how she is; she makes you comfortable and her humility is really profound. She has no airs, and she's extremely humble."

As for lessons in acting, he cited, "I truly learned how to perform with honesty and sincerity from Ate Guy. Over time, during the shooting, we only had to look at each other and knew exactly how to approach a scene.

"With Gina Alajar, who was my acting coach in 'Tagpuan,' she was also just exceptional. We had many scenes together, and she is truly remarkable.

"She continues to guide me to this day, and when I won the Famas, she messaged me immediately and said, 'Congratulations Cong. We're happy for you because I know you worked hard to come up with a noteworthy performance."

Putting his phone down from reading Alajar's text message, Vargas went on to talk about his experience working with Jose, whose untimely demise from a heart attack only took place last March 2.

"As for Ms. Jaclyn, we had a significant scene towards the end, and we were all together there because the scene served as the culmination of the film. The blocking was very technical, and the execution of the scene was also technical — kudos to Direk Adolf for that, who often used single-camera setups.

"So again, the blocking was quite complicated, and the scene was highly emotional, so it needed to be captured quickly. While blocking, Ms. Jaclyn and I discussed the scene, and before we took it, she said to me, 'Let's not overthink it; let's just feel it.' And she was right, we did."

As such, Vargas said that no amount of words or deeds can ever express how grateful he is to have l earned from the genius of these three acting pillars.

"I am just so fortunate," Vargas emphasized.

He then happily told The Sunday Times Magazine that given the renewed interest in "Pieta" following his win, SM Cinemas will hold an exclusive film run with scheduled screenings and special showings this July.

"What we will also do is tour the film in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao throughout this year. We will announce dates and activities per province and per area, as they come, and hopefully, this will work and allow as many people as possible to see the movie."

Vargas thoughtfully shared that the scheduled nationwide screenings were fervently requested by the Noranians [what Aunor's fans have famously been called].

"If I recall correctly, we only had two or three screenings last year — one at CCP and another at Cinema 76 — to gauge reactions and reception. As a result, we ended up qualifying for festivals, which led to our recent win at the awards ceremony," he elaborated.

A new baby

As Vargas' professional life reached a new high, he was already up in the air with the birth of his daughter, Aurora Sofia. Now six months old, the actor expressed how his fourth child and third daughter brought him immense joy and renewed his sense of responsibility as a father.

"Honestly, there hasn't been much change since we already had three children before our new baby girl came along. Perhaps if anything has changed, we're more accustomed to [having babies] now and more steady as we go along," Vargas averred.

"But for me, in terms of mindset, when you have four children, you really have to work harder and harder. When you calculate all the expenses like food, clothing, school, travel, and their requests for gadgets, it's a fortune," he exclaimed.

"I'm at a phase now where I'm 44 years old, turning 45 on October 24, and I'm just very grateful to God for the continued blessings that come my way to be able to do that."

Vargas also talked about his wife Yasmine's difficult pregnancy.

"A month before she gave birth, she was in the high-risk pregnancy unit, equivalent to the ICU. It was so sensitive that she could give birth anytime, but thankfully, the doctors were excellent. I had to put everything on hold because I really took care of her during that time. I just couldn't be more grateful that she and baby Aurora Sofia both came out healthy in the end."

While ever present, the challenges of fatherhood are no longer new to Vargas, whose older daughters are Alexandra, 13 and Aryana, 12; and only son Cristiano, 5. He now knows that every child brings unique joys and challenges, and therefore approaches parenting with a flexible yet principled mindset.

"The first two are like twins because they're only a year apart, and the advantage is they grew up together. The next one is our only boy and then the youngest, our new baby.

"There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to parenting. The only general rule I follow in every situation is this: I ask myself every time, 'What would a loving father do?'" the level headed dad explained.

"I definitely don't want them to grow up spoiled. I don't want to raise spoiled children, especially in today's sensitive times when there are so many distractions like social media and patience and understanding can be lacking.

"I want them to grow up to be responsible and accountable individuals, especially when they become adults," he continued.

"Every day, being a father is a journey of discovery. There's no coach for being a father. Yes, you learn from various sources in life, but ultimately, it's up to you to decide what kind of father you want to be.

"For me, I want my children to be responsible. I want them to pursue their dreams and follow their hearts. I want them to be loving and accountable for their actions," Vargas continued.

Balancing act

As a dad, Vargas said striking a balance between discipling and having fun is key to his parenting style.

"I would like to think I am a fun dad when I'm with them. But I am also strict because that's how I was raised — I took my studies seriously, and I only allowed myself to play after finishing my homework. I expect the same of them.

"I also want them to grow up trusting and loving, knowing that Christ loves them, and that they can rely on prayer, action, and deeds," added the Jesuit-schooled family man. Vargas is a proud Atenean from elementary to college.

When asked about the rewards of fatherhood for him, Vargas cited two: seeing his children thrive and receiving positive feedback from others about their character.

"For me, the highest form of praise is when other people say good things about my children. When they mention that our children are respectful, kind, good, humble and get along with others, that's what truly means the most to me," he elaborated.

"I'm really proud of my children, so I will readily tell you that they are honor students who have won medals in sports competitions," he chuckled.

"Many people also say they are handsome and beautiful, but while these compliments are wonderful to hear, what matters most to me is when they are praised for their character. Because for me, a parent's most important responsibility is to raise children who are respectful and deserving of respect," he added.

Hopes and dreams

Amid his busy schedule, Vargas ensures he spends quality time with his children and wife.

"I schedule my time with them using my iCalendar. Our activities vary, but we generally enjoy traveling abroad as a family, which we only get to do twice or thrice a year at most.

"On weekends, we visit the farm," continued Vargas, whose late parents hail from Bulacan.

"Here at home, we have a pet tortoise we play with. Then we also enjoy watching movies together, so basically, it's all about spending quality time."

Alongside his daddy duties, he doesn't forget time with his wife as well, just for the two of them. He goes out to dinner dates with Yasmine.

"That's what we enjoy doing. It's scheduled as well. I have an item in my calendar that says 'romantic date with Amore.'

"Oh, and I also have dates with my kids too. I have a weekly schedule where I take one of them out each week so I can spend one-on-one time with them, aside from our family outings.

Eventually, I'll do that with our new baby as well," he beamed in anticipation.

Looking into the future, Vargas' hopes and dreams for his children are deeply rooted in their potential to make a positive impact in society.

"I would be very happy if even one of them decides to join showbiz or maybe public service. However, I won't interfere with what they want to do.

What I want most is for them to dream big. Once they know their dreams, I hope they do everything they can to achieve them," he expressed.

"After that, I only have one request of them. That one day, when they are successful, and at the peak of their careers, they will remember to have the heart to help others," Vargas, who continues to serve his constituents in Quezon City as councilor of District 5.

"When God blesses you with talent, share your blessings. When you achieve your life's dreams, help others achieve theirs, too. For me, that's the ultimate dream — not just achieving your own dreams but also helping others achieve theirs as well," the wise and doting father ended.