Who is Alfred’s lucky charm?

In 2010 when he first ran in an election (for councilor of the second district of Quezon City), Alfred Vargas had just married Fil-Italian Yasmine Espiritu (a Kamiseta Skin endorser) and they were expecting their first child, Aryanna Cassandra (who’s turning nine years old). Mother and daughter turned out to be Alfred’s “lucky charm.” Alfred was serving his term as councilor when Yasmine gave birth to their second child, Alexandra Milan (turning eight).

Now into his second term as representative of QC’s fifth district (covering Fairview, Lagro and Novaliches, etc.), Alfred plans to file his re-election COC (Certificate Of Candidacy) probably on Oct. 16 at 2:50 p.m. at the COMELEC office in Intramuros, Manila. Add 1 plus six equals 7; and 2 plus 5 equals 7. Got the point? Yes, the number 7 happens to be Alfred’s lucky number. He and Yasmine were married in civil rites in July 2010 and at their church wedding in July 2018.

In January 2019, two months before the start of the mid-term election campaign, Yasmine is giving birth to their third child, a boy this time, to be named Alfred Cristiano Vargas IV.

“He’s an answered prayer,” Alfred told Funfare. “Yasmine and I have been praying for a boy. We are naming him after my grandfather. My dad was Alfred II and I am Alfred III.”

By March, Yasmine (who’s giving birth the natural way like the first and second times) should be well enough to accompany Alfred in the sorties around their district which has a population of more than 500,000 (240,000-plus of which are voters) and which the couple knows so well. Charming and very lovable, Yasmine is Alfred’s not-so-secret weapon. (Running for councilor in the same district is Alfred’s younger brother Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas.)

Alfred with brother Patrick Michael who is running for councilor in the same district

“I am familiar with every nook and cranny of my district,” said Alfred who is running under the administration PDP-Laban party along with QC Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte who is running for mayor. (“She is unbeatable,” Alfred said of Joy whose probable running mate is QC Councilor Gian Sotto.) The first and only congressman in Q.C. who opened a district office, Alfred has categorized each day of the week into: Monday, pantawid-graduation day for senior students who need financial assistance; Tuesday, medical assistance day; Wednesday, job referral day; Thursday, palupa at pabahay day; Friday, people’s day when Alfred personally attends to his constituents.

“No need for any appointment,” stressed Alfred. “They are all welcome. Pag gusto nila ako makita, andoon ako. They talk to me about various issues and concerns, while some want only to have selfie with me. On Saturdays and Sundays, I go around the district kaya kabisado ko na ang bawat sulok.”

Asked teasingly how he managed to work on his and Yasmine’s third child, Alfred blushed a bit, “It’s a matter of time management, perfect timing.”

He also finds time for his pursuit of a Master's Degree in Public Administration at the UP Diliman National College of Public Administration & Governance (UP NCPAG) with only six more units to complete.

Even if he ran unopposed in the last election, Alfred hasn’t remained complacent, although his sterling record and performance speak eloquently for him, proud of what he described as his “womb-to-tomb” projects. (Two of the many bills that Alfred has filed in Congress are the Integrated Cancer Control Act, in memory of his mother who died of cancer; and the one now a law, of which he was the principal author, increasing the number of maternity-leave days [with pay] to 100 days.)

“I feel naman that my constituents are happy with my performance,” noted Alfred who personally answers the more than 250 text messages that he receives every day (thank heavens he hasn’t suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome). “I feel even more passionate and reinvigorated because of my growing family. Acting is a profession but I realized that serving the people is my passion.”

Alfred consoling an elderly resident during his regular rounds.

Because his showbiz earnings cover payment of various bills, Alfred said that he couldn’t completely turn his back on acting, limiting himself to one movie per year after consultation with his constituents. He has just finished the principal photography for Kaputol which he’s co-producing with director Mac Alejandre who also wrote the award-winning short film about the desaparecidos (ones who disappeared).

“It’s my dream project,” confessed Alfred (who, as soon as the campaign period starts, is prohibited by the COMELEC from appearing in movies and/or TV shows, his last having been the GMA soap Kambal Karibal). “I have worked with direk Mac but it’s my first time to work with Ricky Lee who is writing the screenplay, with Cherie Gil who plays my sister, with the special appearance of Angel Aquino, an ensemble of very talented indie actors, and no less than the Lav Diaz as DOP (Director of Photography).”

Incidentally, aside from Alfred, celebrity residents of QC’s fifth district include Lolit Solis (Alfred’s manager), Coco Martin and his (secret) girlfriend Julia Montes, Bayani Agbayani, Imelda Papin, Robin Padilla and wife Mariel Rodriguez, and Johnny Revilla and wife Janet Basco and their children.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)