Alfred on Tagpuan — It’s not about the outcome, it’s about the journey

SOBRANG nakare-relate si Alfred Vargas sa kanyang role sa Tagpuan. Siya si Allan sa pelikula, asawa ni Iza Calzado, matagumpay na businessman, may maayos na pamilya, pero tila may kulang. Kasama rin dito si Shaina Magdayao sa isang napakahalagang papel.

Ani Alfred sa isinagawang zoom conference, minsan siyang nakaramdam ng kakulangan, pagkalungkot o tila hindi satisfied sa kung anong mayroon siya.

Natanong kasi si Alfred kung bakit siya gumawa ng ganitong klase ng pelikula sa kabila ng pagiging matagumpay, masaya in all aspects of his life. Pelikulang ukol sa loneliness.

Aniya, “Oo naalala ko ‘yung kuwentuhan namin ni Shaina, pareho kami na mayroon kaming once a year soul searching. Ako backpacking, in the context of that question, ako I believe I was part of the two most difficult  industries to work in. Entertainment and politics. Kailangan talaga rito medyo matibay ka and know how to handle adversity.

“Sometimes, most of the people when they look at the mountain, they only see the peak, they don’t see the actual mountain to climb.”

Sinabi ni Alfred na minsan sa kanyang buhay, habang mayroon siyang magandang career sa showbiz pero tila may kulang. “I was doing well in my showbiz career as a fulltime actor. Ganda ng kita, mayroon kang fame, fortune, secured ka, ganda ng career na nakalatag sa iyo, pero parang hindi ka pa satisfied.

“So, I tried public service and nahanap ko ‘yung fulfillment when I became councilor and now naging congressman na.

“So kailangan you have to leave the journey. Isa ‘yun sa mga major decision ko na I feel I was really lost kahit I have a movies, commercial. Parang I wanted to…kung sino o ano talaga ‘yung gusto ko sa buhay and this is my cup of tea, public service.

“And hindi naman ako mapupunta rito kung hindi ako nag-showbiz o hindi naging actor. Isa ‘yun sa matitinding reflection sa buhay ko na I felt I was lost before right before deciding to enter the field of politics.”

At hanggang ngayon na sa edad 41 ay nakakaramdaman pa rin siya ng pagkalungkot o kakulangan.

“Oo, specially ngayong pandemic. Talagang noon I was really lost. Anong gagawin ko as a father, as a husband, anong magagawa ko as a public servant? Tapos may nakabitin tayong pelikula na hindi pa naipalalabas kasi cancelled ang MMFF Summer Festival.

“ In all senses, business political, personal and family, I really felt lost. Pero as this pandemic unfolded, I’ve found myself again, kaya right now nakare-relate ako sa pelikula.

“Kasi the pelikula is not about the outcome, it’s about the journey. Para sa akin, ‘yung mga taong feeling loss, okey lang iyan kasi everyone else is feeling loss.

“Ang importante you take the journey, kung hindi, you cannot arrive at your destination.”  

Ang Tagpuan ay isa sa entry sa Metro Manila Film Festival 2020 na mapapanood sa December 25 via Upstream. Sa halagang P250, buong pamilya na ang makakapanood nito. Kaya buy na kayo ng ticket para ma-enjoy ninyo ang pelikung ito na pampamilya.

SHOWBIZ KONEK
ni Maricris Valdez Nicasio