Alfred Vargas dedicates diploma to manager Lolit Solis

Alfred Vargas dedicates diploma to manager Lolit Solis. Handout 

Alfred Vargas paid a heartfelt tribute on Instagram to his manager of 21 years, Lolit Solis, who died after a heart attack and other health difficulties.

“My heart is totally broken. I feel like nawala ang isang malaking bahagi ng buhay ko. Nawalan ako ng Nanay… You believed in me when many didn’t," he said.

“It was always fun being with Nanay. Kapag kasama mo siya, feeling mo nasa safe space ka at nasa mabuti kang kamay,” he added to his second IG post. 

Recently, the councilor of Quezon City's 5th district graduated from the University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) and was named valedictorian of the Diploma on Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) with the highest academic whole class of 2025 and a general weighted average of 1.0288, earning the Dean's Medallion.

Alfred Vargas delivers valedictory speech at the UP Film Center. Handout 

Vargas said this academic achievement demonstrates his commitment to lifelong learning, following his undergraduate degree in AB Management Economics from Ateneo de Manila University in 2002 and his Master's degree in Public Administration from UP Diliman's National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) in 2021.

Vargas was tearful when he delivered his valedictory speech at the UP Film Center on Saturday, dedicating it to his manager.

“Nay Lolit, para sa ‘yo ang tagumpay na ito,” Vargas expressed.

Vargas also thanked his wife, Yasmine, and their four children—Alexandra, Aryana, Cristiano, and Aurora—for their support. In his speech, he emphasized the significance of heart and compassion in urban planning.

He also addressed his fellow graduates and new urban planners, encouraging them to incorporate kindness and compassion into their critical role in shaping cities.

"This graduation is meaningless if we choose indifference over kindness, if we prioritize ourselves over others, or if we abandon our principles and the fight for what is right," he stated.

 "Walang halaga ang ating pagtatapos kung hindi natin isasabuhay ang kabutihan at kagandahan ng loob. Simple pero totoo. Walang halaga ang lahat ng ito kung tayo ay mananatiling bulag at manhid sa mga nangyayaring kasinungalingan, katiwalian, pati na rin ang malawak na kahirapan,” he added in his valedictory address.

"Hindi sapat ang ating mga kamay. Kailangan natin ng puso," he said. "Hindi sapat ang teknikal na kaalaman o malalim na expertise para maging urban planner—kailangan natin ng puso at malasakit.”

Actor-politician Alfred Vargas. Handout

The actor-politician further highlighted the vital role of kindness in addressing pressing urban challenges, "Without kindness, we cannot find sustainable and inclusive solutions to the pressing challenges in urban planning—overpopulation, housing shortages, inadequate infrastructure, environmental degradation, traffic congestion, urban blight, resource scarcity, poor health and safety, substandard education, social inequality, and more.”

He also shared that the establishment of the Quezon City Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) in 2011 was motivated by honestly listening to the PWD community's demands, holding democratic consultations, and implementing people-participation procedures with all stakeholders. 

It has now issued 25,000 PWD IDs and distributed assistive gadgets to around 4,000 users. As a legislator, he used the same democratic consultation method to pass the National Integrated Cancer Control Act.

“Nothing is impossible and everything is achievable when we spread kindness," he ended.

Vargas is now pursuing a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning at SURP.

Veteran entertainment columnist Lolit Solis passes away

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