Alfred Vargas was recently named Best Actor at the 2024 Ima Wa Ima Asian Film Festival Entertainment Awards for his performance in the movie "Pieta."
This comes after he won the acting award at the 72nd Famas Awards and the 3rd WuWei Taipei International Film Festival.
Vargas said there were several outstanding nominees, and he is delighted to have won the award.
“I am very humbled and proud to receive this award. To God be the glory. Ang daming nominees from other countries like Japan, Korea, Indonesia among others, at nakakataba ng puso na na-recognize ‘yung performance natin for ‘Pieta.’ I am very honored kasi international recognition ito at kahit papano ay na-represent natin ang Pilipinas dito at naiwagayway natin ang ating bandila together for other Pinoy awardees,” he said.
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Receiving award from 2024 Ima Wa Ima Asian Film Festival Entertainment Awards in Osaka, Japan, Alfred Vargas dedicates best actor trophy to son Cristiano. Photo: Handout
He went on to thank his co-stars Nora Aunor and Gina Alajar, and director Adolf Alix, Jr.
“Kayang-kaya talaga nating makipagsabayan sa world stage at ang creativity at talent ng Pilipino ay walang kaparis. I want to thank our superstar Ms. Nora Aunor for accepting this project, kay direk Gina Alajar for guiding me and always supporting me pagdating sa improvement ng aking craft, and kay direk Adolf Alix for bringing everyone together for this film. Kung wala sila, wala ako rito ngayon,” he said.
His third best actor award for the mother-son suspense drama for 2024 from the Ima Wa Ima Asian International Film Festival in Osaka, Japan certainly demonstrates the positive momentum of his film and his entry into the rare and exclusive list of "three-peat-in-one-movie-best-actors" such as Piolo Pascual, Christopher de Leon, Allen Dizon, and Coco Martin, to name a few.
During his acceptance speech, Vargas expressed, “Anak (Cristiano), para sa iyo ang award na ito. Pinaghirapan ito ni Daddy. Always remember that I will always be by your side no mater what. Reach for your dreams. At kung mangangarap ka na rin lang, mangarap ka nang malaki. Don’t forget, balang araw when you’re successful at nasa rurok ka na ng tagumpay, nasa itaas ka na, huwag mong kakalimutan na lalong tumulong sa mga mas nangangailangan, ‘yung mga nasa baba huwag mong kalimutan. Tsaka family is everything, anak.”
In addition to the Best Actor award, “Pieta” received the Best Screenplay award for screenwriter Jerry Gracio.
Other Asian celebrities attended the awards ceremony among the large Filipino, Korean, and Japanese communities. Other popular Asian stars honored during the occasion included Japanese actors Shun Shioya (the original Red Power Ranger), Adone Kudo, Son Yong Kuk, and Kim Ji Soo from South Korea.
The event was organized by the Global Maharlika in Kansai, the Philippine Community Coordinating Council, the Korean Residents Union in Japan, and Japan's Kyomigaru Creative Collective Group. The award ceremony was held on December 1 at the Sumiyoshi Main Hall in the heart of Osaka, Japan's famed City Hall.
Alfred and Yasmine Vargas pen appreciation for daughters’ achievements