It’s not actually his first indie movie but his first for the Cinemalaya Film Festival (ongoing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines) and Alfred Vargas is truly excited and proud of “Colorum.” The movie which co-stars Alfred with actor-politician Lou Veloso is written, directed and produced by Jon Steffan Ballesteros.

Doing “Colorum,” for Alfred was a very fulfilling experience. “It’s a road movie, meaning we made it as we travel from Quezon City to Ormoc via many other places,” exclaimed Alfred over an intimate dinner (with colleagues Isah Red and Mario Hernando) at Freska Grill at the Promenade in Greenhills.

It took them 10 days on the road, Alfred said. “I really experienced the indie way of filmmaking. I became close to the director and to the staff and crew. I liked the experience and now I’d like to do at least one indie movie a year to hone my acting craft. And to be able to do roles I’d like to portray.”

In “Colorum,” Alfred plays Simon, a promising cop working part-time as a driver of one of the many “undocumented” and “illegal” FX taxis in the metro who runs over a pedestrian one night. In an effort to cover his sin, he flees the metro and embarks on a road trip across the Visayas, taking with him a most uncanny hostage, a 70-year-old ex-convict name Pedro (Lou Veloso), the sole witness to the incident.

But, what was expected as an escape route doomed to be a domino of crime begetting crime, turns out to be the defining rides of their lives. They meet a few interesting people along the way, ordinary people with their own dilemmas. Only miles will tell if they can recover from the moral quickstand that they have become trapped in, or stand up to face life’s lemons.

“I’m very impressed by the director/writer Jon Steffan Ballesteros. He’s very talented. He used to be a sound designer and writer and he has worked with Jeffrey Jeturian (in “Bridal Showers”) among others.”

“Colorum” will have its gala screening on July 23 at the CCP Main Theater, but meanwhile it was shown at the CCP Main Theater last July 18, and at the Tanghalang Heseng Batute last July 19. It will be shown again at the CCP MKP Hall on July 22 at 9 p.m. and July 24 at 3:30 p.m. and on July 25 at 12:45 p.m. at the CCP Little Theater and at 6:15 at Tanghalang Heseng Batute.

A reporter in ‘Darna’

Alfred is in the cast of GMA-7’s forthcoming fantaserye “Darna,” starring Marian Rivera in the title role. “I play a reporter who will chronicle all the heroic exploits of Darna. I will also fall in love with her. Ka-triangle namin si Mark Anthony Fernandez,” Alfred revealed.

“About Marian being Darna, bagay na bagay siya. At napakagaling niya sa mga stunts.”

On the personal side, Alfred is in love again, this time with a non-showbiz personality who is half-Filipina, half-Italian named Yasmin Espiritu, a 21-year-old graduate of Fine Arts. They’ve been going steady for seven months already.

If not busy before the cameras, Alfred is busy with his business ventures, among them Café Mondial in Ortigas. “Ka-partner ko dito ang brother ko and some Atenean friends.”

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Mutya ng Pilipinas 2009 takes Aurora to the world stage

From the pigeon hole:

When the Honorable Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo, governor of the province of Aurora, enters the room, one immediately feels the warmth, grace, and goodwill she carries from within her. Notwithstanding her long and impressive list of accolades as Law Student, Law Practitioner, Congresswoman and Governor of the captivating marvel of nature that is Aurora province, Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo is accessible, friendly, open, and charismatic. One feels inspired in her presence that is elegance, excellence and kindness personified. Multifaceted as a perfectly cut emerald, Governor Angara-Castillo is a visionary leader among visionary leaders, and it seems, virtually unstoppable. Mutya ng Pilipinas 2009 was launched at Merk’s recently with Gov. Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo, Congressman Juan Edgardo Angara, Mayor Arthur Angara of Baler, Aurora and Mr. Robert de Venecia. Jeddah Hernandez, Mutya ng Pilipinas International 2004, Katrina Rigets 1st Runner-up 2008 and Rachel Anne Wolfe 2nd Runner-up 1983 also graced the event.

Another three decades later it is 2009, and Governor Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo has ably navigated provincial government efforts not merely to significantly increase Auroran’s quality of life through her H.E.A.L.T.H. (Health, Education, Agriculture, Livelihood, Tourism and Environment Management, and Tourism Development), 6-point development agenda, but has also steered Aurora to be catapulted as the optimal venue for eco-tourism, international business location, environmental research and development, and significantly, as investment haven in the world stage.

Governor Bellaflor’s love for family and country, her indomitable and nurturing spirit is reminiscent of the much-beloved educator and wife of the first President of the Republic and Son of Baler Manuel L. Quezon, Doña Aurora Aragon, after whom the province is named.

For the very first time since the multi-awarded movie “Baler” (starring Jericho Rosales and Anne Curtis, directed by Mark Meily) revealed the province’s raw and breath-taking beauty to the rest of the country in 2008, another major event will showcase the gentle and savage beauty of Aurora to the Philippines and the world. The Mutya ng Pilipinas 2009 will have some of the most beautiful women in the Philippines compete in the backdrop of some of the most beautiful Philippine scenes in existence… found only in amazing Aurora.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on July 21 go to Ding Mercado, Dr. Nenita Lee-Tan, Patrick Nolasco, Candy Mendoza, Jhi Gopez, Dr. Carrie R. Legaspi, Manniz Igrobay and Eric John Salut of ABS-CBN… Happy wedding anniversary to Rene and Judy Manuel.