Vic Vargas

{{Infobox person

| name = Vic Vargas

| image = Vic Vargas.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = Jose Maria Marfori Asuncion

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1939|3|28}}

| birth_place = Philippines

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2003|7|19|1939|3|28}}

| spouse = Rosanna Zamora

| death_place = Pasay, Philippines

| occupation = Actor, judoka

| children = Basilio Anton Asuncion

| yearsactive = 1962–2002

}}

Jose Maria Marfori Asuncion (March 28, 1939 – July 19, 2003), better known by his stage name Vic Vargas, was a Filipino film actor and judoka.

Early life and career

Vic Vargas was born on March 28, 1939.{{Cite web|last=Francisco|first=Butch|author-link=Butch Francisco|date=July 22, 2003|title=Remembering a versatile actor|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2003/07/22/214509/remembering-versatile-actor|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Philstar.com|publisher=The Philippine Star}} When he was 17, Vargas won three championships for judo in the Philippines.{{Cite web|last=Estanislao|first=Noel C.|date=2009|title=Filipino Martial Arts Digest Special Edition - Judo in the Philippines|url=https://www.usadojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FMA-Special-Edition_Judo-Philippines.pdf|access-date=2020-10-26|website=usadojo.com}} He finished architecture{{efn|name=fn1}} at the University of Santo Tomas and then afterwards, became a physical education instructor teaching martial arts at the University of the East.

Eventually, he reluctantly entered show business after being challenged by a friend, and then, he debuted in the film Diegong Tabak in 1962. His early films also include pairing with Filipina actress Josephine Estrada{{Cite web|date=2019-04-16|title=Former actress and Miss PH Josephine Estrada passes away in Arizona|url=https://usa.inquirer.net/27689/former-actress-and-miss-ph-josephine-estrada-passes-away-in-arizona|access-date=2020-10-26|website=INQUIRER.net USA|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|language=en}} particularly in the film Prinsipeng Tulisan made by VP Pictures, a subsidiary of Sampaguita Pictures, where he was one of its contract actor.{{Cite web|last=Dolor|first=Danny|date=2010-06-20|title=Vic Vargas: Sex symbol & actor|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2010/06/20/585612/vic-vargas-sex-symbol-actor|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Philstar.com|publisher=The Philippine Star}} Being an expert on judo, he became a judo instructor for a television program broadcast by Channel 7.

Later career

He starred in numerous films from early 1960s up to 2002. He was typecast in certain genres like action and sexy comedy due to his dark skin, figure and sex appeal. In 1971, he got a role in the Ismael Bernal's Pagdating sa Dulo, which was voted by Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino as one of the best films of the 1970s. In the film El Vibora, he won his first Best Actor award given by the organizers of the 1972 Manila Film Festival. He won again as Best Actor the next year on the same festival for the film Nueva Vizcaya.

In the mid-1970s, he was an on and off-cam pair with 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz. Their first film together was in Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa, that started a wet-and-wild trend in Philippine cinema. The tandem also starred in the Andres de Saya film series. In the 1982 film In This Corner by Filipino director Lino Brocka, he got an Urian Best Actor nomination.{{cite news|newspaper=The Times Journal|date=1973-06-27|location=Philippines|title='Nueva Vizcaya' reaps 7 awards}}

Aside being a film actor, he also appeared on television and he became one of the cast of the television show Lahi ni Adan and briefly hosted Tawag ng Tanghalan after the death of Lopito, the original male host of the show. He also appeared in the sitcom television show of ABS-CBN, Home Along Da Riles.{{Cite web|date=2003-07-20|title=3 veteran actors pass away|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2003/07/20/214296/3-veteran-actors-pass-away|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Philstar.com}} Other notable films that he starred include Pito ang Asawa Ko, Sinong Kapiling, Sinong Kasiping?, Banta ng Kahapon, and Hari sa Hari, Lahi sa Lahi (also known as The King and the Emperor).

He was also known for being one of the first actors who entered the Charismatic movement in the Philippines. He also became an environmentalist after becoming a member of the environmental group Bantay-Dagat in Palawan. One of his last films include portraying Rajah Humabon in the 2002 biopic film Lapu-Lapu, with Lito Lapid portraying the title character.{{Cite web|last=Adobas|first=Dennis|date=2002-12-17|title=Vic Vargas, nagbabalik|url=https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/showbiz/2002/12/17/188287/vic-vargas-nagbabalik|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Philstar.com|publisher=Pilipino Star Ngayon|language=tl}}

Personal life

Vargas was married to Rosanna Zamora{{Cite web|date=2013-08-10|title=Surprise! Melanie Marquez twirls anew on the ramp|url=https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/119299/surprise-melanie-marquez-twirls-anew-on-the-ramp/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Inquirer Lifestyle|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|language=en-US}} and they have a child named Basilio Anton Asuncion.{{Cite web|date=2009-04-30|title=Man of the Year search is on|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2009/04/30/462318/man-year-search-on|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Philstar.com}}

Death

He died at the age of 64 on July 19, 2003, 15 days after he suffered from a stroke and fell into coma. He was rushed to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay after having a typhoid fever in Subic that caused his stroke when he returned to Manila. He was cremated and buried at Sacred Heart Church in Makati where his parents' body lie.

Filmography

=Film=

Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1962	Diegong Tabak
rowspan="3"\| 1963	Bird of Paradise
Prinsipeng Tulisan	Carlos
Tansan vs Tarsan	Tarsan
rowspan="2"\| 1964	Walang Takot sa Patalim
Sa Bilis, Walang Kaparis
1965	Mga Espada ng Rubitanya
rowspan="2"\| 1969	Si Darna at ang Planetman		Part of the Darna film series
Perlas ng Silangan
1971	Pagdating sa Dulo		"Initial offering" of Frankesa Films, Inc.
1972	El Vibora	El Vibora
1973	Nueva Vizcaya
rowspan="4"\| 1974	South Seas
Urduja
Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa
Huwag Tularan: Pito ang Asawa Ko
rowspan="2"\| 1976	Daluyong at Habagat
Iniibig Kita... Father Salvador	Father Salvador
rowspan="2"\| 1977	Sa Dulo ng Kris
Banta ng Kahapon
1978	Mercenario{{cite news\|title=Now Showing\|work=Bulletin Today\|date=November 14, 1978\|page=34\|quote=He kills to avenge a family tragedy!}}
1982	Get My Son Dead or Alive	Capt. Carlo Mendoza
1983	Utol	Berting Bertigo
1987	Hari sa Hari, Lahi sa Lahi	Paduka Pahala
rowspan="2"\| 1988	Gawa Na ang Bala Na Papatay sa Iyo	Berto
Agila ng Maynila
1991	Mabuting Kaibigan, Masamang Kaaway	Ricardo Montinola
1992	Boboy Salonga: Batang Tondo	Victor Salonga
1994	Biboy Banal: Pagganti Ko... Tapos Kayo
2002	Lapu-Lapu	Raha Humabon