CinemaBravo

Renowned entertainment producer and businessman Arnold L. Vegafria, also known by his initials ALV and the moniker “Manager ng Bayan,” is gaining significant support as he seeks the mayoralty of Olongapo City in the 2025 elections. Running under the “Anak ng Gapo” banner, Vegafria has outlined his vision for transforming his beloved hometown into a booming economic and tourism hub.

During a recent media conference held at the 86-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café, moderated by its owner Wilson Lee Flores, ALV candidly looked back at his first attempt at public office.

“The last time, in 2022, tumakbo ako,” he shared. “That time, parang hindi naman 100% yung puso ko na, in myself, na tumakbo. Parang nabigla lang ako sa sarili ko. When the Magsaysay group invited me to be their mayor and Cong. Magsaysay was our congresswoman. That time parang I wasn’t 100% ready. Parang three months lang ako nag-campaign.”

(Back in 2022, I ran for office. At the time, I wasn’t completely certain in my heart about the decision. It felt sudden. The Magsaysay group had invited me to run, and then-Congresswoman Magsaysay was supporting me. I wasn’t fully prepared then and only campaigned for three months.)

He acknowledged the outcome as a valuable experience despite not securing the position.

“But it gave a good result. Meaning to say, nakilala ako ng aking mga kababayan. Ipinakita ko yung aking mga platform—modern platform—sa kanila. E kaya lang sa kasamaang palad, hindi tayo sinuwerte dahil siguro [sa] kakulangan din ng exposure ko na ibinigay. At saka hindi ako masyadong nag-concentrate sa aking kampanya.”

(It still yielded good results because my fellow Olongapeños got to know me. I presented my modern platform to them. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on my side, perhaps due to the lack of exposure I was able to give, and because I didn’t focus much on my campaign.)

He went on to share how a newfound conviction led to his decision to run again.

“Pero nung itong nakaraan, last year, siguro it’s a calling—again—naramdaman ko. Actually, nag-decide ako a day before the registration. I went to church and I asked for a sign if I’m going back to run again, to serve my city. Maganda yung [positivity] na naramdaman ko, that’s why naniwala ako na siguro talagang baka this time suwertihin ka, dahil yung sign na binigay sa ‘kin is very positive.”

(But last year, I felt a calling again. I made the decision just a day before registration. I went to church and asked for a sign about running again and serving the city. I felt something very positive, and I believed that maybe this time I would be lucky because the sign I received was encouraging.)

He recalled filing his candidacy at the very last moment, this time with greater confidence.

“Siguro sa akin na lang yon. That’s why the next day, at 3:00 in the afternoon, on the last day of the registration, saka ako nag-file ng candidacy as a mayor.”

(I kept the sign to myself. That’s why, the next day at 3:00 PM—on the last day of registration—I filed my candidacy for mayor.)

With renewed dedication, Vegafria now sees an overwhelmingly warm reception from Olongapo residents.

“So that time, since then up to now, the people of Olongapo are very happy because they’re really looking for change. Yung pagbabago ang kailangan. Siguro naghahanap talaga sila ng bagong magiging Manager ng Bayan. Dahil sa tingin ko this time ay maganda yung result ng aking campaign at maganda yung turnout—very positive turnout sa every barangay na pinupuntahan ko.”

(Since then, the people of Olongapo have expressed happiness because they are genuinely seeking change. They want a new ‘Manager ng Bayan.’ I believe that this time, my campaign has been yielding good results and there’s been a very positive turnout in every barangay I visit.)

Born and raised in Olongapo City, Vegafria looks back on the city’s golden years with pride—when it was dubbed the Cradle of Pinoy Rock in the early ’70s and enjoyed a booming economy while the U.S. military bases were still in operation.

“This is my most fervent wish, to bring back the glory days of Olongapo City the way I remember it best,” Vegafria said.

(Bringing back the glory days of Olongapo City the way I remember it best is my deepest wish.)

“All we need to do is to revitalize our industrial infrastructure and attract foreign investors and tourists to stimulate economic boom.”

(We simply need to modernize our industrial infrastructure and draw in both foreign investors and tourists to spark economic growth.)

“I know that it won’t be an easy task, but I am confident that with our team’s dedication, we can rebuild this city and bring back the economic and tourist boom that our city enjoyed during the time of the U.S. naval bases.”

(It may be difficult, but with our team’s commitment, I’m confident we can restore the economic and tourism success we once had when the U.S. naval bases were here.)

Outside politics, Vegafria has made his mark as one of the country’s most respected entertainment figures, managing top talents and producing films, TV shows, concerts, and events. Before launching his career in media and public relations, he earned a degree in Dentistry from the University of the East.

He has held global roles such as speaker at the United Nations World Forum on the Diaspora Economy in New York and juror at the Soho International Film Festival. He was also a judge at Miss World in Sanya, China, in 2017 and 2018. His accolades include the Philippine Empowered Men & Women of the Year Awards (2017–2018), and the Humanitarian Influencer of the Year title at the HyperLive Impact Influencer Festival and Awards 2025 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

As a franchise holder of Miss World Philippines and Miss Grand Philippines, Vegafria has elevated the country’s presence in the global pageant scene. He co-founded the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and currently chairs the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC). He also managed Senator Manny Pacquiao and played a strategic role in political campaigns for PDP-Laban and various party-lists.

Together with his slate of councilors and vice mayoral candidate Fiscal Prudencio Jalandoni, Vegafria is committed to a reform-driven platform. His lineup includes Ian Vegafria Bautista, Macky Alonzo, Erick Elmo Ison, Pocholo Galian, Derrick Quijano Manuel, Cris Tooley Jr., Bhong Tocayon, Tina de Leon, Jerome Ducos, and Earl Escusa.

His comprehensive mayoral platform emphasizes job creation, tourism development, economic zone revitalization, improved healthcare, educational reform, infrastructure modernization, environmental sustainability, cultural promotion, flood control, and anti-drug initiatives.