Muscle Beach: Pinoys’ breakout day

BORACAY, Aklan, Philippines – Filipino athletes have another grand chance to make an impact on the sport of bodybuilding with today’s “Muscle Beach” at the Boracay Peninsula Resort beachfront here. This is the first time the competition will be held in Asia. The event originated in Santa Monica and Venice Beach in California, and became the mecca of bodybuilding starting in the 1930’s. But for Filipino athletes, today is also a chance to add to the history of pioneers like 1969 Mr. Universe runner-up Roland Dantes and industry pioneer Stan Carbungco. The current bodybuilding boom, however, has greatly benefitted from the larger trend towards overall physical fitness.

“It’s everywhere. As basic as being a beginner, you go to the gym to lose weight or gain weight. You don’t go straight to a sport,” says international physique athlete and promoter JP Yap. “You go to the gym. And for many people, this leads to bodybuilding. It’s just called bodybuilding because of the competition, but everyone’s actually doing bodybuilding.”

“For me, it wasn’t premeditated,” says former radio disc jockey and newscaster Hilary Isaac. “It really started with me wanting to do something different, to change from within, to push myself. It was more of a mental freedom, not being held down by what people thought I should look like. I wanted to achieve a fitter version of myself. And as I got deeper into my fitness journey, I thought, why not try something different? And then it snowballed from there.”

Isaac, who won her first competition after just four months of serious training, will be posing at the event along with Yap. She recalls how she realized what else she needed to do to get better even after her first victory. In just one year, she has become a recognized ambassador of the sport. One of the reasons bodybuilding has grown in popularity is the great popularity of the physique event for men and bikini event for women.

“Having the physique competition made it more achievable,” Yap affirms. “Before, when they didn’t have that category, people were saying ‘I don’t want to wear trunks onstage. It’s intimidating. So the men’s physique grew, same with women’s bikini.”

Thus, organizers GooZam, The Fitness Hub, Gigen Eventi and Sherwin Sy are expecting up to a hundred participants in each of the 10 events being competed in. Aside from the prize money, the prestige of being a winner at the first Muscle Beach in the region has been a big incentive for the country’s new bodybuilders to make a name for themselves with just one victory. It’s also a big catch for sponsors.

“Bodybuilding is a long-term investment unlike others. You don’t earn any interest but you will earn a lot of respect and pride.”We’re excited to be part of this one of a kind event,” said Cristel Narca of Crown Regency in Boracay. “It was a great privilege to support this kind of event, we’re not only supporting its goal but we’re also supporting our own Filipino athletes to inspire others.”

“You know, in the fitness and bodybuilding industry, we are one industry,” adds Isaac. If we are not helping each other out, we are not helping the industry,” Isaac adds.

Aside from heavy Filipino representation even among the officials and judges, several of the sport’s biggest names will be at Muscle Beach as guest posers. Professional bodybuilding champion Eryk Bui, head judge at Muscle Beach Venice will be there. Veteran internationalist Gemmalyn Crosby is going to pose. Fellow IFBB pro Jeff Diaz held a physique coaching session Friday. Jewel Karunungan, NPC Grand Prix LA 2017 Figure Class champion and the International Classic Figure category champion at Muscle Beach Venice in 2016, will likewise pose.

“It’s all about the balance,” Yap explains what the judges look for. “You have to look aesthetically pleasing, you have to develop each and every muscle group. You have to have the conditioning, not to mention the stage presence. In the Philippines, we’re a little behind, but we’re getting there,” admits Yap. “A lot of Filipino athletes are in the US competing at the pro level. We’re getting there. We just need more support. We just need more support from the government, and more exposure to remove the stereotype of bodybuilding.”