Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 28) – Nine Filipino bodybuilders will flex their strength against the region’s best as the sport makes its comeback in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
This will be the fourth time the sport will be included in the biennial regional sporting competition. It was last played in 2013 in Myanmar.
“The athletes are all champions in their category. They trained hard for games,” Rowena Walters, president of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Philippines, told CNN Philippines.
Lorie Deloria is the lone female bet for the Philippines in the Vietnam SEA Games, where she will compete in the mixed pair event along with fiancé Ming Jereza.
The two are known fitness trainers and are collaborating in their training program MiLo Fit.
“We said yes right away because this is a huge opportunity for us, a great honor, a blessing, and a dream come true to represent our country,” Deloria said.
The couple made the national bodybuilding team for the Vietnam Games after they both ruled the IFBB Elite South Luzon Championship.
“It’s our first season of competing together and we have been very blessed to have this chance of competing in the SEA Games,” said Deloria, relishing the chance of competing wth her fiance. “Teamwork makes the dream work indeed.”
In the Vietnam SEA Games, Jereza will also take part in the men’s 85kg division.
The other Filipino bodybuilders competing in the May 13-15 event are Edward Alido (55kg), Leidon Cruz (60kg), Alexis Abule (65kg), Roderick Ternida (70kg), Homer Valmonte (75kg), Jesse Virata (80kg), and Renz Alimorong (men athletic physique).
Wins Custodio, Adrian Barboza, and Gerard Pangan are the coaches of the Philippine bodybuilding team.
