The Search for MR. & MS. FITNESS 2008

It was indeed a memorable occasion as the UM Fitness & Wellness Centre Christmas Festival 2008 held at the same time the first-ever search for Mr. & Ms. Fitness 2008. Gorgeous men and women, who are Special Physical Education students of the University of Mindanao, grab the limelight and made the night worth remembering.

As these beautiful boys and girls, equipped with smart intelligence and passion for health and fitness, strut their way to the centerstage, audience and guests alike were awe-struck by their undoubtedly amazing persona. They were introduced in the world-class visual presentation as persons with beauty, brain and body. Who will be in and who will be out? Who will reign supreme and become the first Mr. & Ms. Fitness 2008?

The candidates are composed of chosen few from the competing teams, namely: Orange Team, Blue Team, Green Team, Yellow Team, Red Team, and Pink Team.

Representing the Orange team are Emerald Magoncia of the Teachers College and Dave Brodeth Santos who is taking up Hotel & Restaurant Management. Emerald was hesistant to join the search as a first-timer but being a neophyte doesn’t stop her from winning two special awards (Best in Jazz-up Jeans and Best in Sports Wear) and landing as 1st Runner-Up Ms. Fitness ‘08. Dave, on the other hand, who dream to become an international chef, was also the winner of the Best in Jazz-up Jeans among male contenders.

Bearing the banner of the Blue Team are: Shiela Mae Yllica and Jake Umbajeno. Shiela is an Accountancy student who believes that beauty depends on the simplicity of the person while Jake, who is a guy with simple thoughts in life, is a budding Mechanical Engineer. The pair from the Blue team became victorious though as Shiela landed 2nd Runner-Up Ms. Fitness ‘08.

The pair that represented the Green team are tall and beautiful couple, namely: Vanessa Marzado and Margyle Denis Leparto. Vanessa is from the College of Business Administration taking up Hotel & Restaurant Management. She dreamed of becoming a professional model someday which is not impossible with her height and physique. Meanwhile, Margyle Denis, is the most athletic man in the search being a Muay Thai practioner. He won two special awards (Best in P.E. Uniform and Best in Sports Wear) and luckily landed as 2nd Runner-Up Mr. Fitness ’08.

Representing the Yellow team is a lovely pair from the College of Business Administration. Cel Grace Paguidian is taking up Bachelor of Science in Tourism, who described herself as a simple, friendly and loving lady who dreamed who going abroad. She won Best in P.E. Uniform among female candidates. John Marzan, on the other hand, taking up Human Resource Management, described himself as a simple and nice person.

A proud pair from the Red team, who performed a traditional Filipino dance during their talent presentation, is composed of Michelle David and Zulkifli Sangcopan. Michelle, who is a positive thinker in life, loves to explore. She is taking up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Human Resource Management. While Zulkifli or Zul, who was the lucky 1st Runner-Up Mr. Fitness ’08 winner, is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student.

The luckiest pair of them all is from the Pink team, composed of Gerald Tugade and April Rose Lubiano, who both won the coveted titles Mr. & Ms. Fitness 2008 respectively. Gerald is an Accountancy student while April Rose is taking up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management. Incidentally, they also were the winners of the Best in Talent awards. Such a magnificent pair!

The winners of the first-ever search for the Mr. & Ms. Fitness 2008, Gerald Tugade and April Rose Tugade, will become ambassadors of goodwill of the UM Fitness & Wellness Centre in promoting health, fitness and wellness to everyone!