Powerlifters give honor to RP

There’s a little gym with near-antique barbells and fitness equipment that’s not quite state-of-the-art on Ermin Garcia Street in Quezon City but it’s the place where the country’s top powerlifters train and they swear the ambiance is the perfect atmosphere for serious, hard-core workouts.

Zest Power Gym was established in 1991 with seven enthusiasts pitching in to set it up in a compound owned by Ramon Debuque. One of its founders Eddie Torres, 43, is the only Filipino to squat and deadlift over 700 pounds.

Powerlifting was introduced to the Philippines in 1980 by Tony Taguibao. Two years later, the Powerlifting Association of the Philippines (PAP) was born. Today, the PAP is an accredited National Sports Association, recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as an associate member.

Torres said over 500 powerlifters are listed in the PAP rolls. More than 70 groups are linked to the PAP, including clubs, gyms and Local Government Units.

Powerlifting is distinct from weightlifting, which is an Olympic sport. The powerlifting events are squat, bench press and deadlift while the weightlifting events are clean-and-jerk and snatch, both overhead lifts.

Powerlifting has nine weight classes for females from 48 kilos to over 90 and 10 for males from 56 kilos to over 125. The PAP organizes at least six competitions a year all over the country in several levels – novice (first-timers), sub-juniors (14-18 years), juniors (19-23) and open. The men’s masters classes are from 40 to 49, 50 to 59 and 60 up. The women’s masters classes are 40-49 and 50 up. Meets are also held for the differently abled (only bench press) and mentally challenged.

In the PAP’s annual schedule are competitions for the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao championships.

The Paralympics feature powerlifting and in Sydney eight years ago, wheelchair-bound Adelaine Dumapong claimed a bronze medal for the Philippines in bench press. However, the sport is not included in the calendars of the Southeast Asian and Asian Games. It is a popular event in the quadrennial World Games for non-Olympic sports and in the yearly Philippine Olympic Festival.

Filipino powerlifters are perennial top contenders in the annual World Open and Masters Championships.

Two weeks ago, the country’s delegation of six powerlifters brought back nine gold medals from the World Masters Championships in Palm Springs. Some 30 countries were represented in the competition for males and females who are 40 and above.

Showing the way for the Philippines was Lily Pecante who set a new World Masters record in squat with a lift of 465 pounds in the over 90 kilo class. Pecante, 44, won golds in squat, bench press and deadlift. She also took the overall gold with a total lift of 1,192 pounds to establish a new record in the Asian Masters, Philippine Masters and Philippine Open.

Other medalists were Torres (100 kilo class), Niña del Rosario-Oca (52 kilo), Elvira Lorenzo (48 kilo), Merly Medina (52 kilo) and Rene Dio (82.5 kilo).

Pecante, a Feati graduate of business administration and a Postmaster, is known as the strongest woman in the Philippines with a best carry of 501 pounds in squat, 281 pounds in bench press and 473 pounds in deadlift. She is the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the World Open and has now captured 16 World Masters gold medals.

Pecante started powerlifting in 1987 but was interrupted twice in her career – first, for two years after giving birth to her son Andre (now 19) and second, for three years to recover from an ACL injury suffered in a tug-of-war bout. Now, Pecante is as strong as ever and competes against powerlifters who could pass for her children.

Torres said the national team is composed of about 20 powerlifters who receive support from the Philippine Sports Commission, POC and other sponsors to participate in global events. Among the sponsors are Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte, Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, the Quezon City Councilors, Pasig Mayor Bobby Eusebio, Philippine Post and Dewfoam.

“There are no cash prizes in the competitions we enter and there are no cash rewards for us when we come home with medals,” said Torres who holds three Asian Masters records. “We compete for the love of the sport and to bring honor to our country.”

Although the national powerlifters are hardly recognized for their achievements, they proudly said credit is not what keeps them going.

“We train all year round and taper off only when we’re peaking,” said Torres. “Powerlifting is a passion for us. Our national team has time and again proved that Filipinos can excel in this sport. We realize the PSC has limited funds and powerlifting is not an Olympic sport. But we will continue to bring honor to our country, no matter what, no matter how.”