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Marvin de Guzman - November 2002
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We met Marvin at his pad in a village behind SM City North EDSA, Quezon City. He's been going through a recovery period since the incident 2 months ago when he was stabbed several times in the abdominal area by a gang of tricycle drivers on his way to the gym. He suffered a major setback in his career and had to undergo a major operation.
PNYMS: Why were you stabbed?
Marvin: I don't know why it happened. I don't have enemies. I don't owe anything to anyone. They probably just wanted to see if they can beat up somebody muscular. Next thing I knew I was bleeding and lost tremendous amount of blood and was taken to the hospital.
PNYMS: How has this affected your career?
Marvin: I have lost about 25 lbs. and had to pass up opportunities to compete abroad. I may have to train on light weights for 3 months before I regain my normal training routine. I'm down to 175 lbs. from 200 lbs. 3 months ago.
PNYMS: What's your heaviest weight?
Marvin: I weighed 236 lbs. after the Mr. Philippines competition in Baguio, Benguet in May, 2002. I won 1st place in the middleweight division at 178 lbs.
PNYMS: What was you first competition?
Marvin: In April, 1998 I joined the Alaxan Muscle & Motion on TV's Channel 2 Eat Bulaga noontime show at 174 lbs. It was an open category where they select a winner everyday to compete for the semi-finals then the final show. I won in the Finals, Jay Catli came in 2nd place to me and I took home P40,000 cash prize.
PNYMS: Did you join any competitions before that?
Marvin: No
PNYMS: Wow! how old were you then?
Marvin: 24
PNYMS: How did you get started in bodybuilding?
Marvin: I grew up in a farm in Bataan province where bodybuilding was never heard of. I went to visit my uncle in Quezon City at age 19, and there was a gym right next to where he lived called Body Sweat. I was impressed by the big muscular guys in the gym and wanted to develop my physique like them. I didn't get started until I was 23 since I had to go back to the farm and help out with the family business. After a year of training in the gym, I was able to reach my goal.
PNYMS: Did you have a mentor or someone to help you out to train?
Marvin: Yes and No. The gym instructors sort of helped me out but I actually pushed myself to the limit and nobody else. I also met my wife at the gym where she was also a member. She was very supportive in my training and diet. I read books, researched and asked questions from people I thought would helped me.
PNYMS: Were they helpful?
Marvin: Yes and No. I met some people who became friends and who turned out to be back stabbers. People who I thought were hostile turned out to be true friends.
PNYMS: Very ironic. But that's life if you think about it. What type of training do you do to develop your massive physique?
Marvin: The Bulgarian Training Method. This is the same method Phil Herndon and Mike Mentzer did during their heydays.
PNYMS: What is Bulgarian Training Method in a nutshell?
Marvin: High intensity, maximum failure training, high reps heavy weights 3 times(6am, 12noon, 4pm) everyday, rest on weekends.
PNYMS: What's your diet like while training?
Marvin: High protein high carbs on off-season and high protein low carbs on pre-contest. I eat after my 6am workout (1000 grams of raw fish, 200 grams of kamote). After 3 hours, I take 3 capsules of amino acids, 1 bowl oatmeal, 1 banana and 3 kamotes. After my 12 noon workout, I eat 2 chicken breasts, 10 capsules of amino acids, 2 bananas, 5 kamotes. After 2 hours, I eat 1 chicken breast, 1 saba saging, 2 capsules amino acids and 1 apple. After my 4pm workout, I eat 1000 grams of raw fish tuna kilawen or tanigue, orange or dalanghita. At 6pm I eat 1 cup of rice or kamote. At 9pm I drink protein drink, fresh carrot or mango and L glutamine before going to bed. For my pre-contest diet, it's basically the same but I cut down on my carbo intake.
PNYMS: Wow, just thinking about it makes me nauseous. Thanks for sharing your diet program with us. What do you think is your best body part/s?
Marvin: Chest and arms. My traps are more genetics than anything else.
PNYMS: What is your favorite body part to workout?
Marvin: Chest and back. I do chin ups, seated row and dumbbell row for my back workout.
PNYMS: What is your weakest body part?
Marvin: My calves.
PNYMS: Why do you think?
Marvin: Probably because of the lack of equipment in the gym for calves and maybe I'm just lazy to work it.
PNYMS: What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now?
Marvin: I would have done competing in the US in the next year or two. I actually have another opportunity to compete in Florida, USA next year and I have a sponsor wanting me to compete in Texas. Maybe if God permits, I'd like to train and compete in the States in the next 5 years and show the world that Filipinos can be as good if not better as the Americans and other nationalities. I am proud to be a Filipino. It's just too bad we don't have enough facilities here to train and if we do, only the rich can afford to use them. The common Filipino can never attain their goal unless they go to the States. Bodybuilding is an expensive sport.
PNYMS: Have all your dreams come true?
Marvin: So far yes. I wanted to have a beautiful wife and a healthy child and God gave me that dream. Now my dream is to go to the US to compete. I believe God will open doors for me.
What can we say, Marvin is full of optimism together with enthusiasm for the sport. He gives full support to his fellow athletes and friends when they compete. He's always there to cheer on. He's been given wrong advices by supposedly true friends so to bring him down. He's currently going through personal family problems. He's had bodily harm done to him recently. In spite of all these, Marvin never gives up and holds true to his sport, his fellow athletes and his dreams. He is a true athlete in every sense of the word! Taas noo, Marvin!
Awards
- April 1998 over-all champion and winner in open category, Alaxan Muscle & Motion TV's Channel 2 Eat Bulaga noontime show
- October 2000 Top 6 in Prejudging of Mr. GNC but did not make the finals
- Muscleman Tutuban 2000 - 2nd place Open weight division
- October 2001 - 1st place middleweight 175 lbs Musclemania Philippines 2001
- May 2002 - 1st place middleweight 178 lbs Mr. Philippines in Baguio, Benguet Province
Currently a freelance personal trainer (you may contact him at 0916 400-9701) Sept 1997 - Sept 2002 - Gym instructor at Slimmers Caloocan City, Metro Manila June - Sept 2000 - Gym instructor for Carribean Cruise Japan Luxury Liner