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Roman "Dondon" Cortuna - May 2003
Dondon Cortuna is very much well-liked by his friends, colleagues in the sport and his adoring fans.
He is a person who would go an extra mile for a friend just because.During our pictorial and interview, he stayed mellow and cooperative in the 120 degree sweltering heat of the sun at the Rizal Memorial Stadium where all the athletes of the Philippine National Team train.
How did you get started in this sport? Actually, I started lifting weights in the gym at 17, in Cebu where I'm originally from. My mentor was Eric Tolentino who was Mr. Philippines in 1998.
Did you compete at age 17? I started competing at age 18 in the Mr.Cebu contest and I placed 5th in the open division.
Let's fast forward. You recently represented the Philippines in the Mr. Asia Games in October, 2002. Tell us about that. Well, I was with Alfredo Trazona (another Philippine team) when we competed in Busan, South Korea. We were chosen by the Philippine Sports Commision to represent our country in bodybuilding, together with other athletes competing in their fields. Although I did not place in my division, I was really proud to be part of the Philippine delegation. Steroid testing was a big part of the Asian Games.
Really? It's like the Olympic International held every 4 years, they do random drug testing on all the athletes except that the Olympics does not have the Bodybuilding event yet. That's the reason why we are promoting and emphasizing drug testing in the Mr.Philippines IFBB sanctioned event so that in the future, the International Olympic Committee can include the bodybuilding event in the Olympic games once they prove that bodybuilding can be a drug -free event.
Is steroid use rampant among Filipino bodybuilders? Yes.
Why do you think? For one thing, it's cheaper than buying food supplements or aminos. Also, most competitions except the Mr. Philippines (PFBB) do not test athletes for drugs.
What is your advice to our athletes in bodybuilding? Hard work, discipline, eat right and give it the best you can. You can do it the natural way. Filipinos are gifted with symmetry. It only takes a little extra hard work to make the "cut".
What is off-season to you? Off-season to me is working my weak body parts like for myself it is my delts.
And your best body part? My legs.
Can you give us some off-season leg training tips? Yes.
1) Leg extension - 5 sets 12 reps of heavy weight
2) squats - 5 sets 12 reps heavyweight
3) hamstring deadlift - 5 sets 12 reps heavyweight
4) leg curl - 5 sets 12 reps heavy
5) calf raises - 6 sets 12 reps heavy.
I stretch after each set. I do my legs and triceps on the same day.
Awards
- 1997, Aug