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Armando B. Villasoto - May 2005
Armand is an athlete and a gentleman.
You will never meet anyone so extra nice, hospitable, accommodating and friendly when you first meet him.
He was staying at the Bayview Hotel on Roxas Boulevard across the street from the US Embassy when we did the interview and pictorial. He came over from Hongkong where he currently resides, just to compete at the Mr. & Ms. Philippines held last night at the Star City Theatre, Pasay City, Metro Manila. This is the most prestigious title you can ever get because it is sanctioned by the Philippine government on the national and international level.
He came in 2nd place in the welterweight division. "I really don't mind being second this year.", Armand sincerely tells us. "The plan is to have the second placer (or the Team B) of each category to represent the Philippines at the Asian Bodybuilding Championship in Bangkok, Thailand in September this year. The 1st placer of each category (or Team A) will do the Southeast Asian Games in November. It's more challenging to go to the Asian Games because there will be 45 countries competing while the SEAGames only has 12 countries competing. Being a member of the National Team in the last 4 years is definitely an honor already," Armand explains.
He is worthy of the sportsmanship award if there ever is one for Bodybuilding. He believes losing is part of the game and he gracefully accepts defeat. It gives him more motivation and determination to go beyond his limits.
Armand is a native of Iloilo City. He started out in Free-style Kung Fu martial arts at the age of 14 under the tutelage of Grand Master Angel, a most honored guru in the Visayas . He received a boxing scholarship in college for 4 years at the Western Institute of Technology.
After his graduation from college, he moved to Manila and found his place in the bodybuilding world. He first started working out at Anthony's Gym in Sta. Mesa, a hardcore gym. He went back to Iloilo City to compete his first show. After winning several competitions, he got an offer to work in Hongkong in 1999 and decided to take on the challenge.
In Hongkong, he works as a chef and chauffer for a wealthy businessman. He also works as a part time gym instructor at Fitness First Club Hongkong. He is proud of his culinary skills especially feeding a gourmet party of 50 people recently. Because of his new found skills, he plans to open a restaurant and a gym in the Philippines after his stint overseas.
There is an opportunity for him to move to New York City in the next 2 years. He is being groomed to work for another wealthy businessman on the Eastcoast because of his outstanding performance in Hongkong. Obviously, Armand is hardworking and reaches for the gold the same way he trains for the Mr. Philippines.
Armand learned the proper diet and nutrition for himself just from reading magazines and surfing the web. He prepares 4 months before the Mr. Philippines competition. One week into the show, he only eats protein (90 eggwhites in 1 meal) and no carbs. Three days before the show, he does not drink water. His weight training does not change even if his diet changes. He still lifts the same amount and repetitions from 4 months through the contest date.
He looks forward to competing in Bangkok where he has been a regular visitor as part of his domestic job. His Thai friends are awed about the Philippine bodybuilding scene because of the many, and even weekly shows held here. In Thailand, you'd be lucky to watch 2 or 3 shows in one year. However, the Mr. Thailand IFBB national level does not do drug testing. They go to the international events drug-free, though.
Armand is at his prime in his bodybuilding career. This man will go a long way because of his dreams and ambitions coupled with drive and discipline. We'll definitely hear from him in the many years to come.
Good luck to you, big guy!
Awards
- 1996, March - Mr. Iloilo, 1st place Novice div., Iloilo City
- 1996, April - Mr. Western Visayas, 1st place Open div., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
- 1996, May - Mr. Philippines Cebu, 2nd place Lightweight div., Cebu City
- 1997, October - Mr. Luzon, 1st place, Bustos, Bulacan
- 1998, April - Mr. Body Essence, 2nd place Open Div, Manila
- 1998, June - Mr. PWU, 2nd place Open div., Manila
- 1998, November - Mr. Alhasa, 1st place Novice Div, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Middle East
- 2000, June - Mr. Hongkong, 4th place Lightweight Div., Hongkong, China
- 2001, June - Mr. Hongkong, 1st place Lightweight div., Hongkong, China
- 2002, April - Mr. Philippines, 2nd place Welterweight div., Baguio City
- 2003, April - Mr. Philippines, 1st place Middleweight Div., San Juan, Metro Manila
- 2003, December - SEAGames, 4th place Welterweight div., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- 2004, April - Mr. Philippines, 1st place Welterweight Div., Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila
- 2005, April - Mr. Philippines, 2nd place Welterweight Div., Star City Theatre, Manila