On May 19, 2024, Philippine Powerlifting (PHPL), in partnership with Kinetix Lab, hosted the Metro Manila Open 2024. Held at One Ayala Mall, the competition brought together some of the most dedicated and powerful athletes in the region. This mid-year event serves as a precursor to a more rigorous and competitive Raw Nationals that will be held in November this year. The whole event was nothing short of a blast with competitors breaking personal and national records here and there, while showcasing their skills, dedication, and willpower.
Metro Manila Open 2024 featured three core lifts: squat, bench press and deadlifts. Each athlete had three attempts per lift to achieve their maximum weight. Let’s check out the highlights from each division!
Women’s Highlights
Rosalina Santiago (U60 Masters) finished the competition with a 207.5kg total
The Women’s flight saw some of the most competitive lifters across several age and weight classes. Sheila Sajorda (U75) topped the Women’s deadlift charts by lifting 142.5 kg, the heaviest successful attempt on the category. Fauline Maraan (U60) impressed viewers and athletes alike by squatting 120 kg, while Maria Francesca Navarra (U75) squatted 125 kg.
Felice Lorenzana successfully lifted 135 kg in the deadlift category, breaking the existing record in the U60 Novice weight class.
Sparks flew when Nikki Papa from U60 Novice & Open broke the record for the heaviest deadlift in her weight class by lifting 130 kg, only for Felice Lorenzana to pull in a whopping 135kg one minute later. Lorenzana now holds the record for the heaviest deadlift in the U60 Novice weight class.
Nikki Papa (U60 Novice) ended the competition with a total of 272.5 kg
Gabriella Venturina (U48 Novice & Open) dominated the bench press event with her 55kg press, a truly impressive feat. Competitors from the Masters 1 & 3 categories Rosalina Santiago and Joan Arabit ended with 30 kg and 35 kg respectively.
Men’s Highlights
The excitement continued on as the male athletes took turns showing off their strength and testing their mettle.
Matthew Adrian Sison (U52 Novice & Juniors) impressed the crowd with his 160 kg squat, while Jeffrey Arabit (U82.5 Masters 1 & Open) finished with 182.5 kg. It’s also worth noting that Jeffrey was joined by his wife Joan Arabit, who ranked first in the U60 Masters 1 category.
Kinetix+ Nutritionist Dan Pambid squatting 180 kg. Dan finished 2nd in the U100 Novice category.
Now, on to everyone’s favorite: the deadlift. The athletes showcased an extraordinary display of power during this particular event, as evidenced by the totals achieved and the PR’s broken. People were looking forward to the this portion in particular, as some athletes are notorious for their deadlift prowess.
Kinetix Lab Coach Jeffrey Portugal (U90 Open & Novice) during his 295 kg deadlift attempt
For the deadlift, novices Jerene Angelo Cantos Salvador (U60 Juniors & Novice) and Jayseph Camara (U67.5 Juniors & Open) lifted 190 kg and 225 kg respectively.
Jeffrey James Portugal (U90 Open & Novice) lifted a mind-numbing 305 kg during his best attempt, while Prist Villanueva blew everyone away with 344 kg.
Asia’s Pound for Pound lifter Prist Villanueva during a mind-boggling 344 kg deadlift
The bench press event was equally thrilling, as seasoned and novice athletes showed their strength and determination. This year we saw Louie George Jimenez (U140 Open) press an impressive 180.5 kg, while Jack Reynolds (U125 Juniors & Open) dominated his weight class by finishing with 150 kg. Vince Gaña (U75 Open) impressed with 140kg, while Angel Gaña ended with 107.5 kg.
The Metro Manila Open 2024 was a resounding success, highlighting the incredible talent and dedication of powerlifters in the Philippines. The event not only celebrated the athletes’ achievements but also fostered a sense of community and camaraderie among participants and spectators. As the dust settles and the lifters recover, thoughts are already turning to the next competition, with everyone eager to see even more records shattered and personal bests achieved.
Check out the full list of winners here!
Best Lifters
Women’s Division
Open & Juniors
Fauline Maraan
Novice
Jhona Mallari
Masters 1
Sheila Sajorda
Men’s Division
Juniors
Jayseph Camara
Open
Prist Villanueva
Masters I
Aaron Dela Cruz
Women’s Division
U48
Novice
Gabriella Venturina – 1st place
Laurie Lee – 2nd place
Open
Gabriella Venturina – 1st place
Masters 1
Laurie Lee – 1st place
U52
Novice
Jhona Mallari – 1st place
Danica Dawn Nova – 2nd place
Lovely Chin – 3rd place
Open
Jhona Mallari – 1st place
Jennel Bujactin – 2nd place
VIctoria Pamela Altre – 3rd place
U56
Novice
Andrea Abalos – 1st place
Suzanne Lee – 2nd place
Zenaida Bahadur – 3rd place
Masters I
Suzanne Lee – 1st place
Open
Suzanne Lee – 1st place
Juniors
Andrea Abalos – 1st place
U60
Open
Fauline Maraan – 1st place
Nikki Papa – 2nd place
Yashine Luz Paredes – 3rd place
Juniors
Fauline Maraan – 1st place
Yashine Luz Paredes – 2nd place
Novice
Fauline Maraan – 1st place
Yashine Luz Paredes – 2nd place
Masters I
Joan Arabit – 1st place
Masters 3
Rosalina Santiago – 1st place
U67.5
Open
Massy Pesito – 1st place
Novice
Patricia Louise Peque – 1st place
U75
Novice
Maria Francesca Navarra – 1st place
Roshiela Oña – 2nd place
Mary Grace Nacario – 3rd place
Juniors
Mary Grace Nacario – 1st place
Masters 1
Sheila Sajorda – 1st place
Men’s Division
MALE
U52
Juniors
Matthew Adrian Sison – 1st place
Novice
Matthew Adrian Sison – 1st place
Leonard Mervin Arguelles – 2nd place
Open
Matthew Adrian Sison – 1st place
U60
Juniors
Angel Gaña – 1st place
Jerene Angelo Cantos Salvador – 2nd place
Darrel Dave Doblon – 3rd place
Novice
Angel Gaña – 1st place
Jerene Angelo Cantos Salvador – 2nd place
Darrel Dave Doblon – 3rd place
U67.5
Juniors
Jayseph Camara – 1st place
Dave Policarpio – 2nd place
Vincent Reynan Panopio – 3rd place
Novice
Jorge Vince Hosmillo – 1st place
Dave Policarpio – 2nd place
Vincent Reynan Panopio – 3rd place
Open
Jayseph Camara – 1st place
Vincent Reynan Panopio – 2nd place
U75
Novice
James Michael Roma – 1st place
Gabriel Gerard Faraon – 2nd place
Michael Estrera – 3rd place
Juniors
Gabriel Gerard Faraon – 1st place
Michael Estrera – 2nd place
Gian Ignacio – 3rd place
Open
Joel Genio – 1st place
Enoc Francisco – 2nd place
Vince Gaña – 3rd place
Masters
Aaron Dela Cruz – 1st place
U82.5
Novice
Mark Radam – 1st place
Mark Anthony Camino – 2nd place
Jonathan Quilloy – 3rd place
Juniors
Mark Anthony Camino – 1st place
Noralf Russel – 2nd place
Justin Miguel Macasinag – 3rd place
Open
Prist Villanueva – 1st place
Mark Radam – 2nd place
Jeffrey Arabit – 3rd place
Masters I
Jeffrey Arabit – 1st place
U90
Novice
Jeffrey James A. Portugal – 1st place
Daniel Pregillano – 2nd place
Philip Brub – 3rd place
Juniors
Miguel Cometa – 1st place
Open
Jeffrey James A. Portugal – 1st place
Azim Tamano – 2nd place
Philip Brub – 3rd place
U100
Novice
Russel Jonas Sucayre – 1st place
Dan Pambid – 2nd place
Ronald Arthur Davis – 3rd place
Open
Rameses Joseph Dingle – 1st place
Arjay Calingacion – 2nd place
Leonard Linning – 3rd place
U110
Novice
Jarvis Jonathan Cabardo – 1st place
Open
Armand Paredes – 1st place
Masters I
Armand Paredes – 1st place
U125
Open
Jack Reynolds – 1st place
Immanuel Seth de Guzman – 2nd place
John Carlo Pineda – 3rd place
Juniors
Jack Reynolds – 1st place
Novice
John Carlo Pineda – 1st place
