Are you ready to take your fitness journey to the next level? Look no further! There is no other place in the Metro where I am most at home other than Las Pinas City. Strength sports sadly has never found a home before Manuel Barbell Club came into the scene. MBC is now the south’s best-kept secret inside the numerous gated subdivisions that surround the facility.
MBC founder Lyle Manuel used to be a workmate of mine, a fellow chef. He and I were gym buddies and back in 2016 we used to go to a “bakal” gym in the city a stone’s throw away from our houses. I introduced the idea of powerlifting to him, at the time he was a competitive cyclist. I taught him some basics and what I now consider really bad programming. Who would’ve thought that my life motto of Live, learn and pass on would have such an effect, I couldn’t be more proud of myself for having even just a small impact, if any, toward replicating community building like this everywhere I go.
From gym hopping around the south Lyle eventually opened up MBC with his family inside their home in a spacious 50+sqm garage setting with parking slots and separate shower areas to boot. Growing from having the bare necessities to do basic powerlifting training, to having half racks being able to accommodate four at a time and a competition rack with the full on calibrated plates experience and a deadlift platform, MBC has grown at an exponential rate over the years.
Talking about equipment, you won’t see Smith machines, pulleys and cables here. MBC has the bare minimum in building champions and elites. Competition-grade barbells, bands, benches and dumbbells. You’d need imagination and creativity to unlock a lot of accessories and extra hypertrophy work into your routine, something the people here have a steady supply of.
The atmosphere is wildly welcoming. You get teenage students, young professionals, seasoned powerlifters and even senior citizens brushing shoulders with each other and everyone cheering each other on in their fitness aspirations. Not to mention the occasional visits from dogs and cats roaming around and being part of the whole tribal experience.
From a small family-type gym to a grown roster covering a larger demographic, MBC has won a few team and individual athletic awards for powerlifting in the recently concluded 2023 PAP Raw Nationals paving a path in the south and bringing awareness to the general population about the benefits of strength and conditioning.
Overall, this gym may not be for everyone, save for those who aren’t fazed with getting down and dirty in a semi-outdoor setting, sweating it out with steel and rubber and actually working hard to achieve your goals MBC or gyms like them are the templates you want to go with and spend your time on.
To be honest, the only downside I can think of is also MBCs strengths. They cater mostly to the essentials of movement and resistance training in the powerlifting sense of the word. With limited equipment comes a limited exercise pool but you don’t really need more than that to get to be the strongest person in any room in real life.
With such a great community from all walks of life and professions covering your back it’s no surprise that they’re now churning out contenders for the sports at very affordable rates, I can’t wait to see what MBC will be in a few years. Thank you for being a part of our vibrant fitness community. Keep striving, keep sweating, and keep believing in yourself. Until next time, remember that every day is an opportunity to become a stronger, healthier, and happier version of yourself.
