MORE NEWS, BENGUET

Igorot ironman wins Mr. Philippines title
By Delmar Carino

KIBUNGAN, Benguet -- Kibungan ironman Ireneo Dianso regained his spot in the national bodybuilding team when he ruled the flyweight division in a classic showdown at the 2008 National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship at Greenhills, San Juan, Manila last April 26.

Dianso, fresh from a three year muscle gym tutorial contract in Kuwait, demolished the opposition with awesome symmetry and well chiseled body mass to regain his standing as the country’s top bet in the flyweight class in future international contests.

Dianso, 36, aborted his reign as flyweight king from 1998 to 2002 to scratch his itch for a foreign stint as gym instructor for the next four years and did well to reclaim his crown, this time with better body proportion.

As member of the national team, he represented the country in the Southeast Asian Games and the Mr. Asia in Hongkong where he landed among the top ten finishers.

Andaya Aniban of Atok and Rene Mariano, also of Kibungan, joined Dianso in the contender’s circle when they placed third and second in the flyweight and bantamweight divisions, respectively.

Andaya, 36, showed the promise of a future Igorot champion with his much improved composition and eye popping lats and triceps but had to give way to team mate Dianso in the final showdown.

The 31 year old Mano, meanwhile, found the enemy a tough nut to crack in the bantamweight field but managed to show respectable muscles en route to a second place finish.

The annual contest, held by the Philippine Bodybuilding Federation, serves as the elimination and selection of members of the national team.

“I am happy to be back. I believe I had a good training regimen and a well managed diet. I felt nervous at first. But I let my muscles do the talking,” Dianso said.