With temperatures reaching new records, Century Tuna Superbods Nation 2016 made it even much hotter with the parade of hot bodies and chiseled physiques scorching in this year’s biggest summer event.
Fitness inspirations and Century Tuna endorsers that became part of the company’s fitness and healthy lifestyle advocacy joined together in a grand reunion to welcome the newest pair to be part of the elite group.
On April 10 at the exclusive Palace Pool Club, “Ultimate Superbods” Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsay with Century Tuna endorsers Solenn Heussaff, Isabelle Daza, Aljur Abrenica, Andrew Wolffe, Xian Lim, Gerald Anderson, Elmo Magalona, Paolo Avelino, Phil Younghusband and Jessy Mendiola graced this year’s Superbod Nation competition, and walked the runway, to welcome Tom Esconde and Olivia Medina as this year’s grand winners. The two bested 24 other hopefuls who participated in a month-long journey that started from nationwide go-sees to numerous physical and mental challenges leading to the finals night.
Esconde, a Filipino-Swedish IT technician, confessed it was his first time to participate in such a search unlike Filipino-Canadian Medina who has had stints as print and fashion model.
“I’ve worked hard for this competition. To be honest, this has been my lifestyle. I didn’t prepare just yesterday. I’ve been living a healthy and active lifestyle as far as I can remember. I guess, that’s what the judges saw that’s why they chose me to be the winner,” the 28-year-old Esconde told The Standard minutes after winning the Superbod Nation competition.
Medina, on the other hand, relayed: “This is such a great blessing for me. The experience was so amazing, I really pushed myself and never gave up. And I also made a lot of amazing friends.”
Bagging first runner-up honors were Clint Bondad and Ambra Gutierrez, while Chet Abella and Ali Khatibi walked home as second runners-up. The Superbods search, now celebrating its 10th glorious year, lived up to its promise of being bigger, better, and sexier.
Greg Banzon, Century Pacific Food, Inc. vice-president and general manager, expressed his delight in the diversity of the Superbods finalists. Sitting on the judges table, the Century top gun said, “What were are seeing tonight is a true cross section, a convergence. I’m happy to see finalists who are Eurasians, Filipino-Americans, Filipino-Chinese, and of different backgrounds and interests.”
Both Tom Esconde and Olivia Medina took home generous prizes: P500,000 cash each and a year’s contract as brand ambassador of Century Tuna. The first runners-up received P250,000 each, while the second runners-up bagged P100,000 each and all the finalists took home P30,000 each.
Sitting in the distinguished Board of Judges along with Banzon—who no doubt had a tough time in choosing the winners—were Miss Universe 1969 and Century Tuna’s first celebrity endorser Gloria Diaz, fashion editor and stylist Liz Uy, UAAP basketball star Jerone Teng, Mediaquest and TV5 president and CEO Noel Lorenzana, Intelligent Skincare Inc and Belo Medical Group Managing Director Cristalle Belo Henares, and PC&V Communications president and CEO Ariel Comia.
The two-hour fitness spectacle, fashion show and competition also witnessed the return of former Superbods winners including 2014 winners Mauro Lumba and Sarah Polverini, Van Victor Leaño (2009) and John Spainhour and Monica Sta. Maria (2012) and runner-up June Macasaet.
“It’s ’s the biggest reunion of superbods as we welcome onstage the past and present names who live up Century Tuna lifestyle,” says Marc Nelson, one of the program hosts.