A New Wave of Muscle: The Genesis All Novice Bodybuilding Show

Sunday, May 18, 2025 — The energy was high, the bodies were shredded, and the dedication was real at The Genesis All Novice Bodybuilding Show held at the beautiful Palacio De Maynila. Known for hosting many top fitness events here in the Philippines, Palacio saw a fresh twist this time around. Instead of the usual stage setup, Genesis took a different approach and set the stage lengthwise through the venue. This meant as soon as you entered, you saw the competitors from the side. It made the stage feel bigger and helped direct more of the audience to sit in the center, where the view was best. While this change made things interesting, it also made it a bit harder to watch the show clearly from other angles. Still, it was an idea worth trying and shows that organizers are open to improvement.

The women’s division featured only one main category — Women’s Bikini — but it was split into four classes: Rookie (first-year competitors), True Novice Short, True Novice Tall, Novice 1 Short, and Novice 1 Tall. While the overall turnout was smaller than hoped, the level of conditioning and presentation was definitely a step up. With the rise of Women’s Fit in other events, Bikini athletes are clearly responding by showing up leaner, tighter, and more stage-ready than ever. One woman in particular had a midsection so defined, she looked like she had an eight-pack. It's clear competitors are paying attention to the evolving standards and bringing their best.

On the men’s side, participation was strong across all divisions, with Men’s Physique clearly dominating the lineup. A standout feature this year was the addition of the Transformation category — a new and powerful inclusion that gave individuals the chance to share their personal health journeys. It added a meaningful layer to the event and highlighted the lifestyle aspect of bodybuilding beyond just aesthetics.

The show also gave space to younger athletes with both Teens (16–19) and Juniors (20–23) categories. These young competitors impressed not only with their physiques but with their poise and presence on stage. It’s rare to see such discipline and maturity at that age, and it bodes well for the future of the sport in the Philippines.

One booth that made waves in the sponsor area was local supplement brand P:27G, who introduced a new whey isolate with probiotics — the first of its kind in the Philippines. Given the controversies last year around underdosed proteins, it was refreshing to see a brand proudly showcase their lab-tested formula. If you sampled their chocolate shake at the booth, you already know — it was fire.

Prize packages this year raised the bar:

• All category winners received a 6-month All-Star Athlete contract with JFit.

• All 1st to 5th place finishers were awarded supplement bundles from Supplement Hub and JFit.

• Overall winners took home a 1-year JFit All-Star Athlete contract plus a sponsored entry to a pro show (AGP or Muscle Contest) later this year.

The Genesis wasn’t just another bodybuilding show — it was a fresh take on what the local scene can look like when innovation, opportunity, and genuine support for athletes come together. Whether you're prepping for your first comp or your fifth, The Genesis reminds us that there’s always a place for hard work, growth, and a whole lot of muscle.

See you at the next one, PrepLifers. Let’s keep building.

And without much ado, here is the Winner's List...

CLASSIC PHYSIQUE -- TEENS

1st      Edsel Legorio, 13

2nd     Kenje Dilag, 26

3rd      Harvey Boongaling, 2

4th      Eris Khervie N. Tagle, 9

5th      Prince Gagui, 100

CLASSIC PHYSIQUE -- JUNIORS

1st      Jennard Luyong, 85

2nd     Cris Dave, 84

CLASSIC PHYSIQUE -- MASTERS

1st      Ojee Estrella, 24

2nd     Ramon Moriles, 99

3rd      Josh Ivan Morales, 6

CLASSIC PHYSIQUE -- ROOKIE

1st      Juan Miguel Sahagun, 87

2nd     Jennard Luyong, 85

3rd      Mark Vincent Arocha, 101

4th      Cris Dave, 84

5th      Lexter Edward Catacutan, 14

CLASSIC PHYSIQUE -- TRUE NOVICE SHORT

1st      Jennard Luyong, 85

2nd     Mark Vincent Arocha, 101

3rd      Fernando Taburnall, 90

CLASSIC TRUE NOVICE TALL

1st      Juan Miguel Sahagun, 87

2nd     James Carlo Atienza, 7

3rd      Edsel Legorio, 13

4th      Josh Ivan Morales, 6

5th      Juluis Caezar Bague, 18

CLASSIC PHYSIQUE -- NOVICE 1 SHORT / OPEN

1st      Juan Miguel Sahagun, 87

2nd     Alexander Querubin, 93

BIKINI -- ROOKIE   

1st      Dyan Amelle Famini, 40

2nd     Jona Jocoson, 43

3rd      Sam Patricio, 25

4th      Mikee Ramos, 8

5th      Mary Grace Manahan, 54

BIKINI -- TRUE NOVICE

1st      Dyan Amelle Famini, 40

2nd     Sam Patricio, 25

3rd      Jona Jocoson, 43

4th      Mary Grace Manahan, 54

5th      Mikee Ramos, 8

BIKINI -- NOVICE 1

1st      Dyan Amelle Famini, 40

2nd     Sam Patricio, 25

3rd      Jona Jocoson, 43

4th      Mary Grace Manahan, 54

5th      Mikee Ramos, 8

MEN’S PHYSIQUE -- TEENS

1st      Luis Andrei Fajardo, 76

2nd     Mark Jaspher A. Magistrado, 73

3rd      Kenje Dilag, 26

4th      Prienz Adriel S. Tagorda, 75

5th      Edsel Legorio, 13

MEN’S PHYSIQUE -- JUNIORS

1st      Christian Dalere, 5

2nd     Jennard Luyong, 85

3rd      Eljay Castor Lamata, 44

4th      Quin Francis Obaob, 21

5th      Cris Dave, 84

MEN’S PHYSIQUE -- MASTERS

1st      Jeff Aleta, 36

2nd     John Calvin Raymundo, 60

3rd      Ojee Estrella, 24

4th      Ernesto Duque Beza, 83

5th      Reymon Catalan, 107

MEN’S PHYSIQUE -- NATURAL ROOKIE

1st      Rafael Piyamonte, 77

2nd     Ramil Sonio, 97

3rd      John Calvin Raymundo, 60

4th      Angelo Suarez, 79

5th      Lanz Alvin Kyle A Cruz, 35

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- NATURAL TRUE NOVICE SHORT

1st      Fernando Taburnall, 90

2nd     Karen Grewal, 88

3rd      Ramil Sonio, 97

4th      Jonathan Gulrajani, 28

5th Prince Aaron Velasquez, 59

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- NATURAL TURE NOVICE TALL

77      Rafael Piyamonte, 77

94      Arth Vicencio, 94

57      John Denmer Usman, 57

56      Paul David N. Dela Vega, 56

70      John Benedict G., 70

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- NATURAL NOVICE 1 SHORT

1st      Karen Grewal, 88

2nd     Jonathan Gulrajani, 28

3rd      Angelo Gonzales, 102

4th      Jericho Cedric Maravilla, 49

5th      Christian Asher Limbo, 45

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- NATURAL NOVICE 1 TALL

1st      Rafael Piyamonte, 77

2nd     Roma Jain, 29

3rd      John Calvin Raymundo, 60

4th      Edison Dampil, 86

5th      Renzo Artuz, 48

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- ROOKIE

1st      Juan Miguel Sahagun, 87

2nd     Christian Dalere, 5

3rd      Sherwin L. Cabigting, 72

4th      Chyl Mharionne C. Hernandez, 33

5th      Jennard Luyong, 85

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- TRUE NOVICE A

1st      Christian Dalere, 5

2nd     Sherwin L. Cabigting, 72

3rd      Chyl Mharionne C. Hernandez, 33

4th      Jennard Luyong, 85

5th      Eljay Castor Lamata, 44

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- TRUE NOVICE B

1st      Bret Henrix Rodaje, 1

2nd     Karen Grewal, 88

3rd      Jikee Argones, 51

4th      Rahul, 89

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- TRUE NOVICE C

1st      Marc Manuel Tavinas, 38

2nd     Gerome Galbey Dominno, 30

3rd      Jeff Aleta, 36

4th      Lexter Edward Catacutan, 14

5th      Renzo Artuz, 48

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- TRUE NOVICE D

1st        Red Agui, 98

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- NOVICE 1

1st        Jennard Luyong, 85

2nd       Sherwin L. Cabigting, 72

3rd        Angelo Suarez, 79

4th        Jonathan Gulrajan, 28i

5th        John Michael Antonio Cua, 68

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- NOVICE 1 B

1st        Quin Francis Obaob, 21

2nd       Bret Henrix Rodaje, 1

3rd        Julius Caezar Bague, 18

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- NOVICE 1 C

1st        Marc Manuel Tavinas, 38

2nd       Gerome Galbey Dominno, 30

3rd        Roma Jain, 29

4th        Lexter Edward Catacutan, 14

5th        John Mark De Vera, 19

MEN'S PHYSIQUE -- NOVICE 1 D

1st        Red Agui, 98

ATHLETIC MODEL

1st        Karan Grewal, 88

2nd       Luis Andrei Fajardo, 76

3rd        Francis David G. Escobar, 74

4th        Calvin Chico, 47

5th        Prienz Adriel S. Tagorda, 75

TRANSFORMATION

1st        Jonathan Gulrajani, 28

2nd       Ojee Estrella, 24

3rd        Joemar Claveria, 63

4th        Grace Miranda, 23

5th        John Denmer Usman, 57