Muscleman in Land Down Under takes pride of Cebuano lineage

CEBU, Philippines - He was born and raised in Australia but up and coming muscleman Julius Cainglet Dimataga takes pride for being a true-blue Cebuano who dreams of bringing honor and pride to the Philippines in major bodybuilding competitions someday.

Julius may be born in Sydney but is a certified Pinoy in heart and mind as his mom Joanne is from Guadalupe, while his dad Chris is from Mactan Island. In addition to that, he is actually the nephew of former commercial basketball star Alex Cainglet, one of the best pointguards the University of Cebu (UC) has ever produced.

Like his uncle, Julius also loves shooting hoops. He then shifted to rugby football but later stopped to focus on his schooling.

Julius, however, kept himself fit and strong by going to the fitness gym regularly. That drummed up his interest in the sport of bodybuilding.

“It started as a hobby at first. Then I started to get a feel in it, getting interested with. Now I try to be the best that I can be,” said Julius in a chat with sportswriters at Ayala Center-Cebu.

Julius, now 22, trained for four years to get his well-defined muscles. He eventually joined in competitions in 2012.

Julius had a very memorable debut having been adjudged as Junior Mr. Lifestyle of the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA). He laced that with a bronze medal in the Junior Mr. New South Wales INBA tilt.

Julius is proud to say that as a competitive athlete, he puts emphasis on his being a natural bodybuilder. He follows a natural method of growing muscles and eats organic food to shun himself from controversial issues like using steroids that usually hound bodybuilders all over the world.

Julius is just thankful that he's got Muscle Republic and JP's Fitness Team to help him out with his expenses with the sport he is into.

INBA events strictly conducts drug testing to its contestants through the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA), which is accredited by the World Anti-Doping Drug Association (WADA) and Julius passed it with flying colors.

Now that he has proven his worth in his 'second home', Julius is bent on showcasing his well-sculpted physique in his native land by registering for 2013 Musclemania Philippines in Manila.

Unfortunately, the event was cancelled five days before the competition and worse he was already in Manila at that time together with his girlfriend Vasialia Segredo and his parents.

“It was frustrating. We spent a lot for this (Musclemania). I prepared hard for this,”  said Julius. "But there's nothing else that I can do as the orgqanizers have already decided to cancel it due to lack of entries."

The event may have been scrapped but Julius and his family have done something worthwhile out of it as it enabled them to do their share in distributing relief goods to the families affected by super typhoon Yolanda in northern Cebu.

“It was frustrating not to win the title I hope for in the Musclemania, but at least we're able to give back by sharing our blessings to the typhoon victims,” said Julius.

The other good thing is that Julius' latest trip to Phl made him more determined to be the best he possibly could in his chosen field and make his country proud in the future.

“If I will be given the opportunity to be part of the national team, I'd sure be glad to be part of it as long as it's natural bodybuilding. Someday, I hope to become Mr. Philippines,” he said. (FREEMAN)