How a health issue led Kim Chiu to advocate for fitness

MANILA, Philippines — Kim Chiu revealed that a health issue led her to become a fitness advocate.

When The STAR recently asked the actress if she had any personal story or experience that taught her to value her health, she shared, “Meron kasi talaga akong asthma attack. Tapos hindi ko kaya talaga kasi sa ASAP, ‘pag sumasayaw ako, ang bilis ko hingalin. Or every time na natapos ‘yung sayaw, nilalagyan ako ng oxygen dun sa backstage.”

She continued, “Minsan tatapusin ko lang siya (the performance), pero nahimatay na pala ako. So, parang ano ba ‘to? Ano bang kailangan kong gawin para lumakas ako?

“So, that’s how I started joining marathons. Na-enjoy ko mag-running, na-enjoy ko mag-bike, mag-workout. I joined duathlons. I also enjoyed triathlons. So (I realized) ang saya pala dito because of the camaraderie of the running group or biking group. They don’t treat you as an artista. Kanya-kanya kayo ng (encouragement), ‘Uy, kaya mo.’ ‘Pag sumasali ng laban parang kaya mo ‘yan, go lang. It’s really a new community for me.”

Then she also got more serious in her gym regimen. “‘Yung mga kaibigan ko ring mga mommies na mukhang bata, ka-gym ko naman sila. So, ang galing! Gusto ko ‘pag-50 ako, ganyan pa rin ako. So, I’m starting it now.”

Since she became more fitness-oriented, Kim said that she has not experienced an asthma attack again.

“Yung asthma, hindi na siya actually nagpapakita. Nakatulong talaga,” she added.

“Also during the pandemic (it didn’t happen). Di ba ‘yung may asthma daw ‘yung lapitin ng COVID, Diyos ko dinamihan ko ‘yung (indoor running) ko. It really helped. Now that my schedule has eased up, I might join (a triathlon) again.”

Kim granted The STAR an interview after she was launched as the celebrity endorser of Hello! Melo — a beauty drink that targets skin concerns with ingredients like Collagen, Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides and L-Gluthathione — from the health, wellness and skincare brand Brilliant Skin Essentials.

Kim joins the likes of Alden Richards, Andrea Brillantes and Paulo Avelino, Kim’s leading man in “Linlang” and “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.”

Kim as celebrity endorser of Hello! Melo — a beauty drink that targets skin concerns with ingredients like Collagen, Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides and L-Gluthathione — from the health, wellness and skincare brand Brilliant Skin Essentials.

Leading the welcome into Brilliant Skin Essentials’ roster of brand ambassadors was the young chief executive officer Glenda dela Cruz Victorio, who is also a social media personality popularly known as “Miss Glenda.” The event was jampacked by franchisees and distributors from different parts of the country.

On the subject of beauty and wellness, The STAR asked the newly single Kim about her Top 3 self-love and self-care routines.

Leading the welcome into Brilliant Skin Essentials’ roster of brand ambassadors is its young chief executive officer Glenda dela Cruz Victorio (right), who is also a social media personality popularly known as ‘Miss Glenda.’

“No. 1, I work out,” she said.

“Exercising really helps… Even just walking, jogging, or brisk walking helps with blood circulation, which also prevents skin dryness and sagging, keeping us looking fresh. Sweating helps release harmful toxins from our body, which is important for our health.

“Second is I give myself some time to destress. No cellphone. Sometimes it’s not obvious, but I recharge by myself.

“(I go to the beach) or my rest house. I don’t use the phone, no TV, no news, no anything… just three days or five days only…then, balik ulit.

“Third is I listen to my body. Ano gusto ko kainin, bilhin for myself? Sino gusto kong kausapin, ‘yung ite-treat mo ‘yung self mo once in a while. I get a facial, manicure-pedicure, I eat delicious food, I have days like that where I just do things I want to do…

“What I’m saying is let’s not neglect ourselves. Na hindi natin i-treat na ay pang-sosyal lang ‘yan. Treat din natin kasi nagtatrabaho naman tayo para sa sarili din natin.”

The 34-year-old Cebuana further said that while aging is a natural process, she believes that how we manage it is within our control.

“Marami namang paraan, ‘wag ka lang magpabaya sa sarili mo, more on self-care, self-love.”

Ultimately, for her, having a positive mindset and confidence contributes to overall happiness and well-being.

And whenever she’s feeling down, Kim said she turns to her closest friends in the industry, Angelica Panganiban and Bela Padilla.

“It’s also a big help that I’m on ‘It’s Showtime’ every day,” she added. “Kasi parang kinokondisyon niya ‘yung utak mo na dapat happy ka ‘pag nandun ka. Or pati ‘yung family na nandoon. Sobrang masayahin ang lahat so makakalimutan mo talaga problema mo.

“And it feels like a complete family. You have a nanay in Tiyang Amy (Perez) and a tatay in Sir Ogie (Alcasid). Then everyone else is your barkada. We’re really a family (there).

“Kapag may pinagdadaanan, makakaramdam ‘yung isa sa amin ng ‘hoy, bakit tahimik ka? bakit ganyan?’ So, we are sensitive to each other.

“That’s one of the things I’m grateful for. I have friends like that. And of course, I have my own family (to help me), my Ate and my Tatay.”

As for her advice to fellow women on regaining their self-confidence after surviving a tough period in their life, Kim said it’s not to hold grudges or harbor resentment.

“Huwag lang talagang magtatanim ng sama ng loob. That’s the No. 1 rule I’ve set for myself. Never talaga magtatanim ng sama ng loob dahil ikaw lang yung mahihirapan eh. For example, may kaaway ka, ‘ayan na siya, magtatago ako, ayaw ko siya makita.’ Sino pinaparusahan mo? Sarili mo lang.

“So might as well live in the moment and throw away all the negativities or (let go of your) enemies, whoever that be.”

That’s what she learned from her father, according to Kim. “Ganun kasi ugali ng Papa ko. Wala talaga siyang kagalit, parang ang sarap ng buhay ng Papa ko. Happy happy lang siya… He’s already 65 but he doesn’t look like one,” she noted.

Meanwhile, it’s not hard to notice how Kim is experiencing a career high. She’s all over in terms of TV shows and endorsements.

When this paper pointed it out to her, she laughingly reacted, “Hindi mo makukuha lahat, may isa kasing wala, charot! You can’t have it all!”

But it’s OK and she remains grateful. “Nagpapasalamat nga ako tsaka sinuwerte lang talaga ako, yung mga projects ko nagkasunod sunod and sabay-sabay,” she said.

She particularly gave credit to the late ABS-CBN executive and Dreamscape Entertainment boss, Deo Endrinal, for pushing her to accept projects like the infidelity-themed thriller “Linlang” and the romantic-comedy “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim,” as well as hosting duties in the noontime program “It’s Showtime.”

Is there anything else that she looks forward to happening in her personal life this 2024?

She mused, “Personal life this year? Siguro ‘wag muna… Trabaho muna. Live in the moment. Yun muna. Huwag munang magplano ng pangmatagalan. Baka hindi rin mangyari and malungkot lang.”