'Mrs. Philippines International'

With the Philippines being one of the countries that live and breathe for beauty contests, it is surprising that the Mrs. International pageant has missed the radar of many Filipinos. 

Liza Bustos-Schneider is physically fit at 45 years of age. A mother of three children, she was Manila’s Most Outstanding Valedictorian in 1979, a valedictorian of her high school in Pampanga. In 1987, she was a Bb. Pilipinas finalist and from 1995 to 1998, she served as a councilor of Masantol, Pampanga and president of the Pampanga Councilors League. On top of these achievements, she was also 2011 Slimmers World Great Bodies second runner-up and, with her husband Sidney, has won the Mr. and Mrs. Broadmedic title. Together, Liza and Sidney have a five-minute fitness feature entitled The Fitness Couple from Monday to Friday at 8:30 a.m. on the Net 25 channel.

 So how did this dynamic woman get to represent the country as Mrs. Philippines International? Liza shares, “Unlike in the US and most of the 55 participating countries, there’s no annual pageant for married women in the Philippines. I had to send an application to represent the Philippines in the Mrs. International 2012 pageant to US-based pageant directress Mary Richardson. Their selection committee went over my profile and my fan page Sidlizaschneider.fitnesscouple. Ms. Richardson interviewed me over the phone. She e-mailed me late December that I was chosen.” The following are the criteria for judging: 50 percent intelligence/interview, 25 percent evening gown and 25 percent fitness.

As to the couple’s dedication to fitness (Liza’s advocacy as Mrs. Philippines International is the promotion of total fitness), Liza explains, “Sid and I both enrolled in a gym in 1998 but it wasn’t until two years ago that we both made a lifetime commitment to fitness and took up a basic fitness instructor’s course and are now certified fitness trainers. We work out three to four times a week. I do one to three hours of high-intensity dynamic aerobics, which I enjoy immensely. Sid and I do weight training together regularly, and yoga, occasionally.”

Liza does not believe in diets. She eats everything in moderation. Her participation in Mrs. International is not only an opportunity for her to be a good example to other married women but also a way of representing the country in a positive light.

“As a woman, I hope to inspire women of all ages to continue to pursue their dreams as their own person,” Liza says.

As a couple devoted to their fitness advocacy, Sidney and Liza hope to continue to inspire everyone, especially couples, to commit to a healthy lifestyle.