Good health is important for achieving and maintaining success
How important is good health for business and professional success? How can we hold on to, build up and sustain success if we’re simply not healthy or energetic enough?
Are our corporate executives, entrepreneurs and leaders in the Philippines, including the May 9 election candidates, physically fit for the strenuous jobs they’re seeking in public office? If in business we require employees to pass medical exams and psychiatric evaluations, I believe our leaders must also be physically, intellectually, morally and emotionally fit!
What is the use of amassing great wealth and power if we carelessly or thoughtlessly sacrifice our physical well-being and basic health needs like sufficient daily sleep, a balanced diet, regular exercise and avoidance of vices like smoking or over-drinking?
Last April 10, I was invited to witness the grand finals of Century Tuna Superbods, which is the Philippines’ wealthiest pageant ever. It is bigger in cash and other prizes at half a million pesos each for the grand winners than Binibining Pilipinas, other pageants or other modeling competitions. I was seated beside Century Tuna bosses led founder Ricardo Po Sr. and his sons. Near our seats was Century Pacific Foods, Inc. general manager Greg Banzon, who was one of the judges.
The Po family also recently bought the Shakey’s Pizza chain using Century Pacific Group. Their Century Pacific Food Inc. owns such popular food brands as Century Tuna, Argentina Corned Beef, Swift Meats, 555 Sardines and Birch Tree Milk, with annual revenues last year of P23.32 billion.
The P10 Billion Tuna Market
Based on my research, the tuna market of the Philippines is roughly P10 billion a year and almost half of that is dominated by the leading brand, Century Tuna. Among the country’s surfeit of modeling competitions and other pageants, the now twice-a-year Century Tuna Superbods for men and women is the biggest of its kind.
The male Superbods grand winner was information technology practioner and runner Tom Esconde, whose total average score from the judges was just 0.2 percent ahead of first runner-up Clint Bondad, who is a Viva talent and model. The female grand winner Olivia Medina is a fashion model who works out in the gym and does yoga.
Unknown to many, among the equally fit and good-looking finalists included the late famous Central Bank Governor and Far East Bank co-founder, Jobo Fernandez’s granddaughter Carmela Fernandez; Apex Mining Co., Inc. chairman Ramon Sy’s son Ryan Sy; Pio Luz, whose relative is National Competitiveness Council co-chairman and former Makati Business Club official Bill Luz; ex-professional tennis player Anja Peter; actor Daniel Padilla’s cousin Kel Padilla; sexy actress Christine Reyes’ husband Ali Khatibi; and Krav Maga Israeli martial arts athlete Chet Abella.
During the entertaining Century Tuna Superbods finals night held at the Palace Pool Club in BGC, Taguig City, Banzon agreed to give this exclusive interview:
THE PHILIPPINE STAR: My paternal cousin, topnotch cardiologist Dr. Dy Bun Yok, told me that to maintain good health, we need to eat healthily, do cardiovascular exercise three times a week and avoid smoking. Can you please add your health tips for ordinary people, since I heard that you and the Po family of Century Tuna are all health buffs, too?
GREG BANZON: What the top cardiologist said is true about exercise, healthy eating and no smoking. For ordinary people who are not athletes, I suggest 20 to 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least three times a week. I recommend also some strength-training exercises at least twice a week, to maintain our muscles.
How many steps is ideal for us to walk per day? Philippine Airlines chairman Lucio Tan once mentioned to me that his personal target is 10,000 steps per day and he even wears a gadget to track it.
I think 6,000 steps of walking per day is healthy.
When is the best time for exercise, morning or at night after dinner? Why?
For me, I do running in the morning. It’s better for me so there’s no need to find the time or to fit in exercise into my daily schedule because I’ve already done it in the morning.
Aside from the fact that Century Tuna is the country’s No. 1 tuna brand in sales and popularity, what exactly are the health benefits of eating tuna?
Tuna is high in Omega 3, DHA. Eating Omega 3 is a belly trimmer, it promotes heart health and brain development.
Is it true that you and the Po family members also embody the Superbods ethic of Century Tuna, that you’re also into sports? What are your sports or physical fitness exercises?
Mr. Ricardo Po Sr. plays golf. Our chief executive officer, Chris Po, does running, the triathlon; he has also done a full marathon and a half Ironman. I’ve also been running ever since I was 12 years old. I’m a runner and I do the triathlon, too. I also did a full Ironman in Jeju, South Korea, in 2011.
What does the Ironman sports event entail?
An Ironman means doing 3.5 kilometers swimming, 180 kilomers biking and 42 kilometers running, or a full marathon. It’s like swimming from Ortigas Center in Pasig City to Makati City, then riding the bike from Makati to Pangasinan, and then running back from Pangasinan to Tarlac. It is an endurance sport.
What are your goals in this biennial Century Tuna Superbods competition aside from it being one of the country’s most popular marketing and physique events?
We at Century Tuna want to help make the whole Philippines a superbod nation, to promote physical fitness nationwide.
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