Filipino makes it to ‘Biggest Loser Asia’ finale
By Ma. Rosanna Mina – A Filipino will battle it out with contenders from Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong for the first-ever “The Biggest Loser Asia” title when the reality television series’ finale takes place on Tuesday.
Professional chef Carlo Miguel, 32, will go against Indonesian David Gurnani, Malaysian Aaron Mokhtar and Martha Lai from Hong Kong.
Miguel had a starting weight of 132 kilograms. His last weigh-in on Week 13 before going into the final was 90 kg.
He belongs to a family of foodies and chefs. His great-grandfather was a pastry chef, his mother is a cook with a catering business while his older brother is a chef as well.
Miguel has cooked in Luke Mangan’s Salt Restaurant and David Rayner’s Vault in Sydney, Australia. At present, he is the executive chef of Sala Bistro and Sala Restaurant in Manila.
The only Filipino in the Final 4, who was diagnosed with hypertension, high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnea, is a newlywed who wants to start a family.
He “wants to have the health and energy needed to cope with small children,” his profile on the show’s official Web site noted.
The reality TV program, which is the Asian version of American show “The Biggest Loser,” began airing on the Hallmark Channel last November. Overweight contestants aim to lose weight in order to win the top prize worth $100,000 plus a car sponsored by Renault, according to the show’s Wikipedia entry.
The show’s site said that those with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25 are likely obese and are qualified for the show.
Asian competitors
Gurnani, meantime, is a 25-year-old salesman from Indonesia who stands at 6 feet. Currently at 102 kg, Gurnani had a starting weight of 157 kg.
Malaysian Mokhtar, 30, had a starting weight of 159 kg. The copywriter now weighs 113 kg.
The lone woman in the Final 4 is 19-year-old Lai, a pet shop sales assistant and groomer. The 97-kg finalist from Hong Kong had a starting weight of 127 kg.
“The Biggest Loser Asia” has 2 trainers, namely Kristy Curtis and Dave Nuku.
Curtis is touted as one of the leading health and wellness experts from Australia while Nuku, a Kiwi living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a regional fitness manager of Fitness First Asia.
He works with more than 1,500 personal trainers and fitness managers in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.
The show is hosted by Malaysian actress, singer and TV host Sarimah Ibrahim.
Filipino contenders
A total of 8 Filipinos made it to “The Biggest Loser Asia” Top 30, with 5 advancing to the show proper.
They are Miguel, Del Bacho, Leonore Lorelei Veronica H. Llamas lll, Christine White and Kevin Yue.
Bacho, 38, is a writer for a men’s magazine. He is also a freelance fight director, sports commentator and events host. He started with a weight of 143 kg and ended his run in Week 3 at 136 kg, the show’s website noted.
The 33-year-old Llamas, who joined the show to help her family members affected by Typhoon “Ondoy” last September, had a starting weight of 81 kg. She left the show in Week 4 at 73 kg.
The 27-year-old Christine White was eliminated in Week 10. She was at 102 kg, 26 kg lighter than her starting weight of 128 kg.
The unemployed Kevin Yue, 27, had a starting weight of 215 kg. His stint ended in Week 11 when left the show 68 kg lighter at 147 kg.
The At home contestants who were sent home after an elimination challenge were 35-year-old performer Austine Torres Casenas (134 kg), 32-year-old call center manager Perfecto Arturo Dillera (158 kg) and 43-year-old television host and comedienne Ruby Rodriguez-Aquino (96 kg).
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