"Pinch me!"
Ito raw ang naramdaman ni Chie Filomeno noong nakita na niya ang kanyang calendar para sa Ginebra San Miguel.
"This is going to be the first time na may nakapaskel na photo ko kung saan man. So ako, feel ko talaga you have to pinch me 'cause I think I’m still dreaming. Yung ganoong tipong feeling. Yun talaga yun, e.”
But this is more than just a calendar for the 25-year-old Pinoy Big Brother housemate. Gusto niya kasing ipaalala sa lahat na looking good is not dependent on body type.
In her case, she has always been skinny, and has been bashed a couple of times because of it.
But she was never affected.
Aniya, "I’ve always been comfortable with my body kasi alam kong meron dito na petite like me sinasabihan na, 'Uy, ang payat-payat mo, ganito, ganoon...'
"So, I wanna be the face for those girls or kahit anong gender iyan.
"I wanna be the image for them na it’s okay to have this kind of body, as long as you know you are healthy inside and out. Yun ang pinaka-important.
"And we have to be comfortable, whatever your sexuality is. Kailangan nating maging open-minded."
Pagdating naman sa paghahandang ginawa niya para sa pictorial, ipinagpatuloy lang niya ang kanyang usual workout.
Her fitness goal is never magpapayat kundi magpalaki.
Sabi ng dalaga sa launch ng kanyang bagong endorsement, “I’m more of like lifting weights. I avoid cardio since I’m petite. So I wanna gain muscle."
Ganundin sa pagkain—hindi raw siya nagpipigil kumain, pero may isa siyang iniiwasan.
Sa pagpapatuloy ni Chie, “And for my diet, baka hindi kayo maniwala pero malakas po talaga akong kumain. I give my body what it needs.
“Ayokong i-deprive yung body ko, e. That’s why I work out. Kailangan healthy din yung ipini-feed mo sa sarili mo.
“I make sure na balanced.
"Alam mo yung feeling na pag nakakain ka ng junk food? I really avoid pork. Yun talaga ang ina-avoid ko. Kasi nararamdaman agad ng body natin yung bigat after eating those food, di ba?"
She is after healthy lifestyle, and knowing what is best for her body.
“Ang bilis mag-react ng body natin if active tayo mag-work out, or healthy yung lifestyle natin.”