SOCIAL SET

Sweat is the new luxury

How Manila’s fitness and wellness tribes conquered HYROX Bangkok

Luis Espiritu · Aug 24, 2026, 3:42 AM

Kitty Bunag and Bliss Mabini, both 45. — PHOTOGRAPHS courtesy of hyrox

Christopher Stern, 55, and Bernard FÄH, 45.

Rey Talosig, 45, and Reg Gatan, 39.

Manila’s fitness elite has officially traded casual weekend brunches for something infinitely more grueling — and far more fashionable. The recently concluded BYD HYROX Bangkok 2026 transformed the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) into an electric arena of pure grit. Over the four-day global fitness showcase from 13 to 16 August, an estimated 500 Filipino athletes and lifestyle purveyors invaded the Thai capital. They proved that Manila’s hottest health trend is no longer just a localized habit, but a roaring cultural movement.

Mav Zamora, 33, and Koo Posis, 38.

Enzo Torres and Angelo dela Cruz, both 35.

HYROX — a brutal race alternating eight 1-kilometer runs with eight functional workout stations — has completely captured the imagination of the metro’s wellness community. What began inside premium boutique gyms in Bonifacio Global City and Makati has formally spilled over onto the international stage.

Marvin (28), Hiroki (27), Addie (27) and Aki (29).

Gino Lopez, 43 years old.

Georgia Remulla, 54 and Carry Dizon Gorriceta, 46.

Robbie Francisco and Timmy Sanchez, both 48.

The Philippine contingent perfectly mirrored this contemporary lifestyle shift. Corporate executives, digital creators, and everyday gym warriors lined up side-by-side at the QSNCC gates and fearlessly tackled everything, rewriting the narrative of local fitness.

The overwhelming success of the Manila delegation underscores a larger truth: Modern Filipinos are beyond seeking aesthetics and are aggressively investing in functional longevity and a community-driven lifestyle. As the global fitness community sets its sights on future regional races, Filipinos are no longer just participating but setting the pace for healthy living in Southeast Asia.

boutique stationery designer Christine Locsin, 47, and jewelry designer Joana Gube, 43.

Troy Enriquez, 37, and Carlo Pimentel, 50.