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Following his win last June, Mister International Philippines titleholder MJ Ordillano is now gearing up for the upcoming Mister International pageant in Manila this October 30.

“I try my best to focus on all aspects,” MJ shared. “I have been brushing up on general knowledge and current events by reading written literature and listening to podcasts.”

Set to compete with international candidates for the main title, the 23-year-old model and influencer weighed in on the importance of staying physically and mentally active

For MJ, consistency is the key: “I work out daily, morning and night, while balancing events and duties I need to attend to, and eating prepped meals throughout the day.”

To keep his body pageant-ready, the Mister International Philippines titleholder starts his day with a cardio workout early in the morning. He caps off the day by incorporating weight training at night.

He is also practicing his walk and poses by attending classes. Most importantly, he is working on a personal strategy on how to tackle the competition and bring pride to the Philippines.

Passion is boosted by how MJ takes action.

“I make sure I work out every part of my body, especially my weakness parts, so that I can give a better package for the international competition.

“Afterwards, I make sure to meditate or get a massage when possible so that my body is ready for the succeeding days.”

MJ talked about shifting gears for his own betterment, given a huge love for food. “I became health-conscious when I was in college, and I loved eating unlimited food, dining at buffets, and joining food competitions. At one point, I ate 120 chicken wings under one hour. I tried balancing that with working out but sometimes felt very sick.”

Practical and prompt, MJ wasted no time. He instantly made a huge change and became more conscious about his food consumption. He took eating healthy to a whole new level.

“I think it is healthy to have cheat days. But I don't like using the word cheat since it seems like I'm taking a shortcut to be in shape,” MJ said.

He believes that the journey to being healthy becomes more sustainable by taking cheat days. He explained, “Cheat days are more like a 'fuel up' so that the next time you work out, you have no excuses but to power through even harder.”

For MJ, it is all about feeling great holistically, “It shows that you are taking good care of yourself and the things that you put in it, and it teaches discipline and character.”

While discipline seems natural for him, the Philippine bet to the Mister International pageant still finds time for activities to develop it further.

“Not many people know that I played golf when I was young, working towards playing professional golf. I play this sport because you have no one to blame but yourself. It has developed my character,” he enthused. “I learned that patience and trust with every swing I do are essential not only in a game of golf but in life.”

Meanwhile, since he's gaining popularity after winning the title, MJ was asked about his thoughts on the pressure to always look good as a public figure.

He answered, “It's more of like a responsibility rather than pressure. It slowly just turns into a lifestyle as long as you embody who you are and what you stand for.”

For him, authenticity and being well-rounded top his list of must-haves, overpowering good looks.

With a relaxed approach, Mister International Philippines 2022 winner wants to encourage Filipinos to appreciate male pageants better. He asked, “In the generation we are in right now, why not make male pageantry relevant internationally?”

He said it has so much to offer and tells the world about what men genuinely stand for. MJ admitted that he and his team are trying to set the standard high in the male pageant scene.

On a personal level, MJ continues to aim high and has his eyes set on the title. He said, “I would like to say that I have been rejected and turned down for many things in life, but I have always done everything in my power to push through. I strive to be positive, kind, loving, and grateful for the things that I have in life. I can only hope that others also see the same.”

MEANWHILE, HERE ARE SOME OF THE CELEBRITIES WHO ALSO JOINED MALE PAGEANTS: