The BIG Comeback

MANILA, Philippines - Prior to leaving the Philppines for the United States of America, Chinggay was among the toast of her peers in the local fitness front: A sportscaster for Studio 23, a lively radio disc jockey in RX Monster Radio, an editor for Total Woman Magazine, the owner of Punch Club Gym, not to mention an ambassador on physical wellbeing for various corporate brands, and many others. She was the "IT" girl for total wellness!

"I've done everything that I wanted to do here, parang ending na. As far as goal in the 10-year period [is concerned] I was able to do it [in eight years] and I'm very thankful. Mr. Sebastian, came at the right time," says Chinggay of her sudden disappearance from the limelight.

But opportunity came knocking on Chinggay's door, in her case, through Facebook. It was a once in a lifetime chance that was just too good to pass up. Now she's back into the arms of her motherland albeit indefinitely, still punching and kicking Chinggay shares her BIGGEST news yet.

BACK TO WORK

Looking "kick-ass" as ever for this exclusive one-on-one interview, Chinggay is rearing to get back to work after being away for so long. And although she couldn't discuss details of her upcoming show, she delightfully shares how excited she is to be back and her personal thoughts with her newest and perhaps biggest blessing to date.

"With this project, it will serve ultimately as my biggest challenge, one that I would ever consider doing even though we, [my husband and I] had to consider a lot of things. It's really worth it because in the end it will be the most amazing thing that I'll ever be a part of. Lahat ng ginawa ko dito for eight years [before I moved to Vegas] would be like this is the test. Everything that I learned from all those jobs, it will be poured into this," exclaims Chinggay.

She adds, "Even though I left in '06 and felt that I was able to do everything that I wanted to do, itong project na ito, this is it! This is definitely life-changing! It's gonna be the biggest show!"

Still amazed at how everything is coming together, Chinggay recalls how she received a message on her Facebook account from people in charge of the show just asking what she's been up to lately.

"From there it was just a constant e-mail back and forth presenting to them what I've been doing; everything naman that I've been doing has always been about fitness," says Chinggay who now has several certifications up her sleeves such as R.I.P.P.E.D, PiYo, Spinning, Agatsu Kettlebell, and Fasi Sports Combat Training.

Chinggay flew in last December for her audition and since then she has been going on non-stop meetings to iron out details of the show. "I'm just excited and I'm confident that everything will be as planned... I trust that everything will be as scheduled because I know they have the experience with a show like this and what it takes," she assures.

HOME SWEET HOME

When Chinggay left in November of 2006, everything was rushed. She filed her resignation from her existing jobs, sold her business, and held a three-day mini despedida for her closest friends if only to properly say "till we meet again."

"Technically, I was abroad for family reasons. My sister got married and at that time, my Dad wasn't feeling well," Chinggay recalls while adding, "2006 was really a year for me to make my next move or the next transition. Then came my husband Apollo Sebastian and he came at the right time."

Admittedly, it was a whirlwind romance for Chinggay and her husband, one that is blessed with a three-year- old daughter, Allidela, and a thriving business venture that is very much in line with what the couple both love to do - fitness and sports, that is.

In Las Vegas, Chinggay and her husband run Fasi Sports Gym offering combat fitness classes in Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Fitness Muay Thai and other sports specific cross training. While Chinggay takes care of the PR and Marketing side of the business, she also holds a full-time job at the Station Casino owned by the Fertitta brothers, the same owners of Fighting Championships (FC).

"When we moved to Las Vegas it was a bit of transition. Even the sadness that came in, kasi I didn't really have the chance to say goodbye to everybody, I just Google my friends and see what they're up to or we would text, and now Facebook. Love Facebook! It's free and my God, people respond to you on Facebook faster than text messaging," she quips.

Another aspect of Chinggay's life that is keeping her busy is the presence of her precious daughter she fondly calls Ally. She joins her here in Manila for the first time.

"She just turned three and a three-year old needs to be entertained 24/7. But you know what, she's been amazing here. She's like my inspiration, so it's hard for me not to work extra hard in everything that I do 'coz you know she reflects on that and she sees everything that I do."

The doting mother continues, "I take my daughter on walks in the evening because it's windy and she likes it. She's very active. And you know what, in the end talaga, maybe, we sometimes underestimate our influence on our kids. How you are, if you eat well and you follow a regimen where you're always active, it transfers to your kids."

OPEN FOR POSSIBILITIES

When Chinggay moved to Las Vegas, she didn't think she'd be back in the country again, much less be able to return with an exciting project at hand.

"Okay naman ako sa buhay namin sa Vegas, meron kaming sariling negosyo, meron nang anak and maybe work on the second child, mga ganyan. Pero one day, opportunity knocked. What does it mean?," she says.

Chinggay is lucky to have a very supportive husband. "This is not just my choice; we talked about it and he agreed. Na-shock ako with his reaction akala ko he'll say 'wag na lang but he was very supportive and he is still very supportive. And in the end, when I came back here, I was scared and excited at the same time.

"He went back to Vegas two months ago... He's very much okay with everything because it was a choice that we made together. We've already mapped out everything, all the possibilities. We've considered everything and in the end, it's like, how could you not do it with these conditions or with these possibilities."

So, what other plans does Chinggay have in store while she's here?

"I wanna get back to everything that I was doing before. I wanna teach, kasi ngayon, yung class is on a different level, but it's actually gonna be something like cross training," says Chinggay, while adding, "Be involved with everything here. Kung anong ginagawa nila, I'd like to be a part of all the running events. It would be good to have a a run-box-a-thon. That's what I wanna do. The running obviously is an overall aerobic workout. Let's pair that up with boxing for a complete body workout. But that would proabaly take some time 'coz I'm gonna need a venue and equipment for that."