In 2007, Rain was 27 years old and a bank officer. As each day passed facing the bank\u2019s patrons, Rain began to realize how uncomfortable she was in her own skin. \u201cThe stress at work drove me to eat even more, and I was getting even bigger,\u201d Rain recalls. \u201cSa <\/em>bank, dapat <\/em>presentable ka<\/em>, pero I felt like I didn\u2019t have the confidence to face the clients.\u201d<\/p>\n When she was growing up, Rain says she was always the \u201cchubby chick\u201d: she had the fast food, the chocolates, and even that \u201cextra rice\u201d with her meals. She didn\u2019t engage in any physical activity, and felt that she was fine the way she was.<\/p>\n But she began to feel more and more tired from work, and she was starting to see the effects of her lifestyle on her health. \u201cEvery time I looked at my pictures, I felt embarrassed that I’d let myself get that big. I knew I had to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/atleta-ako-ambassador-rain-manongdo-04.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” url_new_window=”off” animation=”fade_in” sticky=”on” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”11″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”line-height: 150% !important;||margin-top: 20px;” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Photo by Charisma Lico, Edge of Light; Make-up by April Feliciano; Hair by Jannet Saberon. Clothes by SOAS, Shoes by Saucony, and Shoelaces by EZLaces \u2013 all from AtletaAko.com.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section” disabled=”off” locked=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ custom_padding=”0px|||” padding_mobile=”on” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n A moment\u2019s realization would spur a complete lifestyle overhaul for Rain. At 167 pounds, she made her decision. \u201cI felt like I was a late bloomer to physical fitness,\u201d she said. But she knew the challenge ahead, so she started to make changes a little at a time.<\/p>\n First, she joined her colleagues after work to play badminton, as her way of introducing exercise into her life. She saw some progress with her weight, and felt encouraged to search for other ways to improve her physical fitness. \u201cOne of my officemates invited me to run, and I felt that was where was journey really began.\u201d<\/p>\n It was hard at first, Rain recalls. Working at a bank meant her days began and ended beyond normal operating hours. \u201cI woke up at 4 every day so I could train for running for at least an hour or an hour and a half. Because it\u2019s difficult when you run after work\u2014sometimes I\u2019d start my day at 7, but end at 8:30 at night. Syempre, <\/em>by the time makauwi ka, pagod ka na.<\/em> So I had to be disciplined \u2013 it had to be every morning before work.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite all the running that she did, Rain saw that she wasn\u2019t making any progress with her weight. \u201cNaisip ko<\/em>, \u2018Bakit hindi ako pumapayat kahit tumatakbo ako<\/em>?\u2019\u201d Rain recalls. She then realized that discipline shouldn\u2019t just be present in exercising, but with maintaining a well-balanced diet as well. From here, Rain, the formerly \u201cchubby chick\u201d let go of the things she was so fond of\u2014the chocolates, the fast food, and the \u201cextra rice\u201d\u2014and made better food choices to complement her new active lifestyle.<\/p>\n From 2010, Rain found herself joining races with distances from 10 kilometers to a full marathon. She would also join the Tagaytay to Nasugbu 50-kilometer run. When a boxing gym opened near her workplace, she signed up for lessons to cross-train. Wanting to do more, Rain also tried multisport events, now joining three to four triathlon events per year.<\/p>\n Finally, Rain felt at ease with herself and had the confidence she committed to regaining in 2007.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” parent_locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/atleta-ako-ambassador-rain-manongdo-02.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” url_new_window=”off” animation=”fade_in” sticky=”on” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”11″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”line-height: 150% !important;||margin-top: 20px;” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Photo by Charisma Lico, Edge of Light; Make-up by April Feliciano; Hair by Jannet Saberon. Clothes by SOAS, Shoes by Saucony, and Shoelaces by EZLaces \u2013 all from AtletaAko.com.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Saying \u2018yes\u2019 to new adventures Text Block” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Saying \u2018yes\u2019 to new adventures<\/strong><\/p>\n One Saturday morning, Rain made her way to Manila Bay to try a sport she had been drawn to for a very long time. \u201cEver since I was in college, I wanted to try dragon boat paddling. I wanted to try something unusual. So when I was invited to try it out, I didn\u2019t hesitate.\u201d<\/p>\n Of her first session with dragon boat paddling, this is what Rain had to say: \u201cRunning was part of the training, so I felt na <\/em>I fit right in. And after that first time, feeling ko<\/em>, na kahit sobrang sakit ng buong katawan ko<\/em>, ito talaga yung <\/em>sport na para sa\u2019kin.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Just like her progress with losing weight, Rain started slowly to make sure she had the best possible results. \u201cAt first, saling-pusa lang talaga ako! Pero dahil nag-<\/em>commit ako, talagang pumunta ako sa lahat ng <\/em>training. I train three to four times a week, either in the morning or afternoon, every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n Rain describes her training with the team: \u201cIn dragon boat, we have basic land training, which includes running, core workout, and calisthenics before we proceed to boat training. During boat training, we follow programs for endurance or strength training, where we paddle for almost 30 minutes nonstop with added weights on the boat to make it harder for us. Weigh training is also necessary to increase strength needed for this sport.\u201d<\/p>\n Rain officially joined the Maharlika Drakon Dragon Boat Racers in 2012. The former saling-pusa<\/em> would eventually become the team pacer in both the mixed and the all-female boats. \u201cPag team pacer ka, ikaw yung nasa unahan, <\/em>so dapat malakas ka.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” parent_locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”New lifestyle, new perspectives Text Block” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n New lifestyle, new perspectives<\/strong><\/p>\n Being a woman in a male-dominated sport gave Rain the strength to become a pacer. She credits this to the fact that in an all-female event, there are less people in the boat to paddle, as compared to a mixed or all-male race. \u201cDati kasi<\/em>, hindi naman ganung karami yung sumasaling babae.<\/em> Kaya hindi kami nakakabuo ng<\/em> full boat with 10 pairs. Five pairs lang kami na nagpa<\/em>-paddle pag <\/em>all girls, pero<\/em> it\u2019s the same boat size, so mas mabigat siya<\/em>. Kaya<\/em> mas malakas<\/em> usually yung babae. Pag <\/em>all-female race, natatapos din kami<\/em> in the same time halos ng<\/em> mixed or all-male full boat.”<\/p>\n Dragon boat paddling also showed Rain a different perspective when it comes to sports. \u201cIf you want na manalo ka<\/em> personally, mahirap sa<\/em> dragon boat. Kasi<\/em> team sport siya<\/em> at hindi<\/em> all the time, mananalo ka<\/em>.\u201d With her team, Rain faced the challenges of the sport\u2014from its grueling physical aspect, to the lack of funding and resources. But despite this, her team participates in events all over the country, such as in Boracay and Bohol where dragon boat paddling receives local government support. Outside of the Philippines, Rain joined her team in Singapore in 2013 at the Sava Sprints International, where they proudly represented the country and won the gold medal in the mixed boat event. The team also joins the quarterly regatta in Manila Bay.<\/p>\n \u201cAng <\/em>view ko kasi<\/em> is, kung gusto mo talaga, gagawin mo siya,<\/em>\u201d says Rain about her experiences dragon boat paddling and her active lifestyle. \u201cYou must love your sport, and you should be enjoying what you are doing. Because if you do, you can always find time for it no matter what kind of activities or lifestyle you have.\u201d<\/p>\n Rain wants to tell other women that it\u2019s never too late, and she believes she is an example of this. \u201cI was fat since I was a kid, and I never even cared whether I was healthy or not. But now, I enjoy what I see in the mirror and I feel great inside and out. I am healthier and happier every day. So for those women who haven’t started living an active lifestyle yet, it\u2019s never too late. Don\u2019t be afraid to try to find the activities you could learn to love. Kailangan tandaaan ng lahat ng mga babae na ingatan nila ang mga sarlili nila<\/em>, even if they\u2019re married na<\/em> or have kids. Importante pa rin na<\/em> you make time for yourself, lalo<\/em> na<\/em> with exercise dahil isa<\/em> \u2018yon sa nagbo<\/em>boost ng<\/em> confidence mo<\/em>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/atleta-ako-ambassador-rain-manongdo-03.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” url_new_window=”off” animation=”fade_in” sticky=”on” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”11″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”line-height: 150% !important;||margin-top: 20px;” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Photo by Charisma Lico, Edge of Light; Make-up by April Feliciano; Hair by Jannet Saberon. Clothes by Running Skirts and Alii Sport, Shoes by Saucony, and Shoelaces by EZLaces \u2013 all from AtletaAko.com.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” parent_locked=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ custom_padding=”50px|||” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Rain’s Journey Title Block” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”center” text_font_size=”25″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Photos from Rain Manongdo<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider admin_label=”Divider” color=”#e5e5e5″ show_divider=”on” divider_style=”dotted” divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”off” height=”5″ parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Tiled Gallery” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”center” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cBeing committed to sports makes me feel better and healthier. It\u2019s not because I want to be the fastest athlete or fastest finisher in every race. I am committed because I love what I do, and it makes me feel good about myself. Inspiring other people to do the same is a great achievement,\u201d says Rain Manongdo, a member of the Maharlika Drakon Dragon Boat Racers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[57,58],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2655"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2685,"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655\/revisions\/2685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Rain’s Journey<\/h1>\n
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