A Boholano has been dubbed the Philippines’ strongest man by the Strongman Federation of the Philippines for two years in a row.

Ray Jefferson Querubin on Sunday clinched the “Philippines’ Strongest Man” title after outperforming four other finalists in the open category of the Philippines’ Strongest Man & Woman 2017 National Championships at TechnoHub in Quezon City.

In 2016, Querubin also won in the same non-weight specific category which includes various events in strength athletics.

According to Querubin, he trained two to three hours after work for several weeks to prepare for the nationwide competition.

But the actual training was not the hardest part for the weightlifter—it was the food intake and the effort in preparing them, Querubin noted.

“Meal prep is kinda hard to prepare at least 4 to 5 meals a day with high protein-calorie diet,” he said. “A lot of things to prepare such as workout plan, meal prep, but as long as my family and my partner support me, nothing is impossible.”

Querubin who currently works as a workforce analyst at a business process outsourcing company in Cebu City is a native of Barangay Poblacion, Dauis.

He started weightlifting at the age of 15.

“After graduating high school at Holy Name University, I got a scholarship offer from University of San Jose-Recoletos where I graduated with a degree in BS psychology,” said Querubin.

Querubin told the Chronicle that he trained with the Samjon Weightlifting Team at Burgos St. in Tagbilaran City before joining the Philippine weightlifting team.

After winning the Philippines’ Strongest Man & Woman National Championships two years in a row, Querubin has his eyes set on bigger prizes.

“I’m going to compete in the big stage at Arnolds Classic Asia in Hong Kong this coming August and Static Monster World ranking for this year,” he said.