Dennis Trillo is fitter than he’s ever been on Men’s Health Philippines

It has been more than two years since Dennis Trillo first graced the cover of Men’s Health Magazine and it is evident how much the 28-year-old matinee idol has changed. Dennis now sports a leaner physique, more cuts on his body, and a more defined six-pack. Even his face has changed. He looks more serious and grown up; slender cheekbones, a sharper jaw, and a slight severity only seen in adults who’ve seen life and all its hardships.

What has happened from then till now? For the past 2 years, Dennis Trillo has been working hard, training hard and living a healthier, fuller life. What most people don’t know is that the change Trillo underwent, physically and otherwise, was not brought about by a smart career move. It’s something deeper and much closer to his heart: “…Mas lalo ako napaisip na maging fit and magpa-condition ng katawan after what happened to my mom--she had open-heart surgery last year. So because of that, naisip ko na kailangan ko talaga maging healthy para makaiwas sa sakit, lalo na s’yempre, di na ako bumabata.” Check out the behind-the-scenes- of his Men's Health cover shoot:

While Dennis had been in the habit of exercising even before, his workouts are more serious now. Dennis has even added a Filipino martial art called Yaw-yan or Sayaw ng Kamatayan, which combines kickboxing with ground fighting techniques and weapons such as Arnis, to his workout routine. Yaw-yan was introduced to him by a cousin, who told him to try the discipline since he was so passionate about MMA. “He told me that I would be able to appreciate watching MMA fights more if I understood all the moves and what the fighters did,” he explains. “Hindi lang kasi basta fight ang MMA, it’s a sport. It’s not just freestyle fighting. I get hyped up every time I watch a UFC event or any UFC match because everything’s so unpredictable.”

Dennis even bonds with his two-year old son by former beauty queen Carlene Aguilar, Calix Andreas, over MMA and boxing. The night before his Men’s Health cover shoot, he was up late horsing around with his son. “He even has gloves!” enthuses the proud Papa. “Mahilig din siya sa fighting. He can throw straight punches --- marunong na siya. I’m his punching bag most of the time, although he does have his own punching bag. Magaling na nga eh. Makakaknock-out na ‘yan ng ibang bata!”

Yaw-yan and MMA taught this young actor not only effective fighting techniques but also to take a different outlook in life. Now, he sees himself as a modern day warrior facing up to everyday challenges. “Sa MMA or Yaw-yan, marami kang diskarte, pwedeng strike, pwedeng rest, pwedeng submission. Naisip ko yung diskarte mo sa buhay hindi lang pwedeng isa eh. Iba-iba din ang kailangan mong gawin. Madaming trials especially last year, pero andito parin ako, nalagpasan ko lahat.”

Learn more about Dennis Trillo’s love for Yaw-yan and how you can inject MMA into your workout by grabbing a copy of the February issue of Men’s Health Philippines, now available in newsstands, bookstores and supermarkets nationwide for only P140.

*You can also find this article on www.PEP.ph.