TWO celebrities from the Philippines will be the special guests of M2 Fitness’ second anniversary celebration at Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Ballroom on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022.
The theme of the Zumba Craze Party is “Take It to the Strongest Level,” and will feature Zumba instructors Wowie De Guzman, a Filipino actor, and Joshua Zamora, also an actor and former member of 90s dance troupe, The Manoeuvres.
The VIP admission ticket costs $50 while the general admission ticket costs $35.
Proceeds of the event will be donated to the NMI Museum and the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, a charitable organization.
From 2 to 200
M2 Fitness, which now has over 200 members, began on Aug. 27, 2020, with only two members: Mary Grace Bautista and her friend Mita Pelicano, hence, M2.
At the time, Bautista said she had a health issue and was advised to work out while Pelicano got herself a Zumba license because she was planning to open a Zumba studio in the Philippines.
“I was not into fitness at all. I did not have any plan to be in fitness. I just did it because I needed to do it,” Bautista said.
When she started working out at Gold’s Gym, Bautista felt lonely so she asked Pelicano to join her. They became gym buddies who also attended the Zumba classes.
Bautista said Pelicano convinced her to get her own Zumba license, and that was how M2 Fitness, a Zumba group of two people, was formed.
They started inviting family members and friends to join their Zumba sessions at the Minatchom Atdao pavilion in Susupe.
When they celebrated their first anniversary on Aug. 27, 2021, M2 Fitness already had 135 members.
Bautista, who is the M2 Fitness president, said they went through tough challenges because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Due to the restrictions, the number of sessions in a week was very limited, and they could only accommodate a few individuals.
Moreover, when it rained, it was “really hard” to conduct a Zumba class at a beach pavilion, Bautista said.
Luckily, her good friend, Merly Tolentino of the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, said they could hold Zumba sessions at the TSL Sports Complex in Gualo Rai. There, they also participated in Zumba events including the Biggest Loser Challenge hosted by Tan Holdings.
M2 Fitness continues to hold regular Zumba sessions at the TSL Sports Complex.
On Aug. 27 this year at Saipan World Resort, Bautista said their 200 M2 Fitness members are expected to participate in a Zumba session led by Wowie and Joshua in celebration of M2 Fitness’ second anniversary.
Challenges
Bautista said M2 Fitness is not funded by any other organization. “All the money that we spend comes out of our own pockets,” she added.
Yet, she said they have to pay for the annual business license, and the monthly fitness license for each of the various types of Zumba classes they conduct.
She noted that M2 Fitness does not only focus on dancing. “We also share proper nutrition tips and proper exercise routines with our members,” she said. “It is already a challenge for everyone to attend a Zumba class every day because our workout is not simple — we need to build stamina.”
She added, “Being involved in M2 Fitness is also getting yourself involved in the community, so it has become an obligation. Once you step into community involvement, you have to help people achieve their fitness and heath goals. We are here not to be popular. We are here to help people.”
As they celebrate their second anniversary, Bautista said, “We remain a strong group because we support and respect each other, and we understand each other’s shortcomings and weaknesses. That is the main thing.”
For more information, go to M2 Fitness’ Facebook page.
Wowie De Guzman
Joshua Zamora
M2 Fitness President Mary Grace Bautista, second, left and other members perform a dance number during their Christmas party in December at the Saipan World Resort Royal.
