Dr. Anthony M. Villafranca capped his three-year fitness journey with a major victory, winning the Men’s Physique Masters Division at the 2026 Asian Grand Prix Philippines on Sunday, Sept. 6, at Winford Resort & Casino Manila.
The 53-year-old Villafranca only began serious fitness training at age 50, but remained committed to a six-day-a-week, two-hour-a-day routine that eventually led him to his first AGP Masters championship.
The Asian Grand Prix Philippines is an international bodybuilding and fitness competition held under the NPC Worldwide/IFBB Professional League circuit, bringing together athletes from the Philippines and abroad.
This year’s competition featured three major events—the AGP Open Regional, AGP Natural Regional and AGP Philippines Pro Qualifier—with athletes given opportunities to advance within the NPC Worldwide/IFBB Professional League system.
The Pro Qualifier offered seven IFBB Pro Cards, giving competitors a chance to earn professional status and move closer to competing on the international stage.
The regional competitions, meanwhile, featured a wide range of divisions, including Men’s Physique, Classic Physique, Bodybuilding, Bikini, Wellness, Figure and Fit Model. Athletes competed across True Novice, Novice, Junior, Masters and Open categories.
The AGP Philippines also drew international participation, with athletes from Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Australia, Turkey, Iraq and South Africa joining their Philippine counterparts.
