One may think that former Ateneo Blue Eagle Alyssa Valdez and her rival, former De La Salle University Lady Spiker Mika Reyes, have reached their prime playing volleyball in college. However, both ladies—with their endorsements, guestings, and new positions in reputable volleyball teams—have proven people wrong.
Mika, who recently signed on with the semi-pro volleyball team Philippine Super Liga (PSL), shares that her transition wasn’t too difficult. “It wasn’t that complicated transferring from a collegiate league to a semi-pro league, since in college, everyone was already competitive and aggressive.” When asked about her recent experience training with the Thai team 3BB Nakornnont, Alyssa says, “I’ve been under a Thai coach before for Ateneo, so training is a bit the same, but training with Thai players is a lot different. The players are more experienced and they motivate me to practice and do extra work to be able to reach their standard.”

 
Balancing act
The ladies know that both on and off the court, taking care of their fitness and making the right health choices are highly important. “I think being healthy and fit comes before anything else,” says Alyssa. “You can’t do anything without a strong and healthy body, so I make sure I find time for exercise and eating nutritious food.”
Athletes are no strangers to routine, and both ladies credit a huge part of their success to discipline. “Being used to a routine makes you more comfortable and confident,” says Alyssa, who admits to training everyday as she definitely eats, lives, and breathes volleyball.

With the noticeable rise of fitness apps, it isn’t surprising that both Mika and Alyssa have joined the bandwagon to keep track of their fitness routines. “I always go to the gym to keep my body fit. If there is no vacant time, I make sure that I’ll be able to exercise every week,” says Mika.
Work hard, play hard
Mika and Alyssa admit to being avid users of the Philam Vitality Active app, a wellness program backed with science that guides you to a healthier lifestyle. Available for free download on App Store Philippines and Google Play, the app is a simplified version of the Philam Vitality program, designed to reward its users for every personal health goal they achieve. Philam Life believes the program will help Filipinos be more comfortable with getting themselves insured for the future.
Every user is asked to complete a short questionnaire to calculate one’s Philam Vitality Active Age as a gauge of how well he/she lives. They will then be given weekly challenges that they can accomplish by completing a certain number of steps as measured by a fitness device or free fitness app.
For every challenge successfully completed for two consecutive weeks, users will receive exciting rewards such as free passes to SM Cinema, SM Ice Skating, SM Bowling, Blink and Exploreum. “You just have to answer a few simple questions about your health, and then you can begin walking towards a healthier, more active lifestyle,” Mika says. The app gives her a glimpse of fitness in all aspects, such as her mental health, while it helps Alyssa keep track of her fitness in a fun way: “In a way, it helps me make a game of my daily activities so that I can reward myself with everything I do.”
Staying true to their word, these ladies show us that playing competitive sports such as volleyball doesn’t have to be all work, no play. With the help of their routines and apps such as Philam Vitality Active, Alyssa and Mika show us how staying on top of our health and fitness can be enjoyable, as well.
Philam Vitality Active is available for free download in Apple Store and Google Play.