The iconic Elle Woods once said: “Endorphins make you happy.” For the case of actress-comedienne Valeen Montenegro, it is absolutely true. During our hour-long Zoom interview, the young woman looked luminous. She sat on her couch wearing workout clothes, having just finished her morning routine. The sweat on her face had not yet dried, but “the look” truly worked for her. You can tell she lives an incredibly active lifestyle. Exercise is more than chore, it’s a necessary regimen. “I wake up at around 8 or 9 every day, and I work out at around 10,” she shares with a smile, before chugging down water from a large insulated jug. “Today, I made it a bit earlier, because we had our meeting.”

The truth is, Valeen doesn’t work out to look “good”. True, with such a rigorous fitness routine, that’s inevitable. While her career as a budding actress makes it almost necessary. However, her true motivation is to feel good and to inspire others. Her Instagram feed (which has a whopping 980k followers, as of print) is filled with #FitnessGoal posts. The mix of workout videos, lifestyle pictures, and a good sense of humor, has made her an adored social media personality. She hopes that when other young women see her socials, they’ll get inspired to follow in her healthy footsteps. “I just love to inspire people,” she stated. “I enjoy filming myself working out because I want to show people that it can be done—that girls can do it too. There’s this [stigma] that when you lift, you’re going to bulk up and look like a big guy. I’m here to break that stereotype.” Her training varies from weightlifting to HIIT sessions, gymnastics to bar training.

Even with her busy acting schedule, Valeen always makes sure that she remains in tip-top shape. She remembers the height of the pandemic, when shooting shows meant entire crews had to be locked-in together for months at a time, just to finish a production without the threat of COVID-19. “It was really hard at first,” she recounts. “You’re not used to the lifestyle and being around new people. But eventually, it became nice when I fell into a routine. We had our yoga days and HIIT days. We also brought our weights, yoga mats, jump ropes—anything we could carry to change things up.”

While she makes occasional appearances in soap operas, the actress makes her bread and butter as a regular cast member of the genre-defining sketch show Bubble Gang. “I’ve been part of it for 5 years now, and I’m really very blessed. It’s the longest running gag show on GMA, and [it’s been on air] for 27 years. The first time I did my own commercial spoof, I was like: “OMG! Is this really happening,”’ she laughs. Even with such a high profile show on her résumé, Valeen is surprisingly down-to-earth. Her interview answers were raw and real, and she talked about her cast mates as if she was still star struck. She mentions the kindness of the iconic Michael V., as well as her friendship with Chariz Solomon, whom she says is “effortlessly funny.” “I learn [my craft] by seeing them do it,” she humbly says about her hilarious colleagues. “I see how they dissect and go through everything until they reach the punchline.”

One of the major highlights in Valeen’s comic career is that she is part of the now-iconic “Balitang Ina” duo on Bubble Gang. She and Chariz Solomon portray cool moms Mommy Karen and Mommy Vicky on the hit segment, where they talk about relevant “mommy issues” in an entertaining, satirical way. The segment has become so popular that Valeen and her co-star are now the subject of dozens of hilarious memes. And she embraces every one of them with a cheeky smile. The impact “Balitang Ina” has made on Filipino viewers not only shows the young lady’s prowess for comedy, but also her ability to use relevant social issues in her craft. The proof is also present on her Instagram account. For instance, her “reels” are filled with relatable everyday content with a comic spin on things. It’s a hilarious and special way to reach (and inspire) a wide audience of followers.

Although working for a TV show means long hours on set, Valeen makes it a point to always make the healthier choice when it comes to her eating habits. While she has her occasional fast food binges (sometimes taping ends late, can you blame her?), regular meals often consist of veggies, rice, and a lot of protein. Yes, you read that right—rice! Valeen does not believe in depriving oneself. “I eat a really good amount of food. You can enjoy food when you work out. You just need to find something sustainable for you.” Rather than regularly meal prepping, she opts to have a fully stocked fridge instead. This way, she is able to cook balanced meals for herself easily. “If I jump into a diet that is hard to sustain, I know it will only last a week. I try to be true to myself. I ask: will this sustain me? Is it a lifestyle or an in-and-out thing? That’s why I just cook a lot.”

If Valeen had the chance to talk to young women who wanted to start working out, she would tell them all the cliché lines. “Because they are all very true,” she says with a cheeky smile and giggle. Inspirational quotes like “listen to your body” or “take it one step at a time” or “slowly but surely” is absolutely helpful when beginning one’s fitness journey, she states with enthusiasm. Valeen has been there, and kept these things on her mind when she was beginning. “I would also tell them to start with something that they enjoy. Start with something they’re comfortable with already, and work from there.” With such a strong and genuine social media presence, Valeen will surely touch the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. To her, it’s more than creating relatable content, but actually helping others lead healthier lives by being a good role model—one with lots of endorphins.

Get in touch with Valeen Montenegro through:

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter – @valeentawak

Make up : Don De Jesus
Styling/ creative director: Maura Rodriguez
Location: Metcon Showroom (Pasig)

White Terno by Antonina

Hoodie by Outlier Studios—alike.com.ph

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