Ray Jefferson Querubin, a three-time titleholder of Philippines’ Strongest Man, apologized Saturday for his performance on the Shipwreck Transportation Challenge on the Netflix show Physical: Asia, which left Team Philippines near the brink of elimination.
Querubin, a former member of the Philippine weightlifting team, said he gassed out early in the challenge because his training before the reality competition focused on getting stronger.
“Hindi ko pwedeng i-blame sa team ‘yan. Ako ‘yung biggest guy,” he said in an ABS-CBN News interview.
Querubin is no slouch when it comes to feats of strength. A member of the Philippine weightlifting team during his college years, the Bohol native transitioned to powerlifting until he started setting records in the Philippines’ Strongest Man competition.
He has set a 155-kg log press record and a 420-kg deadlift record in the Philippines and is the first Filipino to pull an 18-ton truck during a competition in Malaysia. A video on his social media account also shows him doing a car deadlift at 350kg plus.
Eddie Jo Williams, the Samoan strongman from Team Australia, acknowledges Querubin as probably the second strongest man in the Netflix show – which is why so many Filipinos were disappointed with the Pinoy’s performance in the challenge.
Shipwreck Transportation Challenge on Physical: Asia. Courtesy of Netflix
In the Shipwreck Challenge, teams had to transport either 50 kg crates or 20kg sacks from a shipwreck to the cargo hold of their base in 20 minutes.
During the competition, Querubin was able to lift one 50 kg crate up a flight of stairs before it was transported to their base via zipline. He then received an assist from MMA fighter Mark “Mugen” Striegl on the second crate before he sat down.
Querubin said he was confident about lifting the crates because he was used to carrying heavier loads.
What he didn’t account for were the other challenges – walking through water and sand and the steepness of the incline – while managing his own weight, which left him winded.
“The weight is only 50 kilograms. Magaan lang ‘yung weight. What makes it really hard is the obstacle. ‘Yung pag-akyat, ‘yung buhangin, saka ‘yung tubig. Yes, ‘yung paakyat. Sobrang steep ‘yun. Hindi ‘yun basta-basta. Tapos given my size, I'm like 145 kilograms at that time. So paglakad ko pa lang sa buhangin, wala. Ano ‘yung paa ko, ano na, lubog na sa buhangin,” he said.
“Ubos talaga ang hangin for a big guy.”
Asked if he simply got tired, he said: “Yes, actually, hindi ko yan i-deny. Napagod talaga, naubos talaga ang hangin.”
Querubin said his training before the competition was for short bursts of power in shorter distances. He admitted he also failed to point out to the team that they needed to change strategies after their competitor – Team Mongolia – used 2-man teams to lift the crates.
“Mali ko din doon is hindi ako nakapag-adjust or communicate. We have to change our strategy dahil nakita ko naman sa kabila na dalawa ‘yung tao nagbubuhatan, which is effective siya. Pero pag nandun ka sa competition talaga, iba ‘yung nasa isip mo. Iba ‘yung drive mo. Gusto mo lang talaga tapusin ‘yun,” he said.
He also denied that he was physically ill or injured.
“Wala naman. I did my vitals check before I [went to] Korea. Everything was okay. On top of my condition talaga. It just so happened na hindi siya ‘yung pinag-train ko before pumunta sa Korea,” he said.
Courtesy of Netflix
Team Philippines ended up losing the Shipwreck Challenge, with only 1,290 kg transported compared to Mongolia’s 2,000 kg. The Philippine team, which had boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, also ended dead last in the rankings for that quest, which led to a Death Match against Thailand.
Pacquiao noted that the Philippine team was clearly at a disadvantage compared to the Mongolians.
“We [were] just out-sized. That’s what happened. We cannot blame someone or anybody. I just want to tell my teammates we did our best. It’s hard to accept defeat,” he said during the show.
Despite the loss, Querubin praised members of his team for their strong showing, including Pacquiao who was seen carrying heavy bags from the shipwreck to their base several times without stopping.
“Lahat ng member ng team natin during the challenge, they really did their best. Kahit ako, Nakita ko silang nagbubuhat, I told myself: ‘I have to continue, I have to finish.’ Medyo ‘yung katawan bumibigay na. Kahit dahan-dahan, hindi ka humihinto, nagpapatuloy ka pa rin. ‘Yung yung mahirap na nasa puso ng bawa’t atleta. Hindi pwedeng mag-quit agad."
SOCIAL MEDIA BASHING
Querubin also showed his mettle in the show’s other challenges including the Death Match against Team Thailand and the Totem Challenge against Team Korea and Team Australia.
In the first challenge, Querubin teamed up with boxing champ Manny Pacquiao but the two were outclassed and outpointed by the quicker Thai duo.
Courtesy of Netflix
In the Totem Challenge, the Pinoy strongman was paired up with Philippine Volcano Justin Coveney for a Hercules hold challenge but was the first to be eliminated.
This has led to intense criticism for Querubin, who has been bashed for allegedly failing to train or not having the mental fortitude for the challenges.
“Yeah. Tanggap ko naman ‘yun. Hindi ko, hindi ko naman dini-deny ‘yung mga comments nila, ‘yung mga online discussion…I feel bad as well. I'm supposed to be there helping my team but I already reached…my limit as early as possible. Hindi ko, hindi ko siya ma-maximize, ‘yung potential,” he said.
“Again, sa Philippines, mga viewers natin I'm really sorry for that. Ginawa namin ang lahat,” he added.
Does he feel bad about being bashed online?
“As a human being, of course, medyo nakaka-disappoint din dahil kapwa Pinoy mo instead na bigyan mo sila ng fighting spirit and then push mo sila to do better. And again, that's my constructive criticism ‘yan.”
“So okay lang ‘yan. Yung iba nababasa ko parang ano na eh, below the belt. That's fine. Opinion mo ‘yan eh. That doesn't stop me from doing the best.”
The Bohol native also cleared up speculation that he applied for the show. He said it was Netflix’s own researchers who reached out to him around August-September 2024 and asked if he was interested in joining.
“Hindi ako nag-apply. Sila yung nag-reach out sa akin. Mayroon silang research team na nag-message sa akin. Hindi ko rin siya sinabing oo agad kasi alam ko, demanding talaga ‘yung support niya. It takes a lot of strength, endurance, stamina based sa last two seasons [of Physical:100] na napanood ko,” he said.
“I talked to my wife. Sabi ko, ‘ano ba ito?’ ‘Kaya mo ba? Wala ka na sa prime?’ Subukan natin. I will bring in the game and the Philippine flag para mag-compete sa ibang bansa. Subukan natin. Convinced ako. Sige, try natin. Baon natin ‘yung lakas ng loob.”
Ray Jefferson Querubin. Courtesy of Netflix
TRAINING, TAPING, INTRODUCING PACQUIAO
Querubin trained for Physical: Asia during the last quarter of 2024 before the actual shoot in early 2025.
Most of his training, he said, was focused on getting stronger simply because he was the strongman of the group.
“Ang training, actually same, strongman training lang din. Hindi mawawala ‘yung head lift, squat, overhead press, mga strongman movements. Yes, I do cardio. But kasi during the interview, I was chosen to represent the Philippines as a strongman athlete. So ‘yun ang focus ko,” he said.
Querubin only got to meet the members of Team Philippines at a hotel in South Korea in January prior to the taping of the show, which was finished in the first quarter of the year.
Prior to their meeting, he said he only knew the other athletes – 8-division boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, CrossFit athlete Lara Liwanag, hurdler Robyn Lauren Brown, mixed martial artist Mark “Mugen” Striegl, rugby standout Justin Coveney on social media.
Of all the athletes, it was Pacquiao who brought instant respectability to the team even in the face of clearly bigger athletes from the other countries.
“’Yung aura talaga ni Senator Manny parang iba. Parang nandun na ‘yung pangalan sa background na proud ng Filipino si Manny. Not just for the Philippines but for the entire world. Kilalang-kilalang niyo. Mabait talaga mabait. Madaling kausap, Maraming kaming matututunan sa kanya. Same with my teammates, Justin, Mark - He's a very nice guy. He's also big. Madaling kausap. ‘Yung dalawang babae namin, si Lara at si Robin. Super cool,” he said.
Courtesy of Netflix
Team Philippines was the last of the 8 teams to be introduced during the first episode of Physical: Asia.
According to Querubin, the feeling while entering the arena was inexplicable especially seeing the other athletes from Australia, Turkiye, Indonesia, Mongolia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan show their respect to Pacquiao.
“Since kami ‘yung last na pumasok, mix of emotions actually. Ewan, hindi ko ma-explain. Parang iba ‘yung feeling. Pagpasok mo, makikita mo lahat ‘yung mga top athletes sa Asia. Pero again, hindi kami na-dismay doon kasi nandito si Senator Manny kasama namin,” he said.
“The level of respect that they give to Senator Manny Pacquiao is sobrang taas. Ngayon ako naka-experience na nakita mo talaga ‘yung, siyempre idol natin ‘yan. ‘Yung iba kasi first time nila nakita si Senator Manny Pacquiao. Iba yung feeling. Parang sama na din ang buong Pilipinas. Really, really proud moment talaga ‘yan. Kahit ‘yung mga elite athletes from Australia, mga MMA fighter, yung mga sa Thailand, even sa Korea, pumupunta talaga sa area namin just to shake Manny Pacquiao’s [hand].”
Courtesy of Netflix
PACQUIAO’S EXIT AND WHAT’S NEXT ON PHYSICAL ASIA
Pacquiao exited the show in Episode 5 of Physical: Asia, citing “another obligation” he had to attend to outside the competition. Given the timeline, Pacquiao’s exit came just before the start of the campaign period for the 2025 midterm elections, in which the boxer lost his reelection bid for senator.
A Deadline article revealed that Pacquiao was the “inspiration behind the whole franchise” after series producer Jang Ho-gi saw the world champ watching Physical: 100 in his home.
“He told me that he enjoyed watching both seasons of Physical: 100 and I said that we would love to invite him for the next season. He was very willing to take it,” Jang told Deadline.
“We were very worried, because he’s already been there, done that, and it would be a big challenge for him to participate, because he’s not very young and he’s already done everything. But he didn’t hesitate. He was like, ‘I want a challenge, and I want to show everyone what I’ve got.’ We were very pleasantly surprised that he took it right away.”
Pacquiao’s exit has paved the way for the entry of CrossFit athlete Justin Hernandez as his replacement on Team Philippines.
For those watching the show, Querubin said people will be pleasantly surprised by Hernandez whom he described as a strong contender.
He refused, however, to reveal who won the Sack Toss Challenge, which sees Hernandez take on Eddie Jo Williams of Australia and Physical:100 Season 2 winner Amotti.
“[Hernandez] is one of the best, top crossfitters. Panoorin niyo lang siya on the next episode on November 11. Basta, malakas si Justin. Maraming magandang scenes dun ‘yung laban niya kay Amotti at Eddie Williams,” he said.
“Napakaganda at napakaangas na laban ‘yun. Next round! ‘Yun lang.”
Querubin says that, if given another chance, he is sure he could do better in the challenges in the show.
But would he be open to being part of Team Philippines if there is a Season 2 of Physical: Asia?
“Pag-isipan ko muna. Why not?” he joked.
He added: “Sinabi ko na mas maraming malalakas na batang Pinoy and I think they deserve to get that slot to represent the Team Philippines.”
Despite the bashing, Querubin said he also thankful that Physical: Asia has brought him unexpected fame from people who have never heard of him or the Philippines’ Strongest Man competition.
“This is the first time maraming actually Filipino fan nagtatanong sa akin kung ano ‘yung strongman. I suggest yes you try strongman. Actually we have strongman competition in Manila. Annual siya. We have national competition.”
“So if you want to try, may mga gyms din na nag-offer ng strongman training then for competition. Kung ayaw mag try punta kayo at manood kayo para makita n’yo kung ano ‘yung strongman na competition para at least alam nila kung gaano kahirap ‘yung ginagawa ng mga atleta ng strongman. Pwede kayo magtanong ‘yung preparation nila, ‘yung training nila, mga experiences nila.”
He also thanked viewers who have shown their support for Team Philippines especially during these trying times.
“Ang message ko lang sa inyo is patuloy lang sa buhay. Pag nadapa kayo, bumangon ka. Hayaan mo ‘yung mga taong nagsasalita nang kung ano-ano. Whatever they want to say to you, hayaan mo lang. Keep moving forward. Ang binubuhat mo, hindi ‘yan naging magaan, pero lalo ka lang lumalakas."
RELATED VIDEOS: