MANILA, Philippines — As actor-comedian Bearwin Meily grew nearer to God, his belief faced challenges. However, this difficult period led him to discover stability in athletics and deepen his spirituality following tough chapters in his journey.
After his father died in 2008, he kept a low profile in the entertainment industry throughout 2009. "That's when I began jogging until eventually, my weight went down," Bearwin shared during the press conference for "You VERSUS You Run 2025," a fun run activity he spearheaded through 88 Sports PH, serving as the head organizer. He continued, "It wasn’t until recently that I returned [to showbusiness] with Quizon CT' on Net25."
I also handle social media and create content for YouTube, plus some guest appearances here and there. It must have been over ten years since I stopped being active in the entertainment scene.
He cried when his entertainment career began to slow down. "I can’t deny having some regret (but) I decided to focus on fitness instead," he shared with The STAR, noting that his final project under ABS-CBN was the comedy series *Da Pilya En Da Pilot*, which starred Aga Muhlach and Joyce Jimenez.
Then I became ill and made up my mind to start living healthily afterwards. Before that incident though, I was at GMA Network where things really started making me reflect deeply. A lot transpired during my time with GMA—my career flourished greatly over there—but then later on when I took some time off for myself, I ended up crying because of this particular choice I'd prayed about before God: why did everything seem so unfair even as soon as I tried doing something good?
“Nagdesisyon akong maging inspirasyon sa iba, alagaan ang sarili kong katawan—pero paano nga yun? Wala naman akong manager noon. Paano ako makaka-survive? Kaya ipinagbenta ko lahat. Nawala ang pera ko. Artista na bumagsak, artista na nawalan ng pangalan.”
However, a series of misfortunes in his life opened doors to his passion for sports. "Through God's mercy, He introduced sports to me. That's when I began learning how to organize sporting activities, and it just kept growing. Out of disappointment, He gave me blessings. He guided me toward a company that manages various running competitions."
"During those moments, I really thought about where my life was headed. I used to be someone who drank heavily and struggled with bad habits. Self-control wasn't something I possessed back then. Coming from an impoverished background only made things harder. Whenever I got hold of some cash, everything seemed worth spending on—whatever caught my fancy at the moment. It truly couldn’t get much worse than that. Eventually, I prayed out loud: 'God, come alongside me,' because without your guidance, I knew I wouldn’t last long—I might even die young."
So began my journey into running,”
Bearwin became sentimental when questioned about his "You VERSUS You" experience. "(That happened) back in 2012 when I met Christ once more. I volunteered at Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF). If you check my social media posts, I often upload motivational clips... The time I drew closer to God and began dedicating myself to him brought numerous trials. Just as you're ready to fully commit yourself, He holds you even tighter. Together with my wife, I commenced volunteering for service in 2011."
Pagdating sa career at pag-akyat-mundo, nagawa ko na lahat 'yun. Hindi na importante sa akin ang pera o ang kaluguran. Ang gusto ko lang ngayon ay makapagtagpo kami para magbigyanan ng inspirasyon at ipakita kung paano tayo pinabuti ni Lord — tapos na ako.
At the same time, the "You VERSUS You Run 2025" highlights personal growth rather than rivalry, inspiring runners to push their own limits and achieve individual goals. Centered around the motto "You VERSUS You," the event reinforces the belief that victory lies in participation and giving your best — not just in crossing the finish line first.
Ang kaganapan ay may kasamang iba’t ibang aktibidad at mga sikat na personalidad, kabilang ang beteranong mang-aawit na si Mitoy Yonting. "Pagkatapos ng iyong takbo, masaya ka pa rin sa activity area dahil meron ding panggigiliw doon. Nakasolba ka na sa pawis—sa activity area mismo sa lugar, makakain ka, makaka-inom, at maaaliwan kasama ang buong pamilya," sabi ni Bearwin.
The activity is scheduled to take place on July 20th starting at 4:00 AM at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub located in Imus City, Cavite. Organizing the event is Michael Maranan—president and CEO of 88 Ace Production Corporation, chairperson of the Maranan Group of Companies, as well as the creator behind the My Superhero Friends Foundation—which will receive all profits raised through this gathering aimed toward helping kids and advancing local communities' growth initiatives.
To register, visit https://raceroster.com/events/2025/106645/you-versus-you Drop by the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub (open Fridays through Sundays until July 13 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM), or send a message to 88 Sports PH via their social media accounts for help. For more information, reach out to Bearwin at +639988543432.