Paul Christian Ocampo

EXCLUSIVE: Billy Crawford reflects on Holy Week, shares journey to healthier lifestyle

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Despite a demanding schedule that often takes him overseas, international R&amp;B star Billy Crawford remains rooted in faith and in his family, especially as Holy Week approaches.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong></a><strong>,</strong> the television host admitted that work sometimes gets in the way of fully observing traditions with his loved ones.</p><p>“It&#x27;s hard to schedule not missing certain things because my job is actually traveling, and sad enough, this Holy Week, I&#x27;m actually going to be away from the family. Usually, it&#x27;s pretty much the same,” Billy shared.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774958734958PUSH-Billy-Crawford-Insert.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div><p>However, when he is home, their family observes simple traditions, such as reflecting and bonding with wife Coleen Garcia and their two kids.</p><p>“We stay at home, pray, and have as much peace as possible, especially with what&#x27;s going on in the world,” he continued.</p><p>Even if distance separates them this year during the Lenten Season, Billy emphasized that their bond as a family remains intact.</p><p>“We all look forward, first of all, to just be as a family and as a unit, but as I said, I won&#x27;t be here for Holy Week, but through spirit and through prayer, we&#x27;re always a unit. We&#x27;re as one,” he noted.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTM5CN8kWhM/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A9636271.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="856" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div> </div><p>Aside from family time, Billy also placed importance on maintaining and protecting peace amid life’s daily pressures.</p><p>“I think our patience is stretched anyways in life, and just by keeping a positive mental state just gives you peace and my peace right now is my wife and my two kids. So every time I see and I hear their voice and I know that they&#x27;re there and they&#x27;re around, that&#x27;s my peace. So when I&#x27;m overseas without my family, I&#x27;m at war,” he explained.</p><p>Billy also opened up about his commitment to a healthier lifestyle. He admitted that making mindful choices, particularly cutting back on sugar, played a major role in his fitness journey.</p><p>“Wala akong diet. That&#x27;s one of my things is I have no diet. As you can tell, walang tigil yung pawis ko, So I really burn more than usual,” he said.</p><p>“Number one na nagpatanggal ng weight sa akin was I cut out a lot of sugar. Sugar was the biggest drug sa buong mundo. That&#x27;s what I think. Rice has sugar, pasta has sugar, bread has sugar, fruit has sugar, and everything has sugar. So you have to really choose if you want to eat candy or you want to eat fruits. So that&#x27;s my kind of regime right now,” he added.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-9" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUq8KMBCE1F/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A9%2C%22os%22%3A9637052.799999952%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="927" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-9" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div> </div><p>Billy also revealed that giving up alcohol and smoking marked a major turning point.</p><p>“It&#x27;s diet, actually. But yeah, I stopped alcohol. That&#x27;s the number one sugar trigger, and to make you bloat is alcohol. So it&#x27;s been eight years that I haven&#x27;t drank alcohol, and I stopped pretty much my vices. No more smoking cigarettes, no more alcohol, no more going out late at night,” he revealed.</p><p>“It really changes everything. Staying fit is actually just living, living healthy, that&#x27;s all it is.”</p>