What Went Down at the First VMAN Vanguards Club

A momentous night for fashion and pop culture

VMAN Southeast Asia officially celebrated the successful launch of the August 2025 Television Digital Issue at the first VMAN Vanguards Club at Bando, Manila’s first hip-hop only club. 

Recognizing the community that continues to make Philippine television a powerful force, the party gathered Manila’s vanguards of fashion and pop culture for an evening of resounding music, great conversations, and effortless style. 

In attendance from the stellar cover star lineup of the August digital issue were Pinoy Big Brother big winner Brent Manalo, along with ex-housemates Michael Sager, River Joseph, and Josh Ford. Past cover boys and VMEN, from Anthony Constantino, Yunus Yanin, Gelo Rivero, to Kirk Bondad, were also present. 

“Television has always stood at the heart of popular culture. It is where characters become part of our daily lives and where young talents transform into household names. This issue explores exactly that: how television shapes culture, and how culture in turn shapes us,” shares Patrick Ty, Chief of Editorial Content, VMAN Southeast Asia.

“As VMAN Southeast Asia, our larger vision is to continue giving platforms to Southeast Asian talents who are rewriting the narrative of what it means to be young and influential today,” he adds. 

Check out the rest of the event highlights below and relive this landmark night for Southeast Asian men’s fashion and pop culture, made possible by IQOS, Acer, and New Era. 

Photography Sean Olalo and Tim Dueñas