What Do You Do When Desire Takes Over?

There’s something fascinating about desire. It can be as innocent as a longing gaze from afar, or an intense force that stops at nothing until it gets what it wants. Desire can inspire you, move you, or even consume you—what begins as simple admiration can morph into deep passion, or even an obsession.

It’s an idea that’s only fitting for February, where everyone’s in the mood for love. But beyond romance, VMAN Southeast Asia looks at different kinds of desires and why the people who are entranced by their interests remain hooked.

What motivates, for instance, a man to strive for an enviable physique, given the arduous journey that is a life of peak physical and mental wellness? Why do the creatures of the night thrive in reverberating beats in the dark? What goes into the mind of a tattoo enthusiast as they go under the needle again and again? What do people get out of being moved so intensely by desire?

Such are the questions that we kept in mind as we explored the stories for VMAN Southeast Asia’s Desire Issue. Fronting the digital cover is the Philippines’ hottest rising act, mWell wellness ambassador Dylan Menor, who chases his passions—acting and fitness—with an astounding desire to be even better.

We look into his relentless discipline, shaped by his early years as a student athlete, and how this has set a solid foundation for his acting career. We also talk about the role of a healthy lifestyle and intentional effort in Dylan’s pursuit of greatness.

VMAN Southeast Asia also went across the region for diverse stories on intriguing desires, thanks to our ever-curious creatives. Gaby Flores speaks to tattoo artists in the Philippines and Indonesia on why there are people choose to go under the needle again and again, discovering that there’s more to this desire than making your body a personal museum—the ties that bind among tattoo enthusiasts are quite strong as well.

From across the globe, Dan Q. Dao remotely orchestrated a Saigon production, delving into why the nightlife scene of the uber-creative Southeast Asian city is more than just hedonism—it’s family, creativity, and a great deal of fun.

Lex Celera looks into the trends in thrifting and why—amid radical changes into what was once a niche interest—it’s definitely here to stay in Southeast Asia.

Lastly, we catch up with 2024 World Barista Champion, Indonesia’s Mikael Jasin, and what he now desires next after clinching the coveted title with an interesting combination of coffee and mindfulness.

This month, VMAN Southeast Asia invites you to indulge in stories of desires. Who knows, you might discover something that can pique you, draw you in, and consume you from within.

Cover Story:

Photography Dookie Ducay

Creative direction Patrick Ty

Fashion Jason Mago (Gee Jocson Studio)

Grooming Myckee Arcano

Production design Migs Alcid of Studio Tatin

Art direction Mike Miguel

Retouching Summer Untalan

Fashion assistant Ian Rey

Special thanks Stages Talents, Carlo Orosa, and mWell

On location PIONEERX Studios

Tattoo article:

Photos courtesy Alon M. and Sugiyama Surya

Saigon nightlife:

Photography Tự-Anh Đặng

Creative Direction Yến-Nhi Lê

Thrift article:

Photography Madman Asia and Alessandro Georgie

Coffee article:

Photos courtesy Mikael Jasin