What Went Down at the First VMAN Vanguards Club
The evening celebrated the launch of the August 2025 Television Digital Issue, the community that continues to make Philippine TV a powerful force, and the new vanguards of fashion and pop culture
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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
Frequently Asked Questions
The VMAN Vanguards Club is an exclusive cultural event series launched by VMAN Southeast Asia to honor the creators, artists, and public figures shaping modern regional style. The inaugural gathering in Manila celebrated the release of the August 2025 Television Digital Issue, highlighting breakout actors transitioning from reality television into mainstream media roles.
The event brought together prominent television personalities and fashion models, including Pinoy Big Brother big winner Brent Manalo along with fellow breakout stars Michael Sager, River Joseph, and Josh Ford. Other high-profile attendees included regional style figures and former cover stars Anthony Constantino, Yunus Yanin, Gelo Rivero, and Kirk Bondad.
The inaugural celebration was hosted at Bando, recognized as Manila’s first dedicated hip-hop nightlife venue. The choice of location established an energetic, subculture-driven backdrop that blended contemporary street culture with sharp, high-end menswear tailoring.
Broadcast television remains a central driver of regional popular culture by transforming emerging talents into recognizable household names. As these public figures accumulate massive, deeply engaged fanbases, their personal style choices, brand collaborations, and runway appearances set immediate lifestyle trends across the digital landscape.
The landmark cultural gathering was produced and supported through strategic lifestyle and technology partnerships with notable industry brands, including IQOS, Acer, and New Era.
