Esquire Philippines Honors 8 Icons and Mavericks at the 2023 Man at His Best Awards
Esquire Philippines’ Man at His Best is back to recognize the outstanding men and women who continue to define the times. Each continues to raise the bar in their respective pursuits in 2023, empowering different industries and the lives they ultimately alter along the way. On Thursday, November 16, guests will be gathering at the Gallio Events Hall in Parañaque to honor these arbiters of culture.
Every year, Esquire Philippines’ Man at His Best honors extraordinary Filipinos who are reshaping society. These are the movers and shakers raising the bar for Filipinos in a variety of disciplines and setting new standards of excellence.
This year, we’re celebrating eight mavericks and living legends in film, music, business, politics, and entertainment. From National Artists Ricky Lee and Kidlat Tahimik to Mayor Joy Belmonte and tycoon Ramon Ang, here are the 2023 honorees who exemplify what it means to be a Man at His Best.
Joy Belmonte, Maverick of the Year
Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina "Joy" Belmonte seems to be running the only city in Metro Manila that makes sense. A place that feels free from the common urban rot every other Manila city and its constituents have. Its image is now being reshaped by Belmonte, becoming a beacon of dignity in this new era of political decay.
Despite the odds, Quezon City has become a beacon of urban progress, dynamism, and freedom in many ways. "[The public] has become skeptical and cynical," she says. The good mayor hopes to change that.
Ramon Ang, Businessman of the Year
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Suffice it to say, Esquire Philippines' Businessman of the Year is a straight-talker and consummate dealmaker. He is the very definition of success. But meet the man and actually have a conversation with him in real life and he is about as far away from the intimidating, stuck-up businessman archetype as one could get. He exudes power and wealth yet can also appear to be undaunting and accessible. "You can earn all the money in the world," he says, "but it’s the difference you make in the lives of people that really matters."
Ricky Lee, Icon of the Year
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee takes you back to the days he left the sleepy town of Daet, Camarines Norte, and gained a profound understanding of disparity, deprivation, and the unfairness of life. Never jaded, he continues to foster an unshakeable empathy toward the marginalized and underprivileged, giving light to their stories, believing in the goodness of strangers, and continuing to pay the kindness forward for the rest of his life.
Kidlat Tahimik, Artist of the Year
Decades, perhaps even centuries, in the making is the legacy of Kidlat Tahimik. At 81, the National Artist for Film is as deeply embedded as he has ever been in his perfumed nightmares, the cosmic events that shaped him, his duende, the decolonization of the Filipino, and the indio-genius we all ought to discover for ourselves.
"Somehow, 'yan [ang] ginuhit ng tadhana, I found a way going into accidental nooks and crannies," Tahimik quips. [Gumagawa] ako ng mga low-budget or no-budget films. This led me to coming back home."
Ez Mil, Music Artist of the Year
Artist, musician, rapper, producer, director, and composer—Ezekiel Miller, aka Ez Mil, has made it his mission to be a multi-hyphenate. He raps in English, Tagalog, and Ilocano, and spits verses as well as a young Eminem. Talent, indubitable. Bars are slick. His potential, recognized by the best in the business., including rap superstars Eminem and Dr. Dre.
"The crazy thing was, it was just a regular day and we kind of got a hit that something was going on. It was after we had put out the music video for 'Up Down,'" Miller says. "We got their email, but kind of didn't take it seriously. And then [people were like] yo, this is serious." What does one do when faced with Eminem and Dr. Dre?
"I lost my mind," joked Miller.
Michael V, Creative of the Year
Over the past three decades, you’ve seen him create content for multiple platforms. From the OctoArts films in the ‘90s to gag shows that dominated primetime in an era when television was spectacle, Beethoven Bunagan aka Michael V successfully cut across social classes, each portrayal meticulously etched with nuances that only he could execute.
The uniqueness of Michael V's artistry lies not just in his ability to entertain but in the sheer unlikelihood of replication. His humor, though rooted in the context of its time, possesses a timeless quality that transcends generations. His characters, whether the iconic Junie Lee, Bebang, or the magnetic Bitoy himself, are etched in the collective memory of audiences.
Piolo Pascual, Actor of the Year
Donny Pangilinan, Entertainer of the Year
Primetime heartthrob Donny Pangilinan is taking white-hot fame in stride. The boy-next-door has grown into a man at his best and is now one of the biggest stars in the Philippines. But he’s being very smart about all of the success.
"My parents, at the start, really didn't want me to do it, especially my mom," Pangilinan says. "She said, 'Huwag ka na pumasok ng showbiz.'"
Visit the Esquire website to learn more about the Man at His Best 2023 honorees. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as the hashtags #EsquireMAHB2022 and #EsquireManAtHisBest.
The Esquire Man At His Best 2023 Honorees Night event is co-presented by AboitizPower, done in partnership with Remy Martin and Durex.
