Published on Nov 21, 2025
Around the second quarter of every year, the Esquire Philippines team comes together to nominate a few names that are worthy of being called Man at His Best. These are the extraordinary Filipino men and women reshaping society as we know it. Once we finalize and approve the roster, the months-long behind-the-scenes work begins. The entire process concludes with a grand reveal of our honorees at a well-appointed venue, celebrated with drinks, and in the company of colleagues, friends, and the coolest people we know.
And, finally, Esquire Philippines' Man at His Best 2025 was held last November 18 at The Grand Bar & Lounge, Newport World Resorts.
This is the annual Man at His Best, the local iteration of a global signature event where we celebrate the dreamers and doers who have made a profound impact on the Filipino's way of life, who are using their talents and skills to make something of themselves and inspire the rest of us to do better with our lives.
Esquire Philippines' Man at His Best 2025 Honorees (from L to R): Butch Dalisay (Icon of the Year), Glenda Gloria (Journalist of the Year), Jorge Mendez (Chef of the Year), IV of Spades (Music Artist of the Year), Lav Diaz (Creative of the Year), Jericho Rosales (Actor of the Year), Dennis Anthony Uy (Businessman of the Year). Not in photo is Sen. Bam Aquino (Maverick of the Year).
In Photos: Esquire Philippines' Man at His Best 2025
As guests get settled in with drinks in hand from Manila Craft and Philippine Wine Merchants, Nameless Kids kicked off the night with their heartfelt lyrics and genre-blending sound. They're an indie-alternative band based in Manila, with influences ranging from pop to synth and alternative rock.
Mitch Suarez, Senior Vice President for Marketing of Newport World Resorts, then welcomed the crowd to this elegant space, The Grand Bar & Lounge.
"To the Esquire team, thank you for once again bringing together such an inspiring gathering of changemakers," she said. Esquire Philippines' Man at His Best 2024 was held at Hilton Manila, another Newport World Resorts property. "We’re especially glad to host you tonight, following last year when our Executive Chairman, Kevin L. Tan, was among your honorees," she added.
Esquire Philippines' Editor-in-Chief, PJ Caña, likewise thanked everyone for "choosing to spend [their] Tuesday evening with us." He then highlighted the American magazine's 92-year history and its legacy of publishing literary legends like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. This heritage, he explained, underpins Man At His Best. Its core purpose, Caña stressed, is to "shine the spotlight on individuals who are doing things with their lives that are inspiring the rest of us to do better with ours."
He noted that this year's honorees are not only making strides in their respective fields but are actively "helping shape what tomorrow looks like for Filipino society." Their achievements span diverse areas, including acting, telecommunications, music and prose, culinary arts, public service, and journalism—all demonstrating what it means to be man at his best.
He finally invited everyone to "tune out all the noise and negativity of the world," and join Esquire Philippines in celebrating the extraordinary individuals.
But before getting off the stage, Esquire Philippines' EIC made two special announcements. First, the launch of Esquire Collective, an "exclusive community of visionaries, leaders, and tastemakers who embody the essence of man at his best." Guests at the Man at His Best 2025 were the first members of the Collective, with each of them to expect an invite to bespoke experiences in the future. To mark the ocassion, Esquire merchandise as well as gifts from FINO Leatherware and NIVEA Men were given away.
The second announcement is the launch of Esquire Mavericks, which is a "special distinction for entrepreneurs achieving success on their own terms." For 2025, Bryan and Brandon Liu, third-generation leaders of Golden ABC, are named Esquire Mavericks.
"Our mavericks are helping carry on the legacy of a nearly 40-year-old proudly Filipino company. From the island of Cebu, where their initial brand Penshoppe was founded, Golden ABC is now an admired multi-brand fashion retail company, with a full portfolio of original fashion labels putting the creativity of Filipinos front and center. And it’s partly thanks to the leadership and vision of these two gentlemen that the company continues to break boundaries, set trends, and earn the respect and loyalty of its customers," Caña explained.
Man at His Best 2025 also inaugurated a brand-new segment called Esquire Sessions, a platform that brings to life thought-provoking conversations on signature Esquire themes, curated and hosted by the Esquire team.
Invited onstage are guests from our partner brands: Elvin Luciano, VP, Head for Marketing Services of Toyota; Mitch Suarez, SVP for Marketing of Newport World Resorts; Architect Conrad Erfe, AVP for Planning and Design of RLC Residences; and Carlo Yap, Brand Manager of Durex.
Caña, alongside Summit Media’s Chief Operating Officer, Howard Go, moderated the panel. They talked about helping the modern find the right balance in their home life, tailoring customer demands for vehicles, championing sexual responsibility, and offering a venue for gatherings that celebrate excellence.
And finally, it was time for the Man at His Best 2025 Awards. The ceremony was led by Esquire Philippines' EIC, with Summit Media's General Manager for Online Business, Christine Ongteco-Sandejas and Deputy Group Publisher, Iza Santos-Cuyos.
All honorees were present except for Sen. Bam Aquino, who has a full schedule amid the budget hearings in the senate.
Jericho Rosales, Actor of the Year
"I will not drop the mic," quipped Jericho Rosales upon coming onstage, alluding of course to when a descendant of former President Manuel L. Quezon dropped the mic during a Quezon movie talk-back. Rosales, an actor, singer, songwriter, and film producer, starred as the president in the Jerrold Tarog film.
"I would like to thank Esquire. I've been a big fan," he continued, citing how he used to flip through the magazine, get style inspiration when he was just starting out as an actor, and even rip off pages to save them, "even before Esquire came into the Philippines."
He also expressed his gratitude to Quezon's producer, TBA Studios' Daphne Chiu-Soon, who was present at the event.
Lastly, Rosales likewise thanked his plus one, Janine Gutierrez. "Thank you so much for supporting me this year; it's been crazy."
Lav Diaz, Creative of the Year
In the spirit of friendship, Lav Diaz first gave a shout-out to IV of Spades, his fellow Man at His Best honoree and our Music Artist of the Year. "Ang laking bagay niyo sa bayan, sa puso nila may bagong musika, may bagong pag-asa."
IV of Spades later expressed how getting an acknowledgment from the director was clearly a bigger deal for them.
"Marami pang dapat gawin sa bayan. Marami pang putol na kalsada," Diaz continued in his acceptance speech. "We were shooting a place in Quezon province, putol 'yung mga highway. Andami pang dapat gawin ng mga cultural workers. Hamon ito na ipagpatuloy pa namin ang mga gagawin."
Sen. Bam Aquino, Maverick of the Year
Music Artist of the Year, IV of Spades
IV of Spades' Blaster, after his bandmates passed (nay, forced) the mic to him, took the lead. "Subukan kong magsabi ng something na meaningful kasi ako yung pinili nila magsalita," he started off candidly, with Unique, Zild, and Badjao cheering him on.
"Very special 'to kasi growing up, nakikita ko talaga 'yung Esquire doon pa sa mga bookstore. Kaya hindi ko akalaing magpupunta kami doon. Pero nandito kami ngayon kasama ko mga tropa ko dito. Nandito kami sa room, aircon, maraming tao, nag-e-enjoy tayo. Cheers na lang to celebrate ang ating mga best-ness," Blaster said.
Dennis Anthony Uy, Businessman of the Year
Dennis Anthony Uy, CEO of Converge ICT, dedicated his award to his employees, technology partners, and customers.
"What I built for the country today is only a basic infrastructure. But tell you honestly, we are far behind among the Asian countries. Far, far behind. The ecosystem of digital ecosystem is not yet felt by the people today. And that's why we are helping the country to be transformed well," he said.
He added that it is a basic requirement to be digital transformed, and so he called on everyone to "work together and make sure we can uplift our country through digital transformation."
Jorge Mendez, Chef of the Year
"A lot of people are asking me last year why I make a lot of concepts. But for me, my main reason is I want my food, my ideas, my good memories, to be the reason why we gather around and reconnect," Chef Jorge Mendez said in his MAHB 2025 acceptance speech.
He's the culinary mind behind Ohayo Comfort Food, Mugen Ramenya, and Makanai. And he just got two of his restaurants included in the MICHELIN Guide 2025: Japanese restaurant Modan with a Selected distinction, and contemporary Thai concept Some Thai with a Bib Gourmand.
The sweetest part of his speech was when he said: "There's no man at his best without the women at their best." He dedicated the award to his wife, his two kids, his "mama" ("who's been my idol since when I was a kid"), and, of course, his mentor, Margarita Fores ("who taught me how to respect everyone, and not chase any recognition, but happiness.")
Glenda Gloria, Journalist of the Year
"I'd like to believe that when you chose me for this award, you also had in mind the body of work that Rappler has done over time," said Rappler Executive Editor Glenda Gloria after the recognition. She highlighted the investigative stories regarding the flood control scandal.
"We were able to do those stories not just because of the commitment of the team, but because of the help of angry, fed up Filipinos who provided us countless information, tips and leads, who encouraged us to really pursue these stories because they trusted us to really complete it and expose the corrupt no matter how powerful they are or no matter what it takes to do so."
"As they say, bad news is good news for journalism. However broken the politics and system today is, it has ironically reconnected the public to journalists. We have slowly rebuilt the trust that we somehow lost along the way, and we like that. That's why this award is really for the truth tellers."
Gloria ended her speech with high hopes, "Filipinos want their journalists brave but also responsible. We know that and we're aware of the huge responsibility that comes with the power that we have."
Butch Dalisay, Icon of the Year
"Thank you very much, Esquire, for this special and unique honor," award-winning Filipino writer Butch Dalisay started.
"I'm not even exactly sure what I'm an icon of or an icon for. I mean, who the f* am I compared to luminaries that are here tonight. But as a storyteller and as a teacher, I've often said that the best antidote to fake news is true fiction. And this is the kind of fiction that doesn't just deal with the despair and disorderliness around us or believe in it. I'm talking about fiction that makes us believe that with faith, hope, and courage, we can be better than we are and better than we have ever been."
To cap off the program (and before everyone parties to the music of DJ Tolo Marvelous), Summit Media's COO, Howard Go, returned to the stage for a toast with the Esquire Philippines team (Editor-in-Chief PJ Caña, Managing Editor Rhia Grana, Associate Editor Christa De La Cruz, Features Editor JV Ordoñez, Art Director Igi Talao, Social Media Strategist James Bendijo). Joining them onstage were the Summit Media execs, including President and CEO Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, General Manager Christine Ongteco-Sandejas, Head of Revenue Growth Florence Bienvenido, Deputy Group Publisher Iza Santos-Cuyos, and Associate Group Publisher Bettina Santos.
More Photos from Man at His Best 2025
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Esquire Philippines' Man At His Best 2025 is in partnership with Penshoppe, Robinsons Land Corporation, Durex, and Toyota. Our official venue partner is The Grand Bar & Lounge at Grand Wing, Newport World Resorts. Special thanks to FINO Leatherware, Manila Craft, Philippine Wine Merchants, and NIVEA Men.