Introducing the 2023 Most Eligible MEGA Men

Get to know these four notable gentlemen who are leading the way in their fields, making them the Most Eligible Mega Men

This is an excerpt from MEGA Man’s August 2023 cover story.

Possessing appeal that transcends mere charisma, meet the four remarkable male figures whose contributions to and influence in their field are shaping the conversations of our time, making them our Most Eligible Mega Men.

Joshua Garcia

Joshua Garcia doesn’t like to talk so much. In fact, he admits that his “least attractive” quality is “how I can be an introvert.” During our shoot, he begged off the interview and asked to answer our questions through text.

His most attractive quality, though, he says, is his charm, which is evidenced, among others, by his first TikTok content that now has more than 146 million views. In the video, he smiles, do cute hand gestures, and smiles some more. 

“I did not expect it to affect that many people,” he says about that viral video. “But I hope that it did give a positive impact. Some days I am conscious, but on other days, I tend to forget.”

By now, the 25-year-old Unbreak My Heart actor is used to the attention, especially from girls. He says (edited for clarity), “Most of my fans are girls, so I’m used to girls’ attention.” The challenge lies in getting to this man’s heart because that’s not easy to do, according to him. “However, I know what I look for in a woman, and if I see that she has the qualities and values that I am attracted to, then I will give her back the attention and try to get to know her.” 

And what does he look for in a girl? “How she treats people and her family,” he tells MEGA Man. “The way she thinks and her outlook on life. Her values and emotional maturity. The way she carries herself. Someone who thinks long-term in many aspects. Someone who is driven.” 

But the thing with Garcia is, when that girl gets to heart, he won’t leave her side: “I think as a date, I’m very shy at first, but also a fun person to be around. I keep things simple and light. As a boyfriend, I am very protective. I want to make sure that my partner feels safe around me and is comfortable.”

RELATED: Unbreak My Heart Challenges Choice and Fate in Its Pilot Week

LA Aguinaldo

From strutting down runways to commanding the digital space, LA Aguinaldo has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of content creation. With a legion of dedicated followers and a knack for storytelling, this 30-year-old influencer has, without a doubt, mastered the art of engaging an audience both on and off the camera—something we personally witnessed firsthand. 

Dressed in a black shirt, jeans, and a pair of striking green Louis Vuitton trainer sneakers, Aguinaldo arrives at the shoot emanating a presence that would instantly make anyone at ease. 

Despite being jet-lagged after a long-haul flight from Paris, he remains energetic and charming as he passionately shares his recent milestone: attending his first-ever Paris Fashion Week. He says the big event re-awakened his creative spirit.

“The past weekend was truly inspiring and exciting, and it’s something that really brought me joy,” Aguinaldo tells MEGA. “I really got to see what happens behind the scenes.” 

Attending fashion shows in the City of Love also reminded him how important it is to step outside one’s comfort zone: “I really encourage other people to expose themselves to new things because that spark would change your outlook in life, and it can really be your canon event, where it all begins.” 

Aguinaldo recalls that it’s the same sensation he felt when he first decided to explore vlogging. It was a decision born out of his desire to try new things and to delight his supporters who were yearning to know more about him. 

Jacob Ejercito

If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through Instagram Reels in search of inspiration, chances are you’ve stumbled upon Jacob Ejercito’s short but inspiring videos. 

Through his carefully crafted reels, Ejercito has learned to distill wisdom into bite-sized, relatable snippets that pierce through the mundane noise of daily life. Whether it’s a motivational quote, a thought-provoking reflection, or a practical tip to improve mental well-being, his content strikes a chord with viewers from all walks of life. The power of his words lies not just in their simplicity but in the genuine empathy that emanates from each video.

But his journey to becoming a confidence-and-life coach was an unexpected one. Within his circle of friends, Ejercito has always been the go-to person for advice. 

“Ever since kasi, for some reason, ako ’yong tinatanong ’pag advice on breakups, careers,” Ejercito tells MEGA Man. “It’s because they know that I don’t give them BS [bullshit] because I love them, so I will tell them the truth, but in a respectful way. So I’ve always had that growing up, never knowing that it was a skill.”

It wasn’t until early 2022 when a friend planted the seed of him of pursuing life coaching as a career. Determined to excel in his newfound calling, Ejercito enrolled in a six-month online course at the Health Coach Institute in Idaho, US, where he got certified as a life coach. Since then, he’s been helping people navigate their lives.  

“When I meet a client, I don’t come in with my own pre-existing beliefs,” he says. “I come with a blank page and listen to them because oftentimes, people don’t want a solution but they need a safe space to unpack their thoughts and emotions.”

Javi Benitez

At 28 years old, Javi Benitez is the youngest mayor to have ever led the city of Victorias in the province of Negros Occidental. His age could be an advantage, he tells MEGA Man, after our photo shoot that demanded a bit of physicality. But there’s more to him than that.

“Age is one factor, but it’s not everything,” he says. “I’d like to focus on what I can bring to the table. I think people like the youth for two things: the energy and the passion that we put into it.”

His city administrator, a lawyer, is also in his early 30s, but has experience working in government. “They call it the millennial speed,” he says. “Things are faster. From the start, we set the tone right away. We had projects that we wanted to implement immediately. We did it at record time, record pace. Even last year, when we passed the budget, it was the earliest in the history of Victorias.”

In fact, Benitez has always found himself in places where everyone is constantly moving at a fast pace.

From a young age, he has engaged in several sports, including running, martial arts, go-kart racing, and football, to name a few. “I was so much more fit before,” he says laughing. “But public service takes a lot of my time. Exercise really is so important. It affects your mental health and it keeps you sane.”

In college, he became more independent when he left the country to finish his political science degree, with minor in computer science, at Santa Clara University in California. Being near Silicon Valley—which is home to many of the world’s startups and tech companies—he immersed himself in the tech space. “I knew technology would be a constant driving force not only in business but also in public service,” he says, with obvious excitement in his voice. “My main interest is really the intersection of government and technology. That’s why my thrust has always been clean, efficient, and inclusive service.”

Read more about these remarkable men’s journeys in their fields in MEGA Man’s August 2023 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, and Press Reader.

Text BAM ABELLON and LAURD SALEN
Photography ALEXIS DAVE
Creative Direction MARC YELLOW assisted by ANDREW ENCAPAS
Fashion Direction RYUJI SHIOMITSU
Grooming Direction MIA CASTRO
Grooming MYCKE ARCANO and LIONEL FABROS
Styling MIGUEL QUILANG and BEA GUERRERO of NEW COLLECTIVE STYLE
Sittings Editors DONG RONQUILLO and BAM ABELLON
Video Production REGINA ACERON
Videography LORENZO CORRO assisted by CARLO ESTEBANLAR
Shoot Coordination ERICA LUNA
Shot on location CWC INTERIORS