VP/Xclusives | IT’S REIGNING MEN! The Kings of Mister Grand Philippines

Humidity rises, the barometer drops! It’s reigning men—hallelujah! They’re the kings of Mister Grand Philippines, taking us into the empires of their dreams and purpose!

Far from the scorching heat of traveling under the Metro Manila sun to the Jayson Isaac Cafeteria Studio, the temperature inside was way cooler, enough to make one crave a cup of hot coffee that the studio offers as the team prepares for the shoot. The door gently opened, and then emerged men in monochromatic suits—the reigning men of Mister Grand Philippines: Than Perez, MJ Macalintal, Aljay Dado, Jayden Fernandez, and Jake Coronado—all letting a ray of their smiles shine, greeting everybody, and flooding the room with their vibrant energy.

After changing into another set of suits, they all looked even more royal next to each other as they stood in front of the brown backdrop that matched the energy of their glorious reign as title holders of the prestigious pageant. These kings seemed to have mastered the art of storytelling through their regal poses and opulent projections to the camera, that they can quickly interchange with their innate fun characters in between short breaks and our conversations. Each exuded a distinct form of enigma that would catch the soul of anyone who dares to look straight into the eyes of these kings.

On the other hand, they needed no crowns, knights, nor elegant capes traveling from their broad shoulders down to the floor to claim their glory. It is the power of their dreams that built them a kingdom to reign, guarded by the purposeful intents of their hearts that push forward causes.

And as magnificent as their reign may look from our perspectives, just like any figure from the heroic epics we grew up with, before their rise as kings, Than, MJ, Aljay, Jayden, and Jake first fulfilled their duties as dauntless dreamers sent into the quests that shaped them to becoming the reigning men they are today.

The Great Command of Than Perez

Met with a hectic yet productive Friday as the Mister Grand Philippines 2024, Than made sure to make every moment count, striking his best poses in every layout. This environment looked nothing strange to him, handling every situation with confidence, serving the exact energy asked, and silently speaking with the lenses that captured his royal charm. He must have really mastered his craft, but another layer of depth was revealed when he shared a version of himself before taking on the quest as the pageant’s titleholder.

“I am a man full of dreams… I am full of ambition and plans for my family and my future self.”
-Than Perez

The present he lives in today used to be the future that he dreamed of back then, justifying why he makes every moment count, even in his most hectic days. And as he began reflecting, Than shared a full-circle moment, now that he holds the highest title, when I asked him how his journey to pageantry began. “I started joining pageantry when I was in high school. I won my first pageant on my first attempt,” he narrates. From there, he began venturing into the entertainment world, from modeling, hosting, and now as the Mister Grand Philippines.

From time to time, Than would always bring up moments from the past that shaped his present, and more so his origin, that created a deeper connection between him and the causes he fights for in terms of the environment. “As someone who came from a very rural area in Bulacan, I realized that I wanted to retain this kind of environment for my future generation,” Than says. “Every time that there’s an activity about environmental preservation, I get so excited.”

Than holds a connection with communities and people, and he always wants them included in every picture he paints with his mind. He looks forward to the future beyond himself, commanding the present with the power of his desire for the common good and a better tomorrow. And so I asked him about a rule he would implement if in another world he would rule a country. His answer spoke of his heart for serving the people, just like a true great commander and a king that he is.

“I think one of the greatest problems that our generation is facing today is the lack of awareness about the mental health of an individual, so I think the best thing to deal with it is to mandate educating our children about the importance of mental health.”
-Than Perez

A Young Force of Hope: MJ Macalintal

Oozing with high energy and charisma from the hype of projecting for the first layout, MJ immediately met me for a conversation. He was warm enough to introduce himself first. His dedication and passion, along with his undeniable charm and confidence, catapulted him to becoming the Mister Grand Philippines -Heritage and even finishing as the first runner-up in the Man Hot Star International. he is truly a ball of both warmth and hotness.

But beyond the MJ we get to see on stage emanating fieriness, burning every runway down to ashes, is a man in his youth, taking on the challenge to lead others. “Before I joined Mister Grand Philippines—even until now—I am serving as an SK Chairperson in Caloocan City,” MJ shares. The challenge that comes in living the best of both worlds as a pageant king and a youth leader showed when I asked him if it was stressful. “Time management e,” he shares laughing. But with genuine intentions, MJ becomes an unstoppable force for service. “We implement projects to keep the Filipino youth from the influence of vices. We would do sports events and seminars.”

“Naniniwala naman ako na may mga natututuhan tayo sa streets na hindi natin natutuhan sa school and may natututuhan din tayo sa school na hindi naman sa labas, so mas magandang pagsamahin ang diskarte at pag-aaral.”
-MJ Macalintal

He must really have the heart to serve the people and the community. And so I wondered what he would implement if ever that in another world, he held the power to rule a country. And his answer became even firmer, speaking of the value he puts on public service and welfare of the people, which he believes can be upheld when we set higher standards for those who enter the world of politics. Truly, he is a young force of hope and an ambassador of change.

“For me, sobrang importante ng decision-making sa ganiyang field e, kasi hindi lang naman isang tao kundi lahat ng tao sa bansa ‘yong pwedeng maging affected ng decsions mo.”
-MJ Macalintal

Aljay Dado Rules the Empire of Destiny

Imagine that one rainy night, feeling the coziness of the warmth that a home brings, with a bed that just pulls you to get on it and have a good sleep, or indulge in a hot drink. Who would have thought that from this moment, the man who would wear the crown of Mister Grand Philippines – Fitness would rise? Aljay really rules the empire of destiny.

With much excitement and the same amount of perplexity to whatever had transpired that took him to his present version, he shared how he got into pagentry. “I started when I was 18. I got discovered kasi e when I was at a boxing gym. Naaalala ko no’ng gabing ‘yon, tamad na tamad akong pumunta sa gym no’n kasi umuulan—parang mas masarap na lang na nasa bahay. Pero hindi ko rin alam, pumunta pa rin ako depsite being lazy at that time and the weather,” he narrates. ” I think that cemented my belief that everything happens for a reason.”

And this reminiscence of a rare encounter with destiny took him to his version before becoming the title holder of a prestigious pageant that he is today. Over a cup of coffee, Aljay revealed that his present version is somehow a contradiction of who he used to be—a shy teenager who would always avoid the warmth of the spotlight. “I was just an ordinary kid at my hometown, which is Olongapo,” he shares. “I was just a student, somebody who blended in with the crowd. Like there’s nothing special with this guy, pero hindi naman sa [parang may mali roon],” Aljay further narrates.

The depth of his connection to his past experiences allowed Aljay to become a beacon of hope for the youth, especially those who would relate to his story—adolescents who blend in the crowd, afraid of the spotlight, and fragile in many ways. He learned the reality of the cruel world the hard way and does not want others to experience the same. And so from his narrative, he brought the fight onto the stage, became even more vocal, and pushed forward the causes of mental health.

“I came up with this advocacy because when I was young, I was bullied in high school, only because I was skinny, looking so fragile at that time—so naive and people took advantage of it. So I started to advocate for it because I don’t want other people to feel the same way and experience what I have gone through.”
-Aljay Dado

Given much power, Aljay knows that he holds a bigger responsibility to maximize his platforms and become a representation of youth who struggle in the ways he also did. His stance on mental health is firm, especially when I asked him about a rule he would implement if he ruled a country in another world.

“I would support the Filipino people, especially the youth. I would create programs that would help the people to be resilient and to have and realize their self-worth, because we tend to just look at the physical beauty and success and overlook the silent struggles that we face.”
-Aljay Dado

Jayden Fernandez Wields the Glory of Purpose

With a calmer energy, Jayden arrived in the lounge, wearing a fatigue jacket from his casual outfit. He seemed to be used to doing interviews and having conversations with people, seeing his tranquil and comfortable posture as he sat on the sofa for a conversation. On the other hand, beneath the serene energy lies a heart wild enough to brave the risks of uncertainty and wield the glory of his purpose in this lifetime.

Jayden grew up in the province of Quezon, wallowing himself in the serenity of its greens, which even reflected in his gentleness as a person. “I was a shy boy—typical boy lang. Gigising, stay sa bahay, work, then gym,” he reveals. This has been the cycle of his life for years, being a brand presenter on online platforms, as he tried the elusive chances of entering the entertainment industry—until he decided to break the cycle and find a deeper sense in living his life.

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“I decided to make a change and gawin ‘yong mga hindi ko nakasanayan. I think through that way, mas masa-satisfy ako sa buhay na I will find my purpose.”
-Jayden Fernandez

He began his journey in the world of pageantry in 2023, when he was chosen by the local tourism officer in Tiaong, Quezon. Although at first, he was doubtful of himself and felt as if it was a forced decision to make, Jayden held onto his yearning for a deeper purpose and change, which he found along the way.

“It was really fun, exciting, and interesting na rin at the same time kasi there were a lot of opportunities that opened for me, because of that platform. Tinutloy-tuloy ko na kasi sayang naman since hindi na rin naman ako pabata, kailangan nang mag-try nang mag-try ng mga bagong gawain.”
-Jayden Fernandez

Pushing the glory of purpose even further, Jayden used the power that he holds now as the Mister Grand Philippines – Culture to empower others. On the other hand, the roots of his advocacy are found in one of the darkest phases of his life that traumatized him—a time when his privacy was invaded and put out in public without his consent. Intending not to let others experience the same thing, he now fights for media literacy and social media management.

“I believe that through the proper use of social media and proper education on how to use it, we would be able to use it to its very core, and maximize the purpose for which it was, in the first place, created.”
-Jayden Fernandez

With another level of depth in his connection with his roots and origin, Jayden always pays homage to his past and his hometown. And it was no longer a surprise that his response also honors his hometown when I asked him a rule he would implement if he ruled a country in another world. “I really hate a place where there are no greens or trees. I think I would like to implement a law that would require every place to have a space for the greens. Nowadays kasi masyado nang nagiging industrialized lahat e,” he shares.

The Ordinance of Change by Jake Coronado

As much as consistency holds significance in the lives of humans, change remains inevitable—it is constant. With this idea, Mister Grand Philippines First Runner-Up Jake Coronado approaches life head-on, conquering every battle against stagnation, discovering more of his identity, and consistently upholding the ordinance of change.

From working as a casino dealer and doing livestreams in various platforms during his free time, Jake took a leap of faith and decided to explore more of his potential and capacity in different areas—and this time in pageantry, which his friends has always believed he should join even a few year ago, believing in the power of his with and charisma that would surely shine on the runway.

“Joining this pageant wasn’t something I initially planned, but ‘yong mga ibang kaibigan ko, they encouraged me. Pinapasali na nila ako two years ago, pero di talaga ako sanay sa pageant. Tapos dumating ‘yong Mister Grand Philippines—sibubukan ko para naman makapag-explore ako ng iba ko pang pwedeng gawin. At nakasungkit naman ako kahit papaano.”
-Jake Coronado

“I really advocate for quality education. Naninwiala kasi ako na ito ‘yong kayaman na hindi makukuha nang absta-basta. Kailangan mong paghirapan. And ito rin ang goal ko for myself—na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral.”
-Jake Coronado

What once was a goal for himself has now become his wish for the Filipino youth, which he tries to pursue, especially now, given his platform. Seeing his vision that goes beyond himself alone, I asked the question about the rule he would want to implement in a country that he would reign over in another world. “Gusto kong mag-focus sa mental and physical health. Ito rin kasi ‘yog mga ginagawa ko ngayon para sa sarili ko e,” Jake replied.