Supermodel Paolo Roldan. Photo by Karl King Aguña
By the time photographer Karl King Aguña headed home after the Vogue Man Launch Party last Thursday evening, he had used up three rolls of film. Before he was asked to create a photo diary for Vogue Philippines, he was already planning to take film photos for his own safekeeping: a capsule of a celebration spent with his friends, collaborators, and fellow creatives.
But the Vogue Man Launch wasn’t all Karl was celebrating; the first story he ever shot for Vogue Philippines, titled “Slow Life,” appears in the June issue fronted by filmmaker Isabel Sandoval. It was also the very first editorial he shot when he arrived in Manila from London last January, marking his foray into becoming a full-time photographer.
The photos he took at the party are sleek if not blurry—the mark of an evening well-spent—and, moreover, authentic; behind Karl’s lens, we are in on an inside joke, joining laughter-filled conversations, sneaking a peek into Vogue Philippines interviews, and diving straight into the heart of the party. In developing his film, he was worried that most of the shots on his rolls featured many of the Vogue Philippines team and his own collaborators. “Pero ganun talaga [But that’s how it is],” he shrugs. “It’s the party from my perspective!”
Designers CP Garcia and Kendrick Cay. Photo by Karl King Aguña1/23“The designer duo, CP and Kendrick”
Photographer Shaira Luna. Photo by Karl King Aguña2/23“The Shaira Luna—nice to finally meet ya!”
Vogue Man June 2024 cover star Paolo Roldan. Photo by Karl King Aguña3/23“The man in Vogue, Paolo”
Zild Benitez. Photo by Karl King Aguña4/23“Zild is too cool!”
Roko Arceo and Jio Joshua Baldesimo. Photo by Karl King Aguña5/23“Cheers with Roko and Jio”
Borgy Angeles. Photo by Karl King Aguña6/23“Gorgy”
The newly launched maiden issue of Vogue Man Philippines. Photo by Karl King Aguña7/23“Vogue Man in print.”
Designers Kelvin Morales, RJ Santos, and Nicolo Perez. Photo by Karl King Aguña8/23“Kelvin, RJ, and Nico in black and white”
Vogue Philippines producer Anz Hizon with designers Kelvin Morales, RJ Santos, and Nicolo Perez. Photo by Karl King Aguña9/23“Anz doing his job, lining up designers Kelvin, RJ, and Nico”
Photo by Karl King Aguña10/23“Party!”
Photo by Karl King Aguña11/23“I love Manila. I don’t want to leave!”
Vogue Philippines producer Anz Hizon. Photo by Karl King Aguña12/23“My Gemini twin, Anz”
Photo by Karl King Aguña13/23“The Vogue Man launch was a blast!”
Kelvin Morales, RJ Santos, and Nicolo Perez. Photo by Karl King Aguña14/23“The designers of the moment taking a selfie”
Photo by Karl King Aguña15/23“Couldn’t get into the bar, but hello Jason!”
Designers Carl Jan Cruz and Nicomede Talavera. Photo by Karl King Aguña16/23“A little reunion with the Londoners, CJC and Nico”
Zild Benitez, Vogue Man editor Danyl Geneciran, and Elijah Canlas. Photo by Karl King Aguña17/23“Zild and Elijah with Danyl”
Photo by Karl King Aguña18/23“Quick cheers with the photo diarists Joseph and Borgy”
Photo by Karl King Aguña19/23“My first time meeting Jericho!”
Elijah Canlas. Photo by Karl King Aguña20/23“The best dressed for sure, Elijah”
Vogue Man editor Danyl Geneciran. Photo by Karl King Aguña21/23“Congrats, Danyl!”
Jio Joshua Baldesimo of Univers, designer Prince Padilla, and Elijah Canlas. Photo by Karl King Aguña22/23“With Jio, who introduced me to Prince and Elijah”
Stylists David Milan and Lyn Alumno. Photo by Karl King Aguña23/23“The stylists, David and Lyn!”
As told to Chelsea Sarabia. Additional reporting by Ticia Almazan.
- At the Launch of Vogue Man, the Modern Filipino Gentleman Reintroduces Himself
- Paolo Roldan on Navigating The Turbulent Waters of Fashion
- Artu Nepomuceno Brings Creative Circles Together at the Vogue Philippines Anniversary Gala
- Shaira Luna Offers An Intimate Look Into The Vogue Philippines Young Blood Party
