📓ZADDIES DAY
The New Dad Bod
There was a time in fashion when turning 24 felt like the expiration date for male models. The industry wanted boys, not men. Once agencies heard you had kids? Suddenly the runway disappeared and the castings shifted into “tatay roles” — smiling fathers in commercials, holding grocery bags beside minivans, fixing roofs and plumbings.
Very 90s. Very Y2K. Very over.
Because fashion NOW looks different. The industry has become more diverse, inclusive, and obsessed with authenticity. Today’s male models are allowed to age, evolve, build families, and still remain desirable. No more pretending to be Forever 21.
Jesse Hollman brings soft Antipolo energy. Joshua De Sequera serves disciplined Marikina-meets-Ortigas dad life. And Alfio Schmidt? Pure Boracay beach dad perfection. Different lifestyles, different personalities, but all proving one thing: being a father is not a downgrade. It’s the main character development.
This Father’s Day, COOL Magazine celebrates the modern Filipino dad; present, healthy, hardworking, and still undeniably stylish.
Boracay Beach Dad
Boracay changes people. Maybe it’s the saltwater, the sunsets, or growing up surrounded by nature, but for Alfio Schmidt, island life shaped the kind of father he wanted to become.
The 31-year-old model balances shoots in Manila while raising his children Lucas Aaden and Natalia back home in Boracay. And while distance can be difficult, Alfio makes sure fatherhood always stays the priority.
“A modern Filipino dad is someone who truly shows up,” he says. “Not just financially, but emotionally and physically present.”
Fitness also became part of that responsibility. Alfio trains five times a week and runs regularly, not just for aesthetics, but because staying healthy means staying ready for his family. He meal preps, stays disciplined, and treats wellness as part of being dependable.
But his favorite moments aren’t inside gyms or studios. They’re outdoors with his kids — building sandcastles, camping, cliff jumping, and creating the same active childhood he experienced growing up on the island.
There’s something refreshing about Alfio’s energy. Calm, quiet, masculine without trying too hard. The kind of dad who looks just as natural in a fashion editorial as he does walking barefoot on the beach with his children.
The Modern FIlipino Dad
Joshua De Sequera feels like the modern city dad blueprint. Somewhere between Marikina discipline and Ortigas hustle, the 28-year-old model has mastered the balance between fitness, work, and fatherhood.
For Joshua, health starts at home. “Healthy meals and regular exercise should become the norm in the household,” he explains.
His routine is consistent but realistic: full-body workouts two to three times a week, plus daily walks that hit up to 15,000 steps. Nothing overly performative. Just sustainable habits that fit real life.
But beyond physical fitness, Joshua says becoming a father completely changed him emotionally. “The biggest lesson my son taught me is patience,” he shares. “It made me a better version of myself.”
His parenting style: Firm, Fun, and Present; perfectly describes this new generation of Filipino dads. The emotionally available kind. The kind that still works hard but understands that quality time matters just as much as career goals.
Sports, swimming, and night walks with his son Jacob Apollo became their love language. And honestly? There’s something very attractive about a man who knows how to be gentle without losing his strength.
The Cool Dad Next Door
Jesse Hollman carries the kind of energy that makes fatherhood look easy. Relaxed, playful, and effortlessly cool, he represents the softer side of modern masculinity.
The freelance model from Antipolo balances work, fitness, and family life with simplicity. No overcomplicated routines. No forced perfection. Just consistency, presence, and genuine care.
His daughter Jiana Alexi taught him to be always present; something he now considers one of the most important values in parenting. “Kind, disciplined, and supportive,” is how Jesse describes his parenting style.
Off-duty dad life for Jesse includes puzzles, building blocks, and cute little workouts with his daughter. And somehow, that wholesomeness makes him even hotter.
Because today’s definition of masculinity isn’t emotionally unavailable anymore. The COOL dads now are the ones who show affection, communicate openly, and make time for their children despite busy schedules.
“A modern dad isn’t measured only by what he provides,” Jesse says. “It’s also about the time, and presence he gives every day.” And maybe that’s exactly why this new era of fatherhood feels so attractive. These men are not pretending to be perfect. Which, honestly, might be the COOLEST thing of all.
#CoolisinSession #CoolBurnBook
Photography: Rxandy Capinpin
Shoot Associate: Royd Loyola
Film: Christina Zabat of Como Se Dice
Styling: Edrick Paz
Grooming: Lars Cabanacan
Special Thanks to : Mercator/W Management
