Oliver Eugen Kretz makes history as first Filipino winner of Man of the World
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Oliver Eugen Kretz brought home the Philippines' first-ever Man of the World crown after winning the international pageant in Manila.
The Philippines has secured its first-ever Man of the World title after Oliver Eugen Kretz emerged victorious at the 2026 competition held in Manila.
Filipino contender Oliver Eugen Kretz was crowned the 8th Man of the World on Saturday night, besting 27 other candidates during the pageant held at Palacio de Maynila.
With the win, Oliver became the first representative from the Philippines to claim the international title. He succeeded Spain's Juul Missiaen, who was crowned in 2025.
Throughout the competition, Oliver proved to be one of the strongest contenders. He topped the swimwear and beachwear segments and was also named the media's "Press Favorite."
The Filipino bet further impressed the judges during the Intelligence Round, where finalists were challenged to showcase both their creativity and advocacy.
Asked what title he would give a book about his journey in the competition, he answered, "Journey to Growth and Purpose."
In the final statement portion, Oliver opened up about the challenges he faced growing up following his parents' separation.
“As I grew older, I realized I was not alone. Many children are forced into survival because of corruption, while others across the world are robbed of their childhood because of the injustices of war, crisis, and conflict,” he said.
“Humanity must be rooted in peace and integrity. Our future should never be shaped by greed, but by compassion and responsibility. I hope one day no child will be homeless or broken like me, because every child will finally have a future they can call their own,” he added.
As the new Man of the World, Kretz is expected to help advance the organization's advocacy of promoting education while embodying its message of "masculinity with responsibility."
His mentor, Rodgil Flores, credited Kretz's commitment and sense of purpose for the historic achievement.
Ecuador's Abel Adrian Diaz finished as first runner-up, followed by Chile's Fidel Arellano as second runner-up. Mexico's Luis Arturo Jauregui and Malaysia's Afiq Naufal were named third and fourth runners-up, respectively.
Fashion, beauty, and pageant news site Fab Philippines later announced the winners on its official Facebook page, congratulating the new titleholders following the conclusion of the international competition.
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