At exactly 11:26 AM last Friday, esports icon Nico “Kuya Nic” Nazario posted a Facebook status that forever changed the Philippine esports scene.
No, it was not a lengthy Facebook status and no, it was not about his NBA cards. Heck, the status did not even consist of two characters.
It was a simple sad emoji. That’s it. No context or whatsoever, but everyone who caught a glimpse of the post already had an idea of what’s about to come next. Still, everyone remained hopeful. No one wanted to grasp the idea, at least not yet.
But as expected, the inevitable finally came.
Aldrin “Dunoo” Pangan, the other half of the legendary shoutcasting duo that immortalized the voice line “Lakad Matatag! Normalin! Normalin” passed away due to complications with COVID-19.
Nazario, who was the bearer of sad news earlier in the morning, made sure to connect with Dunoo’s fans later that night by pushing through with LuponWxC’s broadcast of T1’s match against Alliance in the ESL One Fall 2021 playoffs as a way to honor the fallen shoutcasting legend.
“Dapat talaga wala kaming broadcast ngayon, Focus Fire wala, Kumu wala, Just ML wala, dapat wala talaga lahat,” shared Nazario during the pre-game segment.
“So, ayun nga, kaya kami yung nag cast kasi ayaw naman namin na lahat ng tanong niyo itanong niyo kila Cer Mike, kila Darkstar, kila KJ, kasi hindi rin naman nila alam kung ano yung sasabihin nila ‘di ba? So better yet kami na yung tumira nito.
“I think one thing is for sure, given yung energy ni Kuya D, kumbaga ayun nga, nilaban niya naman pero siya I think na ayaw niya rin na completely maapektuhan tayo nang lubos lubos though siyempre iba pa rin si Kuya D, pero [alam ko na] gusto niyang mag tuloy tuloy tayo so ayun yung gagawin natin,” explained Nazario, holding back tears.
As described by his peers, Dunoo is one of the most passionate figures in the entire local esports scene. And despite being at the receiving end of fans’ ire for his provocative style, Dunoo still loved the fans with his whole heart.
And that love never wavered. From the day that he got admitted up until his final days, Dunoo, who already went through dialysis on top of other things, still managed to find a way to update the fans of his condition.
“Kung ano yung Kuya D na gustong gusto niyong nakikita sa camera, ganun din namin siya nakikita sa likod ng camera,” said Nazario.
Dunoo’s battle with COVID-19 was a well-documented, heart-wrenching ride for esports fans.
Still, the community can find peace knowing that one of the voices that lifted the game to prominence fought in true Dota fashion – dragging the fight up until the late game.
And for that, Nazario, as well as the entire LuponWxC family, could not be more proud of their brother.
“Ako naman napatunayan ko na malakas pa si Kuya D kasi lahat ng pm namin nung pumunta siya dun sa may ospital, lagi niyang sinasabi na yun nga nanghihina na ako parang ganun, nag picture pa siya,” narrated Nazario.
“Pero kita mo ah, inaamin niyang nanghihina na siya pero tumagal pa ng Linggo ‘di ba? So alam niyang mahina na siya pero still, pinatagal niya pa rin and nilaban niya pa rin. Unfortunate lang na doon pa rin napunta, pero proud ako doon kay Kuya D na nilaban niya yung laban niya against COVID,” he continued.
“I hope he’s well sa langit.”
