“Santie” Magcalas is already considered one of the best up-and-coming shoutcasters in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Philippines ever since his arrival back in Season Nine.
The 21-year-old rising star built his name by joining The Madrigal Project and the MPL PH Next Caster Search. When that did not land him a spot in the country’s premier mobile esports league, he continued showcasing his skills in numerous community and amateur tournaments before eventually receiving the call from the big league.
Fast forward to today and Santie is already earning more than enough to help his family in Capiz with their day-to-day needs.
Still, despite everything that he has achieved in his bright young career, the native of Roxas City chose to pursue his studies – even if it’s 658 kilometers away from where the MPL Philippines holds its games.
With the implementation of face-to-face classes now in full swing, Santie, who covers the game at the ICITE Auditorium in Quezon City on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, has started going back and forth from Manila to West Visayas State University in Iloilo just to continue his education.
“Nag-start po kasi yung face-to-face classes namin last, last Monday (August 22) so since last season online class lang po ako,” Santie told Tiebreaker Times. “Ngayon, first week ko na maga-adjust so kinausap ko po yung subject teachers ko. Buti, sakto naman sa university namin na walang classes every Friday so yung Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ko safe talaga sa MPL kaya sabi ko tutuloy ko pa rin.
“Monday to Thursday, dapat nandoon po ako sa Iloilo. Overall, umaabot din siguro ng 7K kada uwi,” added Santie, who is required to attend in-person classes every other two weeks.
Going through your third year in college is already hard enough as it is, but imagine having to juggle all that with almost an hour and a half of flights, work, and even personal errands. Even Santie admitted that his current setup may not be the most ideal, considering that he is already in Manila where the country’s top-flight schools are located.
But, just like every other decision that a person makes, Santie has his reasons. Personal reasons, to be exact. Reasons that only he could understand. Reasons that are closest to his heart.
Growing up in Capiz, Santie has always dreamed of studying at WVSU. So, when he finally made his way into the university, he knew that nothing, even a full-time job in Manila, could stop him from completing his dream.
“Maraming nagtatanong kung bakit ko raw tinutuloy doon? Pwede naman akong mag-transfer dito sa Manila. Actually, dream school ko rin kasi yung West Visayas,” Santie said, who is currently in his third year studying Tourism Management.
“Isa kasi yun sa mga famous universities sa Visayas so ang hirap makapasok doon, may entrance exam, limited lang. Isang section nga lang po yung Tourism that time sa amin nung pandemic kaya parang ang bigat sakin bitawan. Pinaghirapan ko para makapasok, sinugal ko rin nun para walang gastos yung family ko kasi libre naman lahat,” he added.
And since it is a state university, Santie gets to study there for free which, for him, is definitely a huge help to his family – which is also one of the reasons why he chose to continue his studies in Iloilo.
“Yung scholarship po talaga parang yun yung isa sa mga main reasons kung bakit ayaw kong bitawan yung West,” Santie said. “Para sa family ko rin kasi yung grandparents ko nandoon sa province. So, kada uwi ko gumagastos ‘man ako pero nakikita ko sila. Medyo may pagka-homesick rin kasi ako.”
But Santie isn’t grinding his way from Luzon to Visayas just because of the reasons stated above.
Like what was mentioned before, he’s going through all these because of a purpose that is very close to his heart – and that is to fulfill a promise to his late father.
“Tinutuloy ko na lang talaga para sa father ko. Wala na po kasi yung father ko, maaga siyang namatay parang dapat nasa 40s pa lang siya ngayon and 21 na po ako. Siya hindi po siya nakapagtapos, pero ang lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin na parang ‘kapag nakapagtapos ka na, pwede na akong mamatay’ yun yung lagi niyang sinasabi sakin na gusto niya lang talaga na magawa ko yun kasi hindi niya yun nagawa,” he said.
“Yun yung parang pinaghuhugutan ko na lang na tatapusin ko hindi dahil sa gusto ko kasi sa totoo lang po, wala na pong sense na ituloy ko kasi wala na rin akong plans na ituloy yung career sa Tourism. Para sa kanya talaga ‘to.”
