"CASTERS, PASOK!"
These two words alone were enough to leave an impression on the Mobile Legends esports community, who will surely miss Mara Aquino's graceful presence inside the MPL arena.
Her enthusiasm and passion produced many memorable moments. These include interviews with Joshua "Ch4knu" Mangilog and Rowgien "Owgwen" Unigo (remember his Korean-esque or Diggie-inspired haircut?). Mara even had a memorable conversation with Pia about her affection for Jann "Kirk" Gutierrez. Her energy was infectious, making a real impact on the scene.
But there have been those whose lives were changed because of Mara's love for the community, as we look back at the moments where Mara showed her heart of gold.
Brigida once doubted herself
Brigitte “Brigida” Ramos is now considered a rising star in the MLBB talent pool, as seen from her recent appearance on the M6 World Championship stage.
However, there was a time when Brigida doubted her capabilities, during the MPL Philippines 2021 caster search.
“Syempre during that time sobrang pressured ako sa mga kasama ko tapos sobrang baguhan po ako so parang tunog manok yata ako noong nag on-the-spot casting ako," she recalled in an interview with SPIN.ph. "Boses pa lang, medyo lugi na ako kase napo-point out talaga ni Sir Noel like how you should use your voice.”
Mara then sat beside Brigida and said: "There might be a silver lining in how you see things right now because if you know that you have nothing to lose, why not perform for the sake of performing?" Aquino told her. "Just do what you can, don’t think of anything else.”
What happened next? Brigida excelled in her performance, leaving a lasting impression on her coaches. As the years went by, Brigida slowly began to emerge as a talent in the MPL scene.
From 'palaboy' to MPL
Whenever Mara Aquino entered the stage, she often showcased jaw-dropping outfits that elevated the spectacle of the MLBB esports scene.
The person responsible for creating some of these outfits was none other than Jan Joseph Laida.
“Tapos nawala siya sa isip ko kase may mga nangyari po, nawala siya (Laida’s mother), tapos ako po naiwan ako dito (Manila). Dalawa kase kami pumunta sa Manila para mapagamot siya. Noong nawala po siya, nagpa-ikot-ikot po ako sa East Avenue for two months, wala akong bahay so natutulog ako sa tapat ng SSS," Laida revealed.
Eventually, his relatives brought him back to Iloilo, giving him a second chance. He slowly rebuilt his life, taking up the ALS (Alternative Learning System), and then returned to Manila to earn a degree in Fashion Design.
After graduating, Laida worked hard and began making a name for himself. He became determined to pursue his dream of creating outfits for Mara Aquino. His prayers were answered in Season 10, and Mara and Laida formed a creative partnership that lit up the MPL stage.
This was evident during the broadcasts, where Mara often gave Laida a shoutout, a perfect way to acknowledge his hard work behind the scenes.
1v1!
If you recall back in Season 10, it was Duane "Kelra" Pillas' sister Alyanna Pillas who screamed '1v1!' at the top of her lungs inside the MPL venue, which added more fuel to the fire to the Kelra-Oheb rivalry.
Fans were displeased with her actions, and Alyanna received a barrage of death threats from the community, forcing her into hiding.
"Kapag nakita kita, sasaksakin kita! Papuputukin kita!" Alyanna recalled the hate she received.
Amidst the negativity, one person dedicated her time and energy to uplifting Alyanna's spirits: Mara Aquino.
"Malaking pasasalamat ko kay Miss Mara kase all throughout, noong nangyari yung event, nandun siya for me," Alyanna revealed in an exclusive with SPIN.ph.
Mara's comforting words helped Alyanna slowly regain her confidence and return to the MPL venue. Her presence there allowed the Gold Standard to finally cement his legacy among the greats.
Even now, Pillas remains in contact with Mara, demonstrating the former MPL host's warm and supportive nature.
"Lagi kaming nag-uusap, until now," Alyanna said.
Breaking the Code
But there was a time when Blacklist was still on the launchpad, waiting for things to fully unravel, which happened before the arrival of Salic "Hadji" Imam.
Mara Aquino once sent a truckload of 'Chooks to Go' products to Blacklist International, with the message: "As always, Blacklist International was impressive! You made our country proud! Thank you Vee, Wise, Oheb, Edward, Eson, Dexstar, and Coach Bon! #BreakTheNeck"
"Sending good vibes your way, Mara Aquino"
Coach Kristoffer "BON CHAN" Ricaplaza reflected on that moment and gave Mara a huge shoutout for being an important part of Blacklist's early journey.
"Thank you Mara Aquino! Di ko pa rin nalililmutan sandamakmak na chooks na pinadala mo nun nagsstart pa lang kami.. Good luck sa next journey!"
And perhaps there have been other narratives from behind the scene where Mara truly shaped the lives of the MLBB community. Through her genuine connection with the community, she created a ripple effect of positivity that extended far beyond the MPL arena.
We wish you all the best Mara!
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
