Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera has finally graduated senior high school at Mapua University on July 7. Graduation ceremonies were held at the Philippine International Convention Center or PICC. He finished ABM or Accountancy, Business, and Management strand.
Unknown to many, balancing esports and education was a promise Yawi made to his parents before he entered esports. It was a very difficult undertaking, but the superstar roamer of ECHO has kept his word.
According to Yawi’s mother, Ye Ducenas, Yawi has always been a good student even when he was a basketball varsity player for UST High School. He maintained high grades while being active in sports. But when he eventually decided to pursue esports as another career, it was a different conversation.
Yawi's 2023 Graduation Photo
Speaking to SPIN.ph, Ducenas revealed they were hesitant to allow Yawi to pursue an esports career, just like many parents who have children in the esports scene.
“Honestly, initially we were apprehensive about Ethan pursuing an esports career because we were concerned about his education,” Ducenas told SPIN.ph in an interview. “When he first told us na mag-e-ML daw siya, sabi namin ng Papa niya, ‘Paano yung pag-aaral mo?’ ang sagot naman niya sa amin, ‘Huwag po kayo mag-alala, hindi ko naman po pababayaan.’”
According to Ducenas, playing Mobile Legends was really her son’s passion after basketball.
“Ipinaglaban niya talaga sa amin iyon, kahit na against kami in the beginning. Noon kasi, kapag sinabi mong esports or gaming, maiisip mo baka mapabayaan ang pag-aaral.
In the end, Yawi kept true to his word and was a diligent and studious student while he balanced his education with his esports career.
“Ipinakiusap talaga niya sa amin na bigyan siya ng at least isang taon to prove himself. At sa nakita naman namin, naging okay ang result ng pag pursue niya ng esports at pag-aaral niya. Sinuportahan namin siya, basta maipagsabay niya ang kanyang pag-aaral at hindi mapabayaan ang kanyang health.”
But there were times when his academics would clash with his esports commitments. In a conversation with Ducenas, it was revealed that Yawi had his share of teachers who would not allow him concessions especially if classes or exams were scheduled on the same dates as tournaments.
In the end, it was his family’s ironclad support that helped Yawi see things through. In a June 2023 interview with Rising Tiger Magazine, Yawi revealed he is motivated by his family.
“Seeing my parents and family proud of me is my success. Nothing is more fulfilling than making the people I love proud,” Yawi said.
With college life on the horizon, there is yet no sign of Yawi retiring from esports any time soon. Yawi is set to compete with ECHO in Indonesia for the Electronic Sports League or ESL, and in the playoffs of World Cyber Games 2023 or WCG for Mobile Legends in South Korea before competing in the MPL-PH Season 12 and the M5 World Championship to be held in the Philippines in December 2023.
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