ON THE RARE OCCASIONS when Joshua Mangilog speaks in front of a microphone, everybody pipes down to listen. It’s notoriously difficult to get more than a couple of words out of Ch4knu. That’s why when he agreed to this interview that lasted over 20 minutes, we were stunned, not only because he kept talking, but also because he was openly telling his life’s story—something that has never happened before.
Born August 18, 2001, the franchise player of Smart Omega grew up in the streets of Commonwealth, Quezon City. Life was simple for Ch4knu. He used to spend his afternoons outside. For a teen with no cellphone or access to the internet, the street became the usual amusement for Ch4knu.
“Simple lang ako noon, ginagawa ko, larong kalye lang. Tumbang preso, patintero, agawan base,” Ch4knu told SPIN.ph.
When we asked him about school, the soft-spoken Roamer mumbled something about being bullied.
ALSO READ:
Finally, Renejay has the mind of a champion
What we misunderstood about Irrad
Ch4knu attended a public school in Commonwealth, Quezon City, where he did not have a lot of good memories. His school days were often punctuated with embarrassment, mockery, and cruelty. As Ch4knu recalled those days, his smile faltered a little.
“Dati noong Grade 9 ako, binubully ako,” said Ch4knu.
“Parang trip ng mga bata. Asar mo yan. Eh siyempre, ano ako… yung ma-soft-hearted ba?”
Like a classic Ch4knu, he never fought back and just took everything in stride, until he could not.
“Kaya nag decide ako na hindi na ituloy yung pag-aaral… dahil sa bullying.”
Trauma and bullying prevented Ch4knu from continuing school, dropping out in Grade 9. That’s the time he became a tambay.
For reasons he did not want to share, he also left home and lived in a computer shop.
“Naglayas ako noon kasi… Hindi naman talagang layas, pinayagan naman ako eh! Doon na ako tumira sa computer shop,” said Ch4knu. “Pero hindi ako doon natutulog,” he clarified.
“Kung baga, buong araw doon, tapos kapag kapag matutulog, umuuwi sa bahay ng tropa, mga gano'n.
The computer shop became a sort of sanctuary for Ch4knu, who found its dark, air-conditioned spaces and noisy gamers a peaceful repose from the troubles at home and at school.
“Pero hindi yun all the time naglalaro ako. Kung iilan lang ang pera ko noon, ganoon lang ako katagal sa computer shop. Kung wala ako doon, suma-sideline ako.”
“Nagbubuhat ako sa palengke,” said Ch4knu.
“Malapit lang kasi yung palengke sa amin, tumutulong ako doon, nagbubuhat-buhat, ganoon. May bayad din iyon, eh. Tutulong ka lang. Sasama sa pamimili, binigyan ka niya, tapos mga bandang tanghali, ipanglalaro ko na yung kinita ko.”
But not all the time were there marketgoers who needed his assistance.
“Bihira lang yung may nagtatawag sa akin kapag nakatambay ako sa palengke, kung baga, kapag meron lang gusto magpatulong, ayun. Tapos tumutulong ako, tapos sila na bahala kung bibigyan ako.”
Sometimes, he doesn’t even receive tips.
“Siguro mataas na yung P50,” he said, referring to his earnings on a lucky day.
From time to time, Cha4knu still looks back on those days at the wet market.
“Pag naaalala ko iyon, na na-iinspire ako lalo. Kung baga, baka bumalik ako sa ganto, kailangan kong mag-tiyaga lalo.”
But his source of inspiration is also his greatest fear. He is afraid of going back to being poor.
"Takot ka bang bumalik sa ganoong klaseng buhay?"
“Siguro naman lahat ng tao takot sa gano'n. Lahat yata takot sa ganoon.”
Fifty pesos was not enough for daily sustenance, but Ch4knu still had allies on his side. It was his sister’s brother-in-law who allowed him to stay in their place from time to time so he could have meals.
“Doon na lang ako nakitira sa bayaw ng ate ko kasi doon may libreng pagkain. Maghuhugas ka lang ng pinggan,” said Ch4knu.
At the time, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was two years old, and it was becoming a popular mobile game in the Philippines.
“Pasikat pa lang yung Mobile Legends: Bang Bang noon, parang two years old pa lang siya. Nakita ko yung bayaw kong naglalaro.”
When his brother-in-law told Ch4knu to play on his account, it was like Ch4knu had been playing the game for years. Ch4knu had been playing different MOBA games before he tried Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
“Noong umisa ako, marunong na ako agad kahit kakalaro pa lang.” He ended up “piloting” his brother-in-law’s account or playing in his stead to increase the account’s rank.
Four months later, Ch4knu got himself into esports.
Ch4knu was so good in the game, he was recruited by Execration, one of the pioneer esports teams in the Philippines. He suited up for Execration in Season 4 of the MPL in 2019 and played for the team until 2021 when their whole roster was bought by Smart Omega.
The iPhone XR was released in 2018. At that time, it was considered the fastest gaming phone for Mobile Legends. It was the very first thing Ch4knu bought for himself.
“Bilib na bilib ako sa sarili ko noong nabili ko iyon. Parang, kaya ko pala ito. Kaya po palang bilhin ito. Ganito pala ang esports.”
***
For someone like Ch4knu, dreams were inexistent when he was a teen. He never imagined being in esports.
“Noong bata ako, wala po akong pangarap. Kung ano lang yung naririnig ko sa mga kaibigan ko, influence lang.”
But if he had his way back in high school, he would have pursued a course in Criminology.
“Gusto mo maging pulis o sundalo?” we asked.
“Hindi. Criminology kasi iyon yung meta ng usapan namin dati! Mga usapang bata.”
Ch4knu playing for Execration in 2019

Ch4knu admits he was highly impressionable and easily influenced by his peers before. Even now, he is easily swayed by the likes of Z4 founder Billy Alfonso, who bought a bicycle, that’s why Ch4knu also bought one.
“Ang hobby ko po ngayon ay pagba-bike.”
We pictured him braving Manila’s unruly roads where bike lanes are ignored by motorists.
“Saan ka nagba-bike? Anong ruta mo?”
“Doon sa bahay, galing bootcamp, tapos bootcamp galing bahay. Doon pa lang… Balak ko rin sana magpunta sa Intramuros, di ba maganda doon?” said Ch4knu.
At that moment, we realized Ch4knu wasn’t quiet because he was shy or embarrassed. He just wants peace. Amid the high-drama world of esports, Ch4knu just wants to slow down and enjoy the tranquility of Intramuros.
***
Biking home, Ch4knu is greeted by shouts of excitement upon his arrival on their street.
“Yung mga bata, kapag umuuwi ako, lagi nilang sinisigaw yung pangalan ko,” said Ch4knu.
In his hometown, he may be famous, but his friends still call him Bonak, a nickname he prefers over Ch4knu or Joshua.
“Yung trato nila sa akin, normal lang. Kung ano yung trato nila sa akin dati, kumbaga.”
But there is one person he comes home for: His mother.
“Yung Mama ko kasi, may sakit siya. Dina-dialysis. Ayun din yung isang dahilan kung bakit mas nagti-tiyaga po ako maglaro. Mas, ano po siya, motivation.”
Much of his earnings go to his family and to the medical expenses of his mother. But he also leaves some for himself and his future.
“Kung hindi ko natuklasan itong ML, hindi natin alam, baka siguro tambay pa rin ako. Kasi hindi naman ako nakapag-aral,” Ch4knu told SPIN.ph.
At the back on his mind, he is constantly thinking about the impermanence of an esports career as a professional player.
“Lagi na napak-uusapan ni Billy iyan dati. Naiisip ko naman talaga iyon, na hindi permanente ang esports. Kumbaga, ito lang talaga yung chance mo para mas maging mabuti yung buhay mo. Kailangan mo ayusin, tapos kailangan mo ng backup.”
Right now, Ch4knu is considered one of the highest-paid players in Philippine esports. It is not lost to him that esports became a lifeline for his family.
“Sobrang laking tulong ng esports, lalo na yung income dito kasi medyong may kataasan.
Kumbaga, pwede mong mabili yung gusto mo, tapos pwede ka pang makatulong sa pamilya…. Iyon ang nag-ahon sa buhay namin. Iyon yung memory na hindi ko makakalimutan.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph