Peanut Was at the Top of His Class, then Topped the Mobile Legends Power Rankings

Philip Lawrence Molon, aka Peanut, was a consitent honor student from Kinder to Grade 11. Just before graduating from senior high school, he decided to pursue a career in streaming. At 19 years old, Peanut is one of the country’s most successful gaming personalities, with over 1.4 million followers on Facebook, 500,000 followers on TikTok, and 315,000 on YouTube. His content focuses on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, a game he dominated as the world’s top player for the hero Selena.

“Before I got into streaming, I was a full-time student. I started playing video games ever since I was a kid. Sa sobrang sarap maglaro, naaadik ako, pero hindi naman napapabayaan ang schooling. Naglalaro-laro na ako bata pa ako, puro computer shop. Tapos ang mga nilalaro ko dati, DoTA, LoL, sobrang dami kong nilarong games bago ako mag streamer,” Peanut tells Abo Limos of SPIN.ph.

“Noong 2019, iyon po ang panahong nakilala ako dahil kay Ghost Wrecker,” Peanut says. “Nakalaban ko po siya sa Mobile Legends tapos akala niya babae ako.”

Ghost Wrecker is a popular streamer of Mobile Legends. He has over six million followers on Facebook. When Wrecker battled Peanut in a 1-versus-1 game, Peanut did not reveal his face and used his soft, high-pitched voice during the match.

“Syempre, Gusion god iyon si Wrecker,” Peanut says, describing how the popular streamer has unparalleled skill in playing the assassin hero. “Sobrang lakas ko daw po mag-Selena tapos akala pa niya babae ako. Nilagay niya ako sa content niya kasi binubugbog ko po siya sa laro, tapos tina-trashtalk ko din po siya. Pumapalag-palag po ako sa kanya tapos parang babae po ang boses ko.”

From their matches, Wrecker made three separate content or posts, catapulting Peanut into fame. “Ayun, doon po ako nag boom, 2019, nagtuloy-tuloy na po iyon.”

Peanut was ranked among the world’s top and deadliest users of the mage-assassin hero Selena in Mobile Legends. In Peanut’s hands, Selena can easily rake in 30 kills per match, stunning unsupecting opponents. Selena is one of the most difficult mage-assassin heroes to use in the game, owing to her six skills that you have to use in congruence with each other. Majority of heroes in the game only have three skills.

Peanut Gaming: 'I never expected to be famous.'

PHOTO: Courtesy of Philip Lawrence Molon

Philip Lawrence Molon wanted to be a Science teacher. At school, he was the cream of the crop. He achieved the highest marks in all his classes, he was athletic, and he was low-key. Now that he has 1.4 million followers on Facebook alone, he still can’t believe his fate.

“Hindi ko rin talaga inasahan na makikilala ako. Parang dati lang po kasi, yung mga iniidolo ko, di ko akalain na makakasama ko,” he says.

For now, he’s just a happy 19-year-old who is grateful for being given an opportunity and have more freedom. “Masaya po ako na sa edad ko na ito, yung mga bagay na gusto kong gawin, nagagawa ko. Saka yung mga taong gusto kong malapit sa akin, nakikilala ko at nakakasama ko pa.”

“Turning point po iyon sa career ko. Iyon na po yung time para magpatuloy ako sa streaming,” says Peanut, who grabbed the 15 minutes of fame he earned by beating Ghost Wrecker multiple times. Luckily for him, it paid off. He rode the wave of fame and it never stopped. Ever since he shot to fame in 2019, he was able to add two sections to the family house to accommodate his new room and a separate gaming room. He also bought a car for his family, and a motorbike for his father. Peanut’s favorite “investment” is his gaming setup worth P200,000. Peanut now lives a comfortable life thanks to his six-digit income from streaming and gaming.

But what could have happened to him if he never pursued streaming?

“Balak ko po talaga maging teacher ng Science. Kaso naging streamer ako. Isa rin po sa mga pangarap ko ang maging sikat na streamer.”

PHOTO: Courtesy of Philip Lawrence Molon

On camera during his livestreams, Peanut is electric, funny, and arresting. Off-cam when he’s not breaking hearts and egos on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Philip Lawrence Molon is quiet and reserved—not shy but restrained and very well mannered. Unlike other streamers with significantly fewer followers than him, Peanut does not like to flex the fruits of his labor. Exceedingly low-key and humble, he allows his parents to manage his finances and asks for money whenever he needs it. It was ironic how his parents were very opposed to what he was doing at first.

“Were you ever scolded by your parents because of playing too much video games?” we asked Peanut.

“Opo!” he says, trying to contain his laughter.

“Dati nga po sinusundo pa ako sa computer shop tapos papaluin pa ako.”

Peanut's mother would fetch him from the computer shop and scold him at home.

“Tapos kapag nagse-cellphone, pinapatayan po ako ng internet! Puro raw po ako laro at hindi na raw po ako nag-aaral, pero hindi po nila alam nag-aaral po ako.”

According to Peanut, his parents would be surprised he would end up on the honor roll.

“Honor student po ako simula kinder hanggang grade 11,” Peanut says.

Despite being an honor student, Peanut paused studying during the second semester in grade 11 because he decided to focus on gaming and streaming.

“Bago ako naging streamer, nag-aaral lang po ako, puro aral lang po ako dati, tapos kung may time maglaro, maglalaro po ako. Yung grades ko po sa school, puro mataas.”

Everything changed when Peanut became famous. His parents were shocked when they found out that he had millions of views on YouTube and Facebook and was known all over the country.

“Yung anak ko nagpapasikat na pala sa YouTube at Facebook,” Peanut remembers his parents saying to other friends. His parents eventually caved in and allowed him to keep playing and streaming. They also allowed him to pause schooling so he can focus on streaming.

Philip Lawrence Molon, aka Peanut Gaming

PHOTO: Courtesy of Philip Lawrence Molon

But will he ever go back to school?

“Opo. Para sa akin, sinusulit ko lang po itong streaming. Sayang naman po kasi, dahil malay natin, sa susunod na taon baka wala na pong streaming.”

It is this grounded and firm grasp on reality on which Peanut stands. He understands that not all streamers are set for life, and that some actually fizzle out in popularity. He is one of the exceptional few who are witty and talented enough to be noticed.

“Kung sakaling dumating man po yung puntong hindi na tinatangkilik ang content ko o ang laro ko, pinaghahandaan ko naman po. Babalik po ako sa pag-aaral.”

“Any time naman po pwede bumalik sa pag-aaral. Hihintayin ko lang muna ang streaming mawala.”

But for now, Philip Lawrence Molon intends to continue streaming until its heydays are over. But the death of streaming does not seem to be on the horizon. It is just beginning.

From: Esquire Philippines