UP footballer Rogie Maglinas determined to win cancer battle

Bob Guerrero

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UP footballer Rogie Maglinas determined to win cancer battle
The promising UP Maroon has been laid low by a pair of cancerous tumors. But the winger isn't going down without a fight

MANILA, Philippines – Rogie Maglinas stares blankly into space while seated on a bench inside his 5th-floor room at Philippine General Hospital in Manila. You’d be the same way if you were slowly going blind.

The 19-year old midfielder from Del Carmen in Uson, Masbate, is suffering from Rhabdomyosarcoma, in layman’s terms, cancer of the skeletal muscles. His cancer is in the form of a tumor growing behind his nose and another on his neck. The first tumor took away his sense of smell, then blocked his optical nerve, costing him the sight in his right eye. Then last week, his left eye started to follow suit. Now shadows are all he can see. He has difficulty recognizing faces of friends and family. 

Who would have thought so much could change in just 4 months.

A STAR ON THE PITCH. Rogie Maglinas is seen playing against College of Saint Benilde in the Ang Liga Cup. Photo by Bob Guerrero/Rappler

On the morning of July 17, 2015 Maglinas was in his third year in state university, and was a vital cog in coach Anto Gonzales’ UP Maroons squad. On the pitch in San Beda College the Maroons faced the University of the East Red Warriors in the final match of the Ang Liga Cup, the first tournament of the collegiate preseason schedule.

Six minutes into the game Maglinas found space in the left flank, eluding the UE defense, and unspooling a perfect cross into the box. Rookie Ivan Oberiano met it with his forehead to nod past Warriors keeper Lendon Clores. It was the only score of a tight game, and UP won its first trophy of the school year. Maglinas’ vital assist made it happen. 

At that moment the world was at his feet. Gonzales always loved Rogie’s technical skills and speed. He just wanted the Sports Science major to improve his decision-making. The championship-winning assist surely would have boosted his confidence going into the Ang Liga League competition (separate from the Cup), the Unigames and the UAAP next year. 

But then two months after the Cup win, he noticed a lump on the lower right side of his jaw. Maglinas didn’t mind it at first, and initially thought it was just a case of the mumps. Then his sense of smell suddenly vanished. Then, for some reason, he had difficulty reading the text messages on his phone. 

Eventually, the medical test results came out. Maglinas had cancer. He says it’s at stage two. There will be no more football for him this season.

Parang binagsakan ako ng mundo,” recounts the soft-spoken youngster. “Hindi ko akalaing magkaroon ako ng ganitong sakit.” (It’s like the world collapsed on top of me. I never thought I could get this kind of disease.) 

Maglinas says his family has no history of cancer. His father Roger is a farmer and his mother Eledina a housewife. Eledina is staying with Rogie in PGH. Roger was also in town briefly but had to return home for the harvest. 

The cancer has at times caused Maglinas massive pain in his legs, lumbar area, and head.

Parang akong iniipit at tinutusok na di maintindihan,” laments Maglinas. (It’s like I’m being squeezed and stabbed.)

Maglinas has started his chemotherapy, a cocktail of drugs with frightful-sounding names like Cyclophosphamide, Dactinomycin and Vincristine. The injections leave him weak and dizzy, and his immune system is now a shambles. Only two people at a time may visit him to limit his exposure to more illnesses. Visitors must don masks and surgical gloves. 

Mas gusto ko pa mag-training kaysa ganito. Na-de-drain ang katawan ko. Wala akong magawa kundi tiisin ang hilo.” (I’d rather do football training than put up with this. My body is drained. There’s nothing else for me to do but endure the dizziness.) 

There’s plenty more about Maglinas’ circumstance that is wholly unappealing. 

Hindi ako makakain ng maayos kasi walang lasa ang pagkain. Napipilatan lang ako. Gusto kong gumalaw pero mahirap. Nanlalambot ang tuhod. Mabuti humiga na lang.”

(I can’t eat probably because I can’t taste the food. I just force myself to eat it. I want to move but it’s hard. My knees feel weak. It’s better for me to just rest.)

The room is filled with donations of fruit from well-wishers, but he can’t take a single bite because of the risk of infection. His food must be cooked; he cannot eat any raw food.

Neither can Rogie talk on a cellphone. There’s something about the radiation from a phone that won’t be good for him. His biggest source of amusement is listening to mp3s of rap music. 

When asked if he will be catching Thursday’s Azkals game on the room’s TV he smiles and admits he would love to, if only he could see properly. 

Fortunately the support from teammates has been overwhelming. Coach Anto didn’t even bother going to the Unigames in Bacolod with the Maroon Booters just so he could tend to Maglinas. 

Parang siyang tatay,” says Maglinas of Gonzales. (He is like a father to me.)

BATTLING CANCER. Rogie Maglinas, who lost his sense of smell and is slowly losing is eyesight, is determined to overcome cancer. Photo by Bob Guerrero/Rappler

Dyan Castillejo reported on his predicament on ABS-CBN and you can watch the clip here.

Maglinas says Castillejo brought her friend, singer Kuh Ledesma, and they prayed over him. UP sports patron Pia Cayetano has also chipped in. The need for financial help will be great. Each chemotherapy cycle will cost P32,000, and there will be 9 weeks of it.

Fortunately Maglinas says the swollen lymph node on his neck appears to have gotten a little smaller since the first round of chemo. 

Yes, there is hope. Doctors say there is a chance of a full recovery, although radiation therapy and even surgery to remove the tumors are options. If the tumor behind his eye gets smaller the pressure on the optical nerve could be relieved and he could see again. There is nothing wrong with his eyes, just the wiring that connects them to his brain. In a week’s time Maglinas should be out of the hospital but must avoid large crowds.

Maglinas may seem sullen and withdrawn at times but when the camera comes out for a ‘selfie,’ he flashes a smile and a thumbs up. 

Think positive na lang ako kasi ginawa ito ng Diyos dahil may purpose siya, may plano siya,” affirms Maglinas. “Maraming sumusuporta sa akin. Imbes na ma-down, hindi ako nawawalan ng pag-asa.” 

(I’m thinking positive because God is doing this with a purpose, a plan in mind. A lot of people are supporting me, so instead of being down, I am not losing hope.) 

#ForRogie

Maglinas naturally hopes to one day rejoin his teammates on the football pitch. But what his mates were able to accomplish without him was pretty remarkable. The UP Maroons used Maglinas as inspiration for their Unigames campaign two weeks ago, frequently taking team pictures with his number 13 jersey and creating the hashtag #ForRogie in all their social media posts. 

The tournament started badly for the Maroons, who in the absence of Gonzales, were led by Popoy Clarino, the Lyceum Philippines University football coach and one of Gonzales’ closest friends. They opened with a group stage loss to National University. 

But UP mowed down one team after another to reach the semis against their nemesis, Far Eastern University, which had recently defeated them in the Ang Liga League final and eliminated them in the UAAP Final Four earlier in the year. Goals by Patxi Santos and Gabe Mendoza gave them a hard-fought 2-0 win to seal a rematch in Panaad Stadium against the Bulldogs.

The final was attritional, with regulation ending at 0-0. In the first half of extra time UP won a corner kick. The Maroons played it short to Lou Rafanan, who crossed to Rvin Resuma at the far post. Resuma headed the ball towards centerback Ian Clarino, Popoy’s younger brother, who coolly headed the ball into the net.

Extra time finished 1-0, and UP had yet another piece of silverware. This one was dedicated to their stricken teammate back home. 

Noong nalaman ko na nag-champion kami, ang pakiramdam ko parang wala akong sakit. Parang naglaro din ako doon kasama nila,” said Maglinas. (When I learned that we were champs, I felt as if I wasn’t sick at that moment. It was like I was playing there with them.) 

The title only spurs him on to combat the disease. 

Hindi ako susuko. Kung papaano sila lumaban sa Unigames, ganyan din ako lalaban.” (I will not surrender. Just like the team fought in the Unigames, so shall I fight.) – Rappler.com

If you are interested in helping Rogie out, you may deposit your donations into his bank account:

Bank: BDO
Savings Account Name: Rogie A. Maglinas
Account No: 003000360942
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

You can also contact coach Anto Gonzales on his Facebook account.

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.

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