UP Maroon fights for life

MANILA, Philippines - UP Fighting Maroon football player Rogie Maglinas is undergoing chemotherapy to address Stage 3 cancer of the muscle tissues at the Philippine General Hospital and the 19-year-old winger may never again play the game that brought him from a life of poverty in Masbate to a scholarship in the school of his dreams.

Maglinas would’ve have played his third year with the Maroons this season but was diagnosed to be suffering from a condition called rhabdomyosarcoma last month after complaining of impaired vision in his right eye and severe headaches. Tests showed that Maglinas has tumors on the right side of his neck, under his jaw and close to his eye, nose and brain.

Neurologist Dr. Carissa Dioquino cleared Maglinas for immediate chemotherapy after a cerebrospinal fluid analysis on the lumbar. His attending physician is Dr. Melfred Hernandez. He underwent his first session last Thursday and eight cycles will be done a week apart. If the treatment is able to reduce the size of the tumors, doctors will perform surgery to remove the cancerous tissues. A heart problem, however, has to be addressed before doctors consider to operate. Maglinas, meanwhile, is no longer able to see from the right eye and has lost his sense of taste.

Maglinas’ condition has shocked the UP and Claret football communities. Aside from playing for UP, Maglinas coached the U11 team of Claret. Players, coaches, parents, friends and fans are now raising funds to support Maglinas’ treatment. Yesterday morning, the UP men’s and women’s football teams and physical education students walked from the College of Human Kinetics to the Marikina Riverbanks in a fund-raising march.

Former UP defender Albert Yatco, who was Maglinas’ varsity teammate, said the groundswell of support has been encouraging. “He wasn’t in our first 11 on the team but coach Anto (Gonzales) always used him as our first sub because he’s skillful, plays all-out and surprises opponents,” said Yatco. “As a teammate, Rogie is kind, hard-working and respectful. Every afternoon, he would be on the field practicing on his own, kicking, dribbling, juggling and he was also very diligent in attending classes.”

Claret Football Center assistant program head Benjie Anicete said Yatco recommended Maglinas to coach the U11 squad. “Albert strongly vouched for Rogie as a dedicated good guy,” said Anicete. “True enough, Rogie never gave me a problem in attendance and commitment. Our Claret Football Center head Bob Salvacion was happy that we got Rogie as coach. We wanted Rogie to coach us this season for our October-November module because of his dedication but when we tried to contact him, there was no reply. Then we found out about his condition a few weeks ago.”

Gonzales, a former Azkals player who coached UP to three UAAP senior men’s titles, said Maglinas was a model teammate. “In his two years with the varsity, Rogie was our most technical player, always on the field after classes practicing,” said Gonzales. “He worked on strengthening his body by going to the gym and doing calisthenics. In spite of his achievements, he remained very humble and became a mentor to younger players.”

Anicete said before Maglinas’ mother Eledina arrived in Manila from Masbate to visit her son, teammates and coaches took turns standing by the fallen athlete in the hospital. Maglinas’ father Roger is a poor rice farmer from Del Carmen, Uson, Masbate. “Coach Anto, captain Vince Aguilar and Albert looked for ways to provide for Rogie’s early day-to-day expenses,” said Anicete. “Andrew Santiago, a former UP player, informed the Claret football community about Rogie’s condition and parents responded with some financial help. Everyone is pitching in.”   

Maglinas, a physical education student, tried out for the UP varsity and was taken in as a transferee from the University of Makati in 2012. He was a member of the back-to-back Pachanga Diliman U19 team in the 2013 and 2014 UFL youth seasons.

Anicete said he hopes to approach Rep. Manny Pacquiao for assistance but has no connection to lead him to the boxing icon. “Anyone can help and show support for Rogie by donating any amount,” said Yatco. “You may approach any member of the UP men’s and women’s football teams or the UP College of Human Kinetics Student Council to make donations. All proceeds will go to Rogie’s treatment and medical expenses. Please continue to include Rogie and his family in your prayers.”

Donations may be deposited in the BDO joint savings account No. 003000360942 of Maria Rhoda Orsolino and Maglinas. For donations from abroad, the Swift Code is BNORPHMM.