Tony “Lolo Cris” Matulac with his favorite Dota hero, Kardel Sharpeye the Sniper (lllustration by Bea Bisuña)
Iloilo City gaming sensation Tony Matulac, popularly known as Lolo Cris or his online user name Cris Montinola, passed away on Monday, April 15, after suffering an acute stroke a week earlier. He was 69.
Acclaim Computer Center, the computer shop that Matulac frequented, posted on its official Facebook account the news of Matulac’s passing.
Matulac rose to popularity after the Facebook page of Dota 2 Philippines shared photos of the senior citizen playing the online game Defense of the Ancients (Dota) on March 30, 2015.
https://web.facebook.com/dota2ph/photos/a.339762619450177/844303882329379/?type=1&theater
A resident of Jaro, Iloilo City, Matulac’s daily routine started with him arriving at the Acclaim Computer Center by 9 a.m. and timing in at a specially reserved cubicle for the elder gamer. Matulac played Dota 2 until 7 p.m and would go home at 8 p.m. to eat dinner, take his medication and sleep.
Francis Chu, co-owner of Acclaim, said Matulac frequently played at their shop so that it was a rare occurrence whenever he wasn’t at his chair.
“Alam na ng lahat seat number niya. [Kaya] walang ng nakikiagaw [doon] kasi kilala na siya. Doon siya palagi kaya if ever wala siya doon, maninibago ka talaga,” Chu said.
In a previous interview with eSports by Inquirer.net, Matulac said he suffered a heart attack in 2010, which prompted him to start jogging and explore different hobbies to stay healthy.
“I told the doctor that I was playing online games, Dota 2, a strategic game. Then he [asked] me how I feel. I just said it helped me a lot [especially with my] stress problem. Masaya ako kapag naglalaro ako kako,” Matulac said.
Matulac also claimed that Dota didn’t just keep him healthy, but happy as well.
“Ang [Dota 2] source of enjoyment ko yan. Every game is a new experience at kahit nandito lang ako nakaupo marami ako nakikilala at na-e-experience kasi ‘di narin ako fit to travel. So, [Dota 2] lang, okay na ako,” Matulac said.
Messages of love and support for the veteran gamer poured in from across social media after news of Matulac’s passing spread.
According to Acclaim, Matulac’s wake will be held on Saturday April 20, at Cosmopolitan Somo Memorial Homes in Iloilo City. /ra