Esnyr finds his light: Friendship, acceptance, and chasing dreams

Esnyr Ranollo stands out not just for his comedic timing or relatable content, but for his sincerity, resilience, and the genuine connections that shaped his journey. In a deeply personal interview with journalist Karen Davila, Esnyr peeled back the curtain on his rise to fame—revealing not just the struggle behind the spotlight, but the people and moments that gave him strength to keep going.

“Donny Pangilinan na po ’yan.”

Before the millions of views and brand deals, Esnyr was a wide-eyed content creator taking his first steps into the entertainment industry. During the shoot of his first movie, he found himself at a crossroads—with no clear place to stay in Manila and barely enough money to get by.

“Nung una ko pong movie, kasama po sila. At nung pack up na po ako, hindi ko na po alam kung saan po ako pupunta,” he recalled. “Meron po akong money na taping money. Tapos sabi ko, ‘Donny, baka may ano, baka pwede mo kong i-help,’ ganyan.”

What followed was a moment of unexpected grace. Instead of letting him spend the little money he had, Donny Pangilinan insisted Esnyr stay at their home—offering him safety, support, and dignity.

“Tapos ako po, syempre, nahihiya po ako sa kanya. Donny Pangilinan na po ’yan,” he admitted. “Tinulungan niya po ako, nag-find po siya ng matutuluyan ko dito sa Manila. At sa loob po ng one month na ’yon, inasikaso niya po talaga ako. Papadala siya ng food. Ganyan.”

That act of quiet generosity turned into a brotherhood. “He always tells me na he’s proud of me sa lahat ng mga achievements ko,” Esnyr shared. “I really found a friend in him. At more than just a friend po, like family na po talaga.”

Esnyr teared up as he told the story—grateful not just for the help, but for being seen, understood, and embraced in a time when he felt lost.

“Tanggap na po ako ng mismong father ko.”

But one of Esnyr’s most pivotal moments came not from the entertainment world, but from home. Asked by Karen Davila about his coming out story, he revealed the unexpected reaction of his parents—particularly his father.

“Wala po, wala pong pagalit,” he said. “Actually, nagulat po ako na pinost po ako ng Papa ko na naka-long hair po ako.”

The simple gesture of being acknowledged publicly—exactly as he is—moved him to tears.

“’Yun pa po ’yung moment na the day before po ako lumipad dito sa Manila kasi kinuha na po ako ng ABS. ’Yun po ’yung first and last post niya sakin before po ako pumasok ng PBB.”

And that moment changed everything.

“Sobrang laking impact po na nagawa ng pag-post niya po sakin kasi wala na po akong kinakatakutan kumbaga, kasi tanggap na po ako ng mismong father ko. Hindi na magma-matter sakin ’yung sasabihin po ng ibang tao… Wala na akong tinatago, kumbaga, spread my wings na ko.”

In that acceptance, Esnyr found his confidence—and the courage to live unapologetically.

“Mom, it’s me first.”

Long before the glitz of celebrity life, Esnyr was just a student from the province, creating funny skits online while juggling the realities of life. When he finally earned his first P5,000 from a brand partnership, it wasn’t a shopping spree or a splurge—it was a lifeline.

“Those are 30 videos, in exchange for P5,000. It’s my first time to earn, so that P5,000 is already too big for us,” he told Karen. “I bought groceries for us… We contributed to the electricity.”

And though it wasn’t grand in number, that moment held emotional weight.

“This is my moment, ‘Mom, it’s me first.’ Those moments like that.”

Owning His Space, Inspiring Others

Today, Esnyr is a recognizable face on screen and online—a proud LGBTQ+ personality, a storyteller, and an advocate for self-love. But behind the fame is a young man who never forgot where he came from, who he is, and the people who stood by him when the world was still unsure.

He speaks for many who are trying to find their place—those navigating uncertainty, those yearning for acceptance, and those dreaming big with little in their pockets but everything in their hearts.

Because for Esnyr Ranollo, it was never just about content creation. It was about creating space—where he could be himself, love himself, and bring others along for the ride.