By: MA. ERICH CHARLENE S. BARNES | features

Demolition might be waving at vlogger Lloyd Cadena with his family too soon, but it is truly just the beginning of a dream come true – a new place he can also call home.

He has already anticipated this. He has realized that one day he was going to leave the home and the community he has had created and shared stories with. It may not be a surprise, but it still pains him. Particularly because the same walls and streets are witnesses of how he grew to prominence in and out of the Youtube industry.

“Gusto mo ‘yon?” asked Lloyd or “Kween LC” as he is fondly called by his fans.

And as new neighbors, The Estoile journalists replied, “Gusto ko ‘yon!” in response to the invitation for a house tour and a walk down the memory lane.

Upon entering his new house in Lancaster New City (LNC), he gave names to every window such as “Kitty,” “Kat,” and “Melody” as he was giving a picture of which way food and snacks can be passed through.

“Idaan mo na lang ‘yung ulam sa Kitty! Idaan mo na lang ‘yung ulam sa Kat!”

Amazed with the 110 square-meter house, Lloyd is already certain on how he will spend life in his new abode including how he sees his siblings making a quarrel of who’s going to wash the dishes in their new kitchen area.

What Lloyd is still uncertain of is creating new Vlogs with contents then mostly told from the heart of “Squatters” community he needs to leave.

HUMBLE YEARS IN KAINGIN ROAD

The foundation of his career was built on the same neighborhood in Kaingin Road, Parañaque. People living on the streets or the ‘squaterranians,’ enabled him to become what he is now, and not once did he fail to recognize it.

The special appearances of his friends and neighbors in his vlogs also paved way for them to be recognized by netizens and eventually established their own Youtube channels too to earn money while telling their stories. So, it's not surprising that when those who hear his name, they claim, "Lloyd Cadena para sa pagbabago!”

He’s always been honest about his struggles in life and how vlogging gives him a living through the stories of the community. In return, a part of his earnings as one of the highest paid Youtubers is dedicated to different charities.

As he was literally kissing the walls of his new home, he could not resist to thank his Cadenators and the people behind his vlogs.

“I’ve never expected this, and this is all because of my followers. [Having this new house] will not happen kung wala ang Cadenators. Thank you for helping me build this dream come true,” Kween LC said.

“I dedicate this house to a very special person na ayoko munang pangalanan. Ako lang din naman ‘yun,” he jokingly added.

He transformed the lives of the people around him like how they changed his’. Unfortunately, the family he brought together on Kaingin Road in Parañaque will have to bid farewell for a while.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Before his success story, Lloyd was into singing and dancing. However, he quit because according to him, a lot of netizens told him he wasn’t good enough to be there. He lost his confidence but finally found his way in another field he undoubtedly excelled in—Youtube.

Back then, he didn’t have a camera and a laptop of his own, but it didn’t hinder him to foster; he made it as a stepping stone. After that, he uploaded more and more videos and knew that those stuff were the ones he wanted to do.

Three long years of shooting funny videos have gone, and only then has he learned that he can make money on the social media platform. “May mga pangangailangan din ako. Nagbabayad kami ng kuryente, wala akong sariling camera.” Also, he had dreams of expanding his ‘corporation!’

He eventually grew tired of filming only himself, so when he passed by a group of gays entertaining kids, he asked them to make a video with him. That’s when Bakla Ng Taon (BNT) happened.

KWEEN LC AND THE BNTs

Lloyd and BNTs helped each other in times of difficulty. They had their fair shares of mishaps and disputes but were one big family at the end of the day.

Since they live on the same area, their houses will all be demolished. It’s just a matter of time before they separate paths. While Queen LC had purchased a house and lot in LNC Cavite, the majority of BNT are still finding places to live in. Nevertheless, there is no question that Lloyd will still be there when he is needed.

That’s what Lloyd is to BNT, contrary to his nickname, not a queen that needs to be served but a mother they can come home to no matter the circumstances are.

LLOYD’S PINK HOUSE

Followers of Lloyd, both old and new, can recognize the pink walls of their house in Kaingin. It’s actually nostalgic for everyone because they‘ve been watching Lloyd do all his work in that pink house. He dedicates the new house to Cadenators because he believes that they are the ones making it all possible.

He shared his thanks to their original house seeing that it motivated him. “Soon, we will leave it kasi nga i-dedemolish na. Pangit naman kung doon pa rin tayo magse-stay,” he said.

Jokingly, he admits that it’s going to be hard to be a “villager” for he once was a ‘squatteranian.’ Now, his new challenge is to create contents with the growing community of Lancaster.

“It’s really hard to move into a new house, kasi alam mo ‘yung old house mo doon nabuo ang mga pangarap mo at buong buhay ko doon ako lumaki,” he said.

“It’s mixed emotions, naiiyak ako. Kailangan kong umiyak para sa Vlog,” he added while pretending to cry.

New vlog contents for Lloyd may be uncertain for now, but he is so sure he is going to build a home in his new house.

“Ang house, structure lang ‘yun. Pero ang home, iyon ‘yung magpapatira sa’yo sa bahay na ‘yun. Iyon ‘yung feels na mararamdaman mo na ‘I feel at home,’” he said. “Alangan namang sabihin mong ‘I feel at house.’ Wala namang ganu’n ‘di ba?’

As sad as it may be, he accepted the harsh truths of life; it is the end of his journey there, but a new beginning is about to welcome him in the village. Once a dream, now his reality.