AFRAID to spread his wings but brave enough to fight life’s battles, Sherwin Sangalan, 29, is a rising content creator from General Santos City who found the courage to pursue his dreams. Now based in Davao City, Sherwin balances full-time work with part-time content creation, steadily gaining recognition online for his hilarious and relatable videos.
Sherwin first captured the hearts of netizens with his witty takes on the struggles of call center agents in Davao, especially those managing life on a budget. His humor and authenticity have earned him over 60,000 followers and a growing fan base.
Before stepping into the spotlight, Sherwin was a "probinsyano" from Sarangani. His family lived modestly, and he worked as a fast-food crew member to support his college education in General Santos City. Life in the province was peaceful, but a setback in the local elections, where he lost his bid for SK chairman, left him questioning his path.
Determined to move forward, Sherwin set his sights on Davao City. “Wala may koy cellphone sauna nga android, keypad ragyud. Nanghiram ko sakong friend og touchscreen niya. While scrolling, naka kita kog job opportunity sa isa ka call center diri sa Davao, og nag try ko apply, since naa pud koy mga kaila nga naga work sa Davao as call center agent (I didn’t have an Android phone back then, just a basic keypad phone. I borrowed a touchscreen phone from my friend. While scrolling, I came across a job opportunity at a call center in Davao, so I decided to try applying since I also had some friends working as call center agents in Davao),” he shared.
Sherwin’s journey wasn’t easy. His initial applications were rejected three times, but his persistence paid off when he finally landed a job. Financial constraints delayed his move to Davao, but the company graciously waited until he was ready to start.
Adjusting to life in the city came with its challenges. “First time nako magsakay og jeep sa Davao, wala ko kabalo nga mag ingon diay ka kung asa ka gikan (The first time I rode a jeepney in Davao, I didn’t know that you were supposed to say where you were coming from),” he recalled, sharing a humorous memory of his first jeepney ride where he confused the driver with his response, “Sarangani ko gikan (I came from Sarangani).”
During his first few months in Davao, Sherwin often felt homesick and contemplated returning home. However, his parents’ unwavering support encouraged him to persevere.
Sherwin eventually began sharing snippets of his life as a call center agent. His videos, often infused with humor and self-deprecation, struck a chord with viewers.
Sherwin has amassed over 60,000 followers, and his audience continues to grow as many of his videos go viral. He has even become a trendsetter with his unique twist on language, adding a "y" to the "r" in every word he speaks—a signature style his fans instantly recognize.
"Wala gyud ko ato first nag expect nga mu trending ni akong basic nga nawong, pero happy ko kay daghan kog napa inspire og napa happy nga mga netizens labi na sa among ‘pyurok’ (I didn’t expect at first that my simple face would go viral, but I’m happy because I’ve inspired and brought joy to many netizens, especially in our neighborhood)," he shared.
Despite his online success, Sherwin remains grounded. He continues to work full-time, recognizing the unpredictability of a content creator’s income. He dreams of achieving the same success as his idols, Rowell Divina and Wang Ising, while staying true to his roots. AJA
