Ako si Amani

Ako si Amani
By Amani Aguinaldo


Ako si Amani Manuel Santos Aguinaldo. Born in Las Piñas, raised in Cebu and Davao, before finally finding my way back to Manila on a football scholarship. The journey’s been long, unexpected, and full of twists, but looking back, every moment led me to where I am now.

I first met football when I was just a kid. My parents took me to the UP Sunken Garden. I was in a full kit, a ball at my feet. I must’ve been just a baby, but something about that moment stuck. My mom never pushed me to play, never told me I had to be out there. But for reasons I can’t fully explain, I was drawn to the game. Something inside me was searching for football — or maybe football was searching for me.

At that time, I didn’t dream of playing for the national team. I didn’t have idols to look up to or a professional league to aspire to. In the Philippines, football wasn’t the first sport you thought of. I just loved playing. Simple as that. I was the emotional kid — tears when we scored, tears when we won. Football was just part of me.

I moved to Davao and joined Ateneo de Davao. I tried out for the varsity team, and to my surprise, they took me in right away. I remember thinking, “Okay, maybe I’m good at this.” That’s when things started to change. I played for the regional team, competed in the Palarong Pambansa, and eventually made the Under-12 National Team. Each step took me further than I’d ever imagined.

It was during one Palarong Pambansa that my path took a sharp turn. Kim Chul-soo scouted me to play in a tournament in Malaysia. I wasn’t supposed to go — players from Western Visayas, the country’s football powerhouse, were the top choices. But when a few dropped out, I got my shot.

I was lucky. But I also knew I was ready.

That trip changed everything. Afterward, scholarships to FEU Diliman were on the table. I stayed in Davao a bit longer to finish school, but when I finally made the move to Manila, things got serious. Really serious. Early mornings — 4 or 5 AM — on the pitch. Three-hour training sessions before school. More training after school. No breaks. No shortcuts. Just grind.

That’s when I knew: This isn’t just a game anymore. This is real.

In high school, I played as a winger. In my third year, Coach Kim tried me out as a forward. Suddenly, I was scoring goals, winning awards, helping my team take the UAAP championship. Then, in the Bolkiah Cup, everything shifted. Coach Zoran Đorđević put me at centre-back, and something clicked. I didn’t struggle to adjust. I enjoyed it. It felt right.

By 2013, I made my debut for the Philippine Senior National Team. We were in a packed stadium in Indonesia — a sea of noise and chaos. I came on for Phil Younghusband, a legend. We were losing, but I didn’t care. The roar of the crowd, the weight of the jersey — it was everything.

Those moments with the national team? They’re special. Even the tough times. Especially the tough times.

Back then, there was no formal league in the Philippines. When the United Football League launched, it felt like we were building something from scratch. I got to play alongside legends like Phil and James Younghusband, even against guys like Freddy Gonzales. I never thought I’d call myself a professional football player. But when I signed that first contract, it was real. I was living the dream — a dream I didn’t even know was possible.

But dreams evolve. As a pro, you always want to test yourself. Push further. Go higher. That drive took me to Malaysia, where the competition was tougher, the expectations greater. I wanted to see if I could hang with the best.

Football has given me so much. It’s taught me discipline, resilience, humility. It’s taught me about myself, about life. There were moments I doubted, moments I struggled. But I never gave up. Because football never gave up on me.

I’ve learned to live in the moment. To focus on what I can do today — on the pitch, in training, in life. Tomorrow’s not guaranteed, and 10 years from now? Who knows. But if I give my best now, maybe those dreams will come true.

Football is beautiful that way. It’s about giving back, sharing what you’ve learned, helping others on their journey. I’m grateful I get to be part of this game. Grateful for the journey, the lessons, the love. And whatever comes next, I’ll be ready.

Because this is who I am.

Ako si Amani. Ito ang kuwento ng buhay ko.