There’s something incredibly fascinating about people who seem to move through completely different worlds with ease. One of those people is Alliana Liongson—more widely known online as BeefMami, a name that’s become familiar to those who follow the Philippine esports scene or the ever-evolving world of digital content. If you caught any of the shoutcasts, livestreams, or gaming events that blew up during the pandemic, chances are you’ve heard her voice or seen her on-screen. But now, her energy has shifted into a space that’s quieter, more reflective, and deeply personal: filmmaking.
Finding Her Place in Esports
Her entrance into esports was not something she had planned. It began as a return to a childhood love. Alliana grew up playing video games, but like many of us, she drifted away from it as adult life started to take over. College, responsibilities, and the usual rhythm of early adulthood put gaming on the backburner—until the pandemic hit. During that chaotic time, when everything was uncertain and people were looking for connection and escape, she found herself gaming again. Streaming started as a hobby, but something about it stuck. Her audience grew rapidly, and her online community started to take shape.
“I had my start in esports accidentally,” she shared. “Playing video games was a big part of my childhood. It kinda stopped as I got busy with college, but when the pandemic happened, I was funny engulfed in that world again.” The timing was perfect—esports was booming, and she quickly caught the attention of an organization called Veni Vidi Vici Esports. They initially invited her onboard as a streamer, but that role quickly expanded.
“I ended up also being the videographer, editor, and director for their content,” she explained. It was behind the camera that she started observing the pro players, watching them in their zone. “While I was watching these pro players being in their element, I got so invested in the deeper concepts of the game. This sparked my interest in being an esports commentator. It was a natural transition from streaming.”
Over the next three years, she built her name as a shoutcaster and eventually, a host. “I fell in love with being a host. I got to interact with the crowd and players. I really felt all of these emotions with them.”
Film: Her First Creative Calling
What many people may not know is that long before she was a known voice in esports, Alliana had already planted creative roots in filmmaking. She had enrolled in Digital Filmmaking at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, but ended up leaving the program when her esports career began to snowball. “Film was never a hidden passion,” she clarified. “I‘ve been working freelance in video production for a decade already. I was mostly working on music videos for indie artists, corporate videos, and events. I was mostly working for other people and making their stories come to life.”
What’s surprising is how much esports contributed to her confidence in front of the camera, even though she already had experience behind it. “Being in esports actually taught me a lot about being in front of a camera. It is a skill I had just learned during the pandemic. It offered a unique and important perspective because not everyone has that opportunity.” With years of production experience under her belt, she began to see both sides more clearly. “As a talent, I know how to be more patient and understanding. The other way around, if I’m in production, I know what it feels like to be a talent so I know how to approach them, so we can all work in harmony.”
Despite shifting industries, the mindset stayed the same. “Both are pressure cookers,” she said. “You always have to be 100% because mistakes cause delays. The work is different, but the pressure and intention are the same: to do your best.”
Taking a Break and Coming Back
Eventually, the pace took a toll. The travel, the spotlight, the isolation, it added up. “The highs were high but the lows were incredibly low,” she admitted. Despite her success, she missed life events and moments with loved ones. “Every time I’d go back home I would always get the ‘Oh, nandito ka pala sa Pilipinas,’ proof of how long I was gone.”
In 2024, she made the difficult but necessary decision to take an indefinite hiatus from esports. She wanted to reconnect with friends and family. She wanted space to rest. And she wanted to create again. But coming back to filmmaking wasn’t easy. “It was scary because it felt like there was a cork in my brain that stopped the creative juices from flowing,” she said. She gave herself permission to grieve—grieve the pandemic, the years lost, the shifts in dreams.
This led her to a deeply personal project called “Finding Creativity in the Hardest Places.” In it, she returns to a space from her childhood—one that had once been special, now rundown and taken over by nature and neglect. “Being there I couldn’t process it at all. I was mostly in shock of its state. But it was when I was in the editing bay, rewatching all the clips and adding music, that it all dawned on me. I broke down during that edit and it helped me cope with its current state. It solidified filmmaking as my art form.”
Telling Stories Again
Today, she’s working on something a little lighter—a documentary that’s a humorous and cultural deep dive into the Filipino “conyo” identity. “I am currently writing a documentary about being conyo—HAHAHA SHEESH PARE,” she laughed. While she’s keeping the rest of that project under wraps for now, she promises more events and creative work are on the horizon. Updates can be found on her socials, where she continues to use the handle @thebeefmami. For those who want to support her directly, she also has a Patreon where she shares her projects and behind-the-scenes insights.
At Her Core: A Storyteller
Through all of her transitions—from streamer to shoutcaster to host to director—her core has stayed the same. “I’ve always been a storyteller, no matter what hat I put on. My goal is to let fellow Filipinos and the world appreciate how beautiful the Filipino culture is, especially the art that comes out of our country.”
And for young creatives looking to follow a similar path—maybe jumping from gaming into a more artistic field, or even just figuring out how to get started—she offers gentle, grounded advice. “Everyone is an artist. Everyone is a creative. To create is to be human. You just have to find a medium that best represents yourself. Just like in esports, the arts can be volatile too. You just have to be smart with how you position yourself. Whether you choose to be in a more corporate setting or freelance, weigh the pros and cons and really consider your artistry, where it fits best.”
It’s not about chasing trends or mastering algorithms. For Alliana, or BeefMami, it’s always been about telling the story that needs to be told, even if it takes time to find the words.
Follow BeefMami:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeefMami
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebeefmami
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beefmamsir/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeefmami
