
MANILA, Philippines — If everyone in the world is of the same height, how do you think the Philippines would fare in basketball?
If race and culture are defining factors, but not decisive; if upbringing and social status are critical constituents, but not conclusive — will we fare better? Will our hard work and talent put us above the world?
Will passion propel us to the top?
We can never answer these questions with certainty. What we can tell though is that there is a sport where height is irrelevant, where race and social status are transcended, and where hard work, talent, and passion can possibly bring us to the top.
And we actually have been to the top of multiple international e-sports tournaments. We have Filipino players competing to be the best in the world within and outside the country. There are also local gaming organizations that are world-renowned.
Esports, or competitive video games, is one of the new crops of sports in this decade. Our local government has been issuing professional licenses for our players, and the country also included it as a medal sport in the upcoming 30th SEA Games that we are hosting.
While the popularity might have seemed out of nowhere for some, computer gaming has been steadily and consistently getting attention for a while now.
Rise of gaming and Esports
In the last decade or so, being a gamer (someone who plays video games) has transitioned from being nerdy, into cool, to now being normal. This trend is very parallel to how computer technology was perceived — from something very niche and expensive, to something everyone wants to have, to something everyone now has.
Cybercafes sprouted all over the country starting the early 2000s. They were a source of fascination not only because the internet was relatively new in the country at that time, but also because it was still limited and expensive.
These computer shops provided a new form of entertainment, a relatively cheap one at that. Something unique that presented itself at that time is that the players were not playing against AI, nor were they switching controllers — they were directly competing with and against each other.
It was a brand new experience for everyone. It was not a one-person thing. It was a social activity as much as it was for personal satisfaction. Players were going into cyber cafes, and they were going in bunches.
Home internet gradually became reliable enough, and it paved the way for the playability of new kinds of games that attracted a new set of players. If playing at home was not convenient enough, the advent of smartphones and cheap data connection made gaming even more accessible.
Now, people can now play Pesowin everywhere!
With an enormous and still growing volume of players and the innate competitive nature of games, esports has grown naturally. There are prize-money tournaments, but for the most part, players enjoy the games just as they are. This organic growth gave competitive video games an edge that will be challenging for other sports to surpass — it’s relatability. One would be hard-pressed to find a game where its audience plays as much, if not more than, as they watch.
This relatability is significant because the adoration of the fans to the professional players and teams turns from superficial to personal rather quickly. The viewing experience gives watchers a glimpse of not just what they want to be, but what they are trying to be.

Fast-forward to today, the video game industry has evolved into a global juggernaut, estimated to be worth more than $300 billion, according to a report by global professional services firm Accenture. This is more than the markets for movies and music combined.
In the Philippines, revenues of the gaming market have showed exponential growth in 2020 compared to the previous years, with the mobile games segment expected to continue growing in the next five years to as much as $1.52 billion in 2025.
Lloyd R. Manaloto, first vice-president and head of corporate marketing and strategy at Smart Communications, Inc., commented that while the numbers are staggering, the surge has been quite a recent development.
“In 2013, gaming was still very much a niche activity. It was not mainstream. But fast-forward to 2021, we see large crowds, large prize winnings, and this is tantamount to the effect of esports to our culture,” he said during BusinessWorld Insights on a session themed, “The Emerging Esports and Gaming Scene in the Philippines.”
According to Mr. Manaloto, there are around 45 million active gamers in the country now, a steady increase of 12.9% year on year since 2017. Around 63% of the online population, furthermore, watch gaming content, while 33% watch esports.
Esports, along with a number of other factors, have come into play to allow this growth to happen, Irymarc “Tryke” Gutierrez, co-founder and chief executive officer of gaming and e-sports talent agency Tier One Entertainment, said.
The accessibility of mobile games, particularly because of the lower entry price of smartphones compared to PCs or consoles, has boosted the video games industry to new heights, transforming it into a mainstream hobby.
“Being able to present gaming in a different way through streaming is also a big development,” he added.
“I remember casting a lot of Golden Plus games back then. The most we’ve had was around 25,000 concurrent viewers for Philippine viewership. But today, with Mobile Legends when our teams compete, 260,000 people are watching online. That alone shows how much audiences the audience and the industry have grown.”
This shift from a niche hobby into a more mainstream form of entertainment has also reduced much of the previously held stigma that used to surround the industry. Darren Paul Vitug, commissioner of the local e-sports league The Nationals and ethics committee head of the Philippine Esports Organization, shared how the stigma of gaming as an unproductive hobby is changing as more people come to understand it.
“When people say that gaming is an unproductive hobby, they’re actually referring to gaming addiction and not gaming per se. Obviously addiction and hobby are polar opposites, or at least they should be. People do still think that gaming by itself is an unproductive hobby, I would say that in general that’s how people think about things that they are unfamiliar with. We have to understand that productivity in a hobby is not absolute, and since a hobby is something you do to relax, to decompress, and to enjoy, it’s not really fair for anyone to say in behalf of someone that their hobby is unproductive,” he said.

Filipino content creators have amassed millions of followers and viewers during their live streams, and have become celebrities in their own right within the gaming community. Fans love to follow their favorite influencers for their skills, engaging personalities, and entertaining reactions.
You can find gaming influencers all over social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. These influencers have gained a massive and loyal following thanks to their authenticity and connection with their audience, making them perfect partners for successful marketing campaigns.
Jonmar "OhMyV33NUS" Villaluna
Jonmar "OhMyV33NUS" Villaluna is an LGBTQ+ professional e-sports player, playing for the prestigious Blacklist International team. He represented the Philippines in the 31st Southeast Asian Games for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang category. On his YouTube channel, he shares game streams, vlogs, SGA Gaming play tips, unboxings, and reaction videos. Jonmar is an inspiration to many aspiring gamers out there, and his content is always informative and engaging.
Cherizawa
Don't forget to check out Cherizawa, or Cher Barnacha - a Filipina gamer and streamer who's a force to be reckoned with in the gaming world. Cher is especially popular for her Valorant and Mobile Legends gameplay, with a massive and loyal fan base across various social media platforms. Fans love how she interacts with her audience during live streams, making them feel like they're a part of the action. Not only is Cher a sought-after figure in the gaming industry, but she's also caught the attention of brands in the lifestyle and beauty industry. Cher's content is worth checking out!
ChooxTV
If you're a Mobile Legends fan, then you've probably heard of Edgar Dumali, aka ChooxTV. Edgar gained his popularity through his hilarious and entertaining Facebook live streams, but he didn't stop there. He expanded his content to YouTube, where he uploads gameplays, humorous videos, vlogs, and unboxings. His funny facial expressions and real-time reactions make him an absolute entertainer and a top influencer for gaming enthusiasts.
Dexie Diaz
Dexie Diaz is a name you might recognize as an actress and model, but did you know that she's also a rising gaming influencer? On her Facebook, she uploads gaming videos, a few life updates, and brand collaborations. But if you want to see her creative side, check out her Instagram account, where she shares her amazing cosplay creations. Dexie's worked with big names such as Asus, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Pringles, and she usually plays Ragnarok and Apex Legends. You won't regret following this multi-talented influencer!
Alodia Gosiengfiao
Alodia is a true icon in the world of gaming and content creation. She's a gamer, streamer, model, vlogger, and cosplayer, and she's known for her game streams and TV appearances. With over 8 million followers, Alodia often indulges her fans with gaming videos and cosplay photos on social media. But that's not all - on YouTube, she dedicates a significant portion of her uploads to product unboxings for brand sponsors. It's no surprise that she's continually sought after by various brands, including Acer Predator, Razer, PlayStation, and even non-gaming brands like Doritos and Food Panda. Trust us; Alodia's content is always top-notch!

ESports, also called electronic sports, e-Sports, and egames, is described as competitive and organized video gaming. Dictionary.com defines this concept as “competitive tournaments of video games,” wherein it often takes form in a multiplayer video game between professional players, either individually or as a team.
Professional gamers constantly compete against each other in tournaments for a cash prize and to vie for the top rankings in their game of choice. Some of the popular games in Philippine eSports, particularly with at-home gamers, include Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends, Valorant, Fortnite, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), among others.
Different leagues or teams face off and are watched by millions of fans all over the world through a live event broadcast on television or the internet. Streaming services and online entertainment, such as Twitch, Mixer, YouTube Gaming, and Lucky Cola, allow video game enthusiasts to watch their favorite gamers play in real-time, and thus, help gamers build fandoms and amass more following.
History of eSports
Video game playing has transitioned from a casual hobby to a professional sport starting in the 1990s. Organized competitions have long been a part of the video game culture; however, it has become largely played by amateurs in the late 2000s. Its surge in popularity has been caused by the participation of professional gamers and the large spectatorship during live stream events. By the 2010s, eSports became a significant influence in video game innovations, with numerous game developers actively designing new releases and the availability of fund sources for tournaments and other gaming events.
In the modern-day, competitive professional gaming is nearly a $1 billion dollar industry. It keeps growing year after year with the help of major networks broadcasting events across the globe and live championships being watched by millions upon millions of people. According to the Olympic Council of Asia in September 2021, eSports will make its debut at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. There will be eight medal games from FIFA and EA Sports that can be won in, Arena of Valor, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, Dota 2, HearthStone, League of Legends, PUBG Mobile, and Street Fighter V.
Introduction to Philippine eSports
eSports in the Philippines has been rising in popularity over the last decade. As of 2021, there are more than 43 million active gamers in the country, with a 12.9% yearly increase from 2017. This steady growth is supported by the accessibility of smartphones and mobile internet. Similar to most Southeast Asian nations, the Philippines is known to be a mobile-dominated country with a low barrier to entry in mobile gaming.
One of the country’s most popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games (MOBA) games is Mobile Legends, leading the gaming sector with 2.65 million daily users in April 2019. Despite having limited international success, the Philippine eSports market is unique with the size of its audience and its affinity towards other MOBA titles. Nevertheless, the local gaming community, in general, is not entirely interested in supporting homegrown esports leagues. Gaming developers in the Philippines have struggled to gain long-term and mainstream success.

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Be creative and curious. Be prepared to fail and keep learning. Be responsibly reckless. Experiment often. Think big and invent the future.
2. Redefine Speed
Speed matters. Have a bias for action and dedication to quality. Have the flexibility to turn on a dime. Be willing to disagree, commit and move on. Feel the urgency and act.
3. Take Ownership
Ownership drives success. Own your results. Have mental toughness and teamwork to overcome obstacles. Make a judgment call and get it right. Accept responsibility and deliver.
4. Leading
Leadership ignites ideas, speed and ownership. Draw out the best in people. Model courage, maturity and empathy. Build a diverse and inclusive team. Establish clear expectations and guide toward results.
This post was edited by Jan Tina at August 26, 2022 2:41 AM EDT