EVERY YEAR, there's always something positive to say about Philippine esports whether we go back to the glory days of Dota 2 when the Mall of Asia arena was filled with diehard fans, or the numerous times we garnered gold in international events or win major trophies in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
With so much promise in the local esports landscape, can the Philippines evolve into a worldwide hub for esports?
As of now, Saudi Arabia is looking like the premier destination for esports given the magnitude of the Esports World Cup and the recent announcement that it will host the Olympic Esports Games.
Can the Philippines reach that level?
"The problem really is the resources e. We cannot compete in resources na meron sila (Saudi Arabia). But the dream is still alive and slowly we're getting there," said Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) Executive Director Marlon Marcelo.
Yet despite the limited resources, Marcelo looked back at some of the accomplishments of Philippine esports.
And while it is indeed an ambitious dream to achieve, small steps needs to be accomplished. Esports may be rising here in the Philippines given the numerous events left and right, but there are still barriers that are needed to be broken.
"That's part of our job as backend is to create opportunities and connect everyone, from the government to the private sector kung papaano namin ipapalaki ang esports scene dito sa Pilipinas," reflected Marcelo.
Are Filipino talents world class?
While it is still farfetched for the Philippines to become an epicenter for esports, there are some signs that the country is leaning to other means of showcasing our individual talents, just like what's happening in the MLBB pro scene.
Many Filipino pro players like Kairi "Kairi" Rayosdelsol and John "Innocent" Banal would take their talents abroad and their arrival would cultivate a foreign region's scene.
But it's not just pro players as even tacticians like Michael Angelo "Arcadia" Bocado were given the chance to showcase their knowledge in foreign soil.
While Mobile Legends is the primary avenue for the Philippines to show their world class status in esports, other titles are beginning to prove its value as seen when an international organization like Natus Vincere investing on the Pinoy Tekken maestro, Alexandre "AK" Laverez.
Such exposure could aid the Philippines in attracting other regions to dig deep into the country.
"Our overall goal is to bring everybody to the Philippines as a global hub. But I think the big step that we have taken is that we're already recognized as a global hub for esports talents e. We've been exporting esports athletes to the different regions and right now we're succeeding in that," revealed Sibol General Manager, Jab Escutin in a press conference.
He further added: "And I think that's one major step to actualizing our goal for the Philippines to be an epicenter for esports events also. So we start with talents first then eventually we have more resources to pay with, then that's an easier goal. That's the only challenge."
"But the talent is already here."
Sustaining the grassroots
Indeed the Philippines has potential based on the talent, but this needs to be further enhanced, and a key way to successfully capitalize on the talent stem from developing the grassroots.
However as mentioned earlier sustaining the grassroots require a broader push to educate the public about the scene, and with esports entering into Palarong Pambansa, PESO and Sibol are in constant talks with the Department of Education.
"Right now nasa exhibition stage pa lang tayo and we're still doing the process to become a demo sport," as stated by Sibol Head Coach, Ralph Andrei "Leathergoods" Llabres.
By next year, PESO is hoping that esports will be pushed as a demo sport in the local Palaro, and eventually as years go by, it becomes a medal event.
"Doon naman sa criteria na ibinigay nila, most likely we'll become a demo sport next year and one of the targets na tina-try namin i-hit ngayon is to partner with DepEd para ma-introduce si esports sa lahat ng regions sa Philippines, grade school level pa lang," said Leathergoods.
While this is the dream that PESO is fighting for, it is easier said than done given the usual stigmas surrounding the scene.
"It's really hard and syempre kailangan natin ng maraming preparations for it kasi these are areas na normally pinagbabawalan yung esports e, lalo na sa mga bata to lessen the screentime."
In order to deal with these negative stigmas, PESO and Sibol would receive input from the Department of Education and outside parties to guide them in developing their plans.
"Mas tinuturuan kami kung paano magbigay ng proper introduction sa tao. I think that's important for us because majority of us are playing e, lahat tayo may idea. So it's always fresh to hear the opinions from outside, lalo na may ilan na may input from traditional sports," Llabres looked back.
"So net positive siya for esports in a sense na mas marami tayong natutunan kung papaano natin ipapakilala yung sport natin sa Pilipinas."
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