WHEN an unpleasant situation happens, it doesn't have to be entirely bad. That's what the local PH esports community discovered, when platforms that have played a role in linking them together suddenly went down.
From Monday midnight to early Tuesday morning (normal hours for the night owls among the esports community, who are used to staying up late), Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp suffered an outtage for nearly six hours. It was later reported that a maintenance error caused the problem.
Rather than letting stress consume them as engagement flatlined, Nexplay's manager Baby Ignacio and a few of the biggest names in esports united for an all-night party on Twitter Spaces.
MPL-PH community explores Twitter Spaces
Spaces is an in-app/website feature within the social media platform which allows live audio exchange and conversations between users. It is operated by certain listening party hosts.
Ignacio saw the opportunity to get the lay of the land, and perhaps even pioneer a new space. It went surprisingly well.
"Nung nag-down 'yung FB and IG, walang ma-open na ibang apps aside from Twitter and Tiktok. Wala naman masyadong magawa pero nakikita ko ang dami kong friends na online, so sabi ko mag-open ako ng space, para may engagement din sa mga online since ang dami talaga," he shared with SPIN Life.
On her personal account, under user @nxpbaby, he started a Space which ended up welcoming more than 600 joiners.
"Mga 1 a.m. na 'yun, gumawa ako kunwari online class ganon, nagti-trip lang ako na teacher ako. Inaasar ko lang yung mga sumasali tapos nagpapatrivia ako about Nexplay players and iuunmute ko mga gustong sumagot. For fun lang talaga," he continued.
After less than an hour session, Ignacio ended his Space. But the fans' clamor to continue it remained.
So, he created a new one titled "Magbayad kayo ng Tuition." To his surprise, it was quick to spread throughout, reaching various teams, players, streamers, and casters.
"A few minutes into it, 500+ agad nagjoin, tapos umakyat na ng umakyat, grabe hindi ko inexpect kasi that was around 2 a.m. already," he said.
Shoutcaster Neil "Midnight" De Guzman co-hosted, and big names in the MPL started coming in. John Michael “Zico” Dizon and Renejay “RENEJAY” Barcarse of Nexplay, Kiel VJ “Kielvj” Hernandez of Omega, and Kiel “OHEB” Soriano of Blacklist repped their teams. ECHO PH was well represented with Christian Provido “Rafflesia” Fajura, Frederic Benedict “Bennyqt” Gonzales, and Jankurt Russel “KurTzy” Matira. Streamers Chantelle Hernandez, Nics Orense, and former pro player Ashley Marco “Killuash” Cruz, among others, also joined in the fun.
And it turned out amazing,
"Sabi ko, wow ang gandang opportunity to unite the community," he said. "I am overwhelmed about the reception ng fans sa Space, ang saya na, despite all the issues surrounding the community, kaya pa rin mag-unite through this."
The party went on until early Tuesday morning at around 4:30 a.m..
Out of the unexpected but delightful experience, Baby shared he plans on keeping the show on, teasing a future podcast project.