THE Philippines’ seven-year dominance in global mobile gaming is moving from the digital arena to the halls of Congress, as lawmakers push to transform esports into a legitimate pillar of education and employment.
Following Aurora Gaming PH’s historic 4–0 sweep against Indonesia’s Alter Ego at the M7 World Championship, Senator Bam Aquino formally recognized the team through Senate Resolution No. 276.
“Our guests today follow a long tradition of greatness,” Aquino said during his sponsorship speech.
He added: “Kayo po ay patunay na ang dedikasyon, disiplina, at pagtutulungan ay maaaring magbunga ng tagumpay sa pinakamataas na antas ng international competition.”
A roadmap for ‘cyber athletes’
Aquino is using the team’s victory to advance an Integrated Development Plan for esports and technology, aiming to treat digital athletes on par with traditional varsity players.
Under the Senate Committee on Education, he is urging universities to offer scholarships for esports athletes. He is also advocating for the inclusion of esports as a permanent medal event in the Palarong Pambansa to promote strategic thinking, teamwork, and discipline among students.
Beyond the game
The initiative also extends to the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, which seeks to turn the Philippines from a nation of “players” into a hub for “creators.”
Key pillars of the roadmap include:
Game Development: Incentives for local developers to produce globally competitive titles
High-Speed Connectivity: Faster and more affordable internet access nationwide
Job Creation: Positioning gaming as an employment frontier comparable to the BPO boom of the early 2000s
Global recognition
The push comes as the International Olympic Committee continues to recognize and legitimize professional esports worldwide.
Aquino, who helped establish the Philippine Esports Association, said government, private sector, and public support are crucial to sustaining the industry’s growth.
“The support has to be there—from government, from the private sector, from the citizens,” Aquino said. “We’ve seen this before. We supported our best athletes like Manny Pacquiao.”
“I’m hoping efforts like this will help discover players who may not be noticed yet, so we can produce even more world-class Filipino esports athletes,” he added.
With growing international recognition and government backing, lawmakers see esports not only as a competitive platform but also as a new engine for jobs, innovation, and youth development in the digital age.
