By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) on Tuesday (Nov. 12) launched its first ever Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) Tournament here at the Solaire Resort North.
During the media launch, Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, LCP Acting National President, declared open the 1st LCP MLBB Tournament.
“Today, we are now launching the first ever Mobile Legends Bang Bang Tournament,” Belmonte said.
She cited that the Philippines has excelled in e-sports such as in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world.
Belmonte said that the tournament is geared towards finding a talent to harness among the youth and building” bonding” moments or relationships with the city mayors nationwide.
“e-sports is a new thing brought about by technology. Too much of anything is bad. But if it’s done in moderation and if it’s good for the child, then it’s okey,” she added.
The tournament will run from November 2024 (online) to February 2025.
Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, LCP National Chairman, said that
the goal is to find another Carlos Yulo in e-sports.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez, LCP Focal Mayor for Youth and Sports Development, said that first ever MLBB Tournament through the LCP.
How to reach with the young generation where we can excell in e.sport
There are 149 cities of the country and will enable them to showcase their local youth talents in e-sports.
The overall champion will receive a cash prize of PHP3 million.
“The mobile penetration is as deepest and as widest as it gets. It’s a misnomer that the province has bad mobile signal,” Benitez said.
In a video message, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres also expressed her support to the 1st LCP Mobile Legends Bang Bang Tournament.
Mayor Torres urged the Filipino youth to join and participate in the 1st LCP MBBT.
AJ Ponce, LCP MLBB Commissioner, is the organizer of the event and provincial board member of Cagayan province.
Ponce was very thankful for Mayor Joy Belmonte for hosting the event and the new MICE Center in Quezon City can be the venue for the tournament.
“We are hoping to get the first gold medal in e-sports in the world,” Ponce said.
“The Pro Team, marami na pong natutulungan, especially during the pandemic, naglalivestreaming sila,” he added.
The Philippines is the title holder in SeaGames in e-sports.
Saudi Arabia hosted the first World Cup in e-sports and the Philippines placed second.
Ponce said that it’s good that the LCP or the cities have good internet signal that is
very advantageous for the MLBB Tournament.
He noted that in the provinces, the most common sports being promoted is basketball, and it’s now the first time that e-sports is being promoted through the LCP.
The Pro Team will later talk with the talented youth amateur players after the completion of the tournament to harness their potential.
The LCP MLBB Tournament is a brainchild of Mayor Javi Benitez.
“Actually, it’s up to the guidance and supervision of the parents in order to prevent gaming addiction from their children,” Benitez said.
“We chose Mobile Legends because it’s practical,” he added.
There will be two winners per city who will compete in the regional qualifiers and the national championship.
There are now less than 100 professional Mobile Legends players in the Philippines.
It offers opportunities for amateur gamers and teams to showcase their talents, gain gaming experience in a national league, and promote e-sports.
It will also provide an avenue for cities to embrace the growing e-sorts industry, engage its youth constituents, and support youth development at the grassroots level.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusement Board, which has its own drug test facility.
