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| (Image Source: ONE eSports) |
Since its inception in 2018, the Mobile Legends Professional League - Philippines (MPL-PH) has been consistently involved in initiating charity works and fundraising events for various non-profit organizations especially amidst the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the seventh season of the premiere professional mobile gaming league in the country and Southeast Asia is up and running, MPL-PH is taking its advocacy efforts to a different route as it partners with World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) Philippines in an effort to raise awareness on animal wildlife conservation and in fulfillment of its newfound commitment to reverse the accelerating degradation of the Philippine environment.
In MPL-PH Season 7, the ten teams participating in a series of advocacy-driven tournaments being held until the middle of 2021 will be represented by some of the world's most threatened species. These include veterans and returning teams Bren Esports for Great White Shark; Onic Philippines for Tamaraw; Aura Philippines for Tiger; Smart Omega Esports for Sea Turtle; Nexplay Esports for Pangolin; Execration for Whale Shark; Blacklist International for Giant Panda; Cignal Ultra for Philippine Eagle; and two newcomers who emerged victorious in the qualifiers Laus Playbook Esports for Polar Bear and Work Auster Force for Philippine Crocodile. These are divided into two separate groups during the ongoing group stage, Group A headlined by MPL-PH Season 6 winner and M2 World Champion Bren eSports and Group B headlined by MPL-PH Season 6 runner-up Smart Omega, eventually leading to the best-of-seven series grand finals on June 6-7, 2021.
With the unprecedented emergence of COVID-19, humanity is now living in a "new normal" era where people are mandated to stay at home to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. Throughout the said era from the beginning until now with less time being spent outdoors, more and more people with access to mobile devices are being introduced to online mobile gaming such as Mobile Legends Bang Bang. The partnership between WWF-Philippines and MPL-PH takes advantage of the fastest growing media platform to utilize the virtual realm as an avenue to make new collaborations for environmental campaigns with real-world, transformative impact. WWF-Philippines recognizes the unrivalled potential of the youth in the gaming industry to increase awareness on environmental issues. Partnering with MPL-PH, featuring this year’s competing teams with relatively huge following in the digital space, aims to drive positive behavioral change not only among the gamers but also among the vast audiences that watch and support them.
The modern times witness the unfolding of contemporary environmental problems such as extreme weather, devastating forest fires, and declination of wildlife populations at a staggering rate, among others. WWF-Philippines taps the gaming community and industry that is young, technologically savvy, and innovative to call for fresh ideas, new approaches, and strong commitments in cultivating empathy and encouraging collective action across the world. On the other hand, by leveraging its extensive reaches and impacts through its partnership with WWF Philippines, MPL-PH commits to providing the desired joy, creating unforgettable moments, and take on social good to inspire new generations of audience through partnerships with prestigious brands and organizations that share the same advocacy, especially those within the country.
With partnerships and collaborations such as this, online games are proven to be not for entertainment only, as gamers are undeniably becoming global agents of change—including the 10 teams vying for this season’s coveted championship. The Philippine MLBB eSports community and the participatig teams of MPL-PH Season 7 are now ready to take matters into their own hands, not only to win the title but also to achieve victory for nature. Because in building back the balance with nature, gamers could be our ally. Whether in Esports or in nature conservation, they can be legendary! We all can be.
For more information on MPL-PH Season 7 including its official rules and regulations, participating teams, schedule and news updates, visit https://ph-mpl.com.
