WWF-Philippines Taps Filipino Youth Gamers for its Environmental Advocacy

The World Wide Fund-Philippines is tapping the Filipino youth gamer to increase awareness on environmental issues such as wildlife decimation, climate change that brings extreme weather and devastating forest fires. The youth being technologically savvy and innovative can provide fresh ideas, approaches and strong commitment in cultivating empathy and encouraging collective actions across the world.

By partnering with MPL-PH (or the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League), WWF-Philippines makes history for the first time to raise awareness on wildlife conservation through advocacy- driven Season 7 tournaments—from January to June 2021– featuring this year’s competing teams with relatively huge following in the digital space. The tournaments seek to drive positive behavioral change not only among the gamers but also among the vast audiences that watch and support them.

Tagged as the most prestigious mobile games competition in Southeast Asia developed by Moonton, the MPL was established in the Philippines in 2018. Since its inception, MPL-PH has consistently initiated charity works and fundraising events for various non-profit organizations especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its seventh iteration, MPL-PH shifts its focus to an advocacy that WWF-Philippines has long pledged to undertake: reverse the accelerating degradation of the Philippine environment. This marks the first ever participation of MPL-PH in an environmental conservation initiative.

10 squads are all geared for the season grind. But unlike the previous seasons where they were known by no other representation aside from their respective team names, this year’s tournament will also get them recalled by wildlife icons of some of the world’s threatened species—the promotion of which began making rounds on social media since early February via the official MPL-PH Facebook page

The teams will be divided into two separate groups during the group stage. Group A will be headlined by defending champions and M2 world champions Bren Esports while Group B has Season 6 runner-up Smart Omega Esports, eventually leading to the best-of-seven grand finals on June 5 and 6.

The integration of environmental awareness in the conduct of electronic sports could be rare—but possible. With the unprecedented emergence of COVID-19, the humanity now lives in the “new normal,” part of which is to stay at home to prevent the spread of the viral disease. With less time spent outdoors, more and more people with access to mobile devices are introduced to online games.

This 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.

As a leading Esports and gaming force unifying millions of fans in the Philippines, MPL-PH is thrilled to partner with WWF-Philippines to embark on a sustainable journey by leveraging their extensive reaches and impacts. 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.

By Rose de la Cruz