These women can have their cake and eat it too.
Let's face it, the esports scene is primarily dominated by men. Boys and men. It's an interesting case for a competition where male and female builds have nothing to do with real-life performance, where skills and abilities of digital characters are meticulously analyzed, and skins can be changed at will.
But in Philippine esports, Filipinas are winning at life, doing gaming, content creating, managing teams, hosting, and everything in between.
Here's an ode to women who got game.
Mitch Liwanag
She's a mother of one and a mom to the top Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team in the world. Liwanag is the country manager of M4 world champion ECHO Philippines.
It's quite a jump, from being a hotel front office supervisor to a gamer and esports coach to being an esports chief.
And no mean feat either to keep everyone in line and focused on the M4 after an early exit in season 9 of the ML:BB Professional League, to a finals heartbreaker in season 10, and snatching the biggest title of them all last January.
It's only fitting that on March 8, on International Women's Day, Liwanag was hailed MPL Philippines Executive of the Year.
Alodia Gosengfiao-Quimbo
Alodia is a queen. She's a cosplayer, a gamer, a model, a vlogger, a top-tier influencer, and oh, the co-founder of Tier One Entertainment, the agency that manages MPL Season 9 and 10 champion and M3 world champion Blacklist International.
But she's not resting on her laurels as she keeps on hustling and building her empire.
What's not to respect? Can't wait to see more of her in M5.
Mara Aquino
This woman has overwhelming and boundless energy, it's difficult not to get captivated.
Whether it's saying "Dribol op da Pipol!" for a now-defunct PBA segment, to calling games in the FIBA 3x3 circuit, and hosting the biggest ML:BB competition in the world, she can do it all and she will do it while serving looks too.
Mara's infectious energy will make you feel like you belong, she will make you smile, and she will hold your attention like no one else can.
GrindSky Eris
The members of this all-female squad made history in Vietnam when they won the gold medal for the Philippines in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games League of Legends: Wild Rift women's tournament.
Christine "Rayray" Natividad, Rose Ann "Hell Girl" Robles, Charize "Yugen" Doble, Giana "Jeeya" Llanes, Angel "Angelailaila" Lozada, and April "Aeae" Valiente have all since bid goodbye to the squad but they certainly showed that yes, Filipinas elevate the game.
Mika Fabella
She's an esports commentator and analyst who has called games not just in the local scene with The Nationals but in the international field as well, most notably the Icons Global Championship 2022 for LoL: Wild Rift.
Mikafabs is also a writer and creative producer, as well as a dancer who has trained with Ballet Philippines. And she's not afraid to speak up for people's rights.
They are just a handful of the many, many women who are killing it and winning not just in the games but IRL with the esports scene. We're a fan, and simply put, got mad respect.