Testing the Filipino’s oneness in times of crisis

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila, home to 12 million people, is on its second week of lockdown or enhanced community quarantine. As of this writing, the nation suffered through the highest spike in daily new cases and deaths.

Business has moved beyond pledging to take care of their employees to extending help for pressing community needs. A number are offering transportation facilities for health workers at the frontlines of this war against the COVID-19 spread.

Mobilization of food supplies for both hospital personnel and poor communities is also in earnest, not just because local governments have been slow to respond, but also because their resources are limited in the face of so many needs.

The Filipino’s sense of community has never been tested so acutely outside the confines of war, the last one experienced by our forefathers when the Japanese invaded our land. The nation has never had to confront an epidemic as deadly as COVID-19.

What can I do?

For us who have been blessed with a little more than others and want to help, there are ways to do so even within the confines of your homes. Vincent “Chot” Reyes, former top honcho of the TV5 network and head coach of national basketball team “Gilas,” sent an email about how others can contribute.

He wrote: “We are living in trying times, and the best we can do is accept the situation and make the best of it. One of the best ways to make the best of it is to help. Help us help others, and together make a difference, however little.”

Chot is the president of PCCL-Esports, which recently entered into a long-term partnership with Mineski Group to promote the advocacy of making e-sports, now recognized in international sports competition, as part of school-based sports programs like basketball, volleyball, and the like.

In his email, Chot said, “As a group, we refused to be deterred. We simply asked ourselves, ‘what can we do to help?’ Thus, the idea of the #LockdownGames was born.

“The beauty of e-sports is that it is online and virtual. While we love the prospect of coming together with our friends to compete against others, or to watch great matches live, the current reality prevents us from doing so.

“And so we are organizing tournaments in Marvel: Super War, Call of Duty: Mobile and DOTA2 to give e-sports players something to do while on lockdown, at the same time helping the government’s directive to keep people at home and contributing to a worthy cause.

Supporting the UP Medical Foundation

“Through #LockdownGames, we are pledging at least P1 million to the UP Medical Foundation to assist in our own small way in the production and distribution of more COVID-19 testing kits that is in great demand today.

“All proceeds from this series, from sponsorships, online streaming donations, and others will go straight to the beneficiary.” Readers who want to register and participate in the tournament may go to Bit.ly/LockdownGamesCup.

For those interested in watching and donating, the tournament is now live streaming. Instructions on how to donate are available on the site.

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