12 years in Esports
DOTA 1 Shoutcaster > Graphic Designer >Marketing Officer > Esports Consultant > Executive Director > Event Organizer > Co-founder and CEO
Exactly 12 years ago, my decision to pursue a career in gaming was perceived as a mistake by my peers and the people around me who didn't see the same potential that I saw in this industry. That sentiment still exists today for some crazy reason despite the facts, the statistics and the multiple stories of how gaming has changed the lives of a number of people. Buying this Lamborghini right here wasn't an easy decision but in the end, I decided to do so because of one main reason. This car will serve as my reminder of how far I've come since I started this journey, as well as a visual representation of how I overcame the challenges in my career for more than a decade.
They say "doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will" and I can't help but agree. If people still doubt what is in front of them today, imagine how people felt about Esports 12 years ago. The doubts, the haters, the negativity, and everything that came with the perception that playing video games is nothing but a waste of time was a stigma that I thought would never go away up until gamers prove otherwise.
Looking back at my 12 year journey, I can't help but be reminded of the reason why I chose to take the road less traveled. The reason was simple. I wanted to work as much as I could so that the future generation of gamers in this part of the world won't have to experience what gamers like me went through during the early days. I wanted to help build a sustainable industry capable of bringing the opportunities only available in other parts of the world.
To those who are going to embark on their own journey or are going through in the middle of their journey, here's something that really helped me through out the process:
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts"
-Winston Churchill
1/30 esports organizations in the world
Proud to say we are one out of the thirty organizations who are part of the Esports Club Program for the world cup joining the ranks of the 100 thieves, g2 and more . Out of the thousands of esports organizations out there, 170+ were shortlisted and then 30 were picked to be a part of this. We had to apply, pitch and then go thru a panel interview session to get here and in the end, we got in. In just a few years of its existence, Blacklist International joins the top 30 organizations in the world in the biggest IP ever built for the industry.
My dream when I started out in Esports 2010 was simply for people to see it for what it is. That it's not just a hobby or worse a distraction for you to succeed in life. A decade after, videogames have come a long way since then with Esports being a positive platform to connect people in a way that no other medium can.
In the past days, I was amidst controversies for speaking out my mind.. Despite the negative comments and the misinformation of the people in the comments who made it something different than what it actually is, what I realized in all that is the importance of having your own platform.
Without it, your voice might get lost in the wave of the loud minority without being able for your side of the story to be heard or even see the light of day. For that reason and more, I choose to continuously be out here sharing my moments, my stories, my decisions and my journey in bringing Esports to the future I believe it deseves.
I sais this before and I'll say it again, everybody has every right to pursue their dreams. For me? I'm already living my dream... Despite the difficulty, despite the harships, despite the ever changing status quo, I will continue not because of what I want but because of what I see.. I see a world where gaming is celebrated...
Kung umabot ka dito type mo "Let's go invent tomorrow than worrying about what happened yesterday" -Steve Jobs
