Foodpanda crowned the champion team for this year’s Panda Legends: Ultimate Battle, a Mobile Legends online tournament for its Ka-panda delivery partners.
Out of the 128 teams who registered last March 14 and showcased their gaming skills, only one team prevailed, taking home a prize pool of P250,000. Aside from the cash prize, each winning team member also received P2,000 worth of gas vouchers, which they can use for their delivery shifts.
Before the finals round last April 21, the online tournament had a series of elimination games, with each round offering cash prizes to the participants.
The tournament is the third time Foodpanda opened the mobile game competition to its delivery partners.
According to operations director Patricia Jacinto, Panda Legends aims to encourage Foodpanda’s Ka-panda delivery partners to play like a panda and foster friendly competition amongst the rider fleet. “There’s no doubt that eSports continues to boom and is a favorite past-time within the Ka-panda community. After our successful first run last 2021, we knew we needed another round of competition, and this year became the perfect time to do it again.”
“Nabuo yung grupo namin habang nag-aantay lang ng booking sa isang waiting shed. Di namin akalain na makaka-abot kami hanggang finals at mananalo pa,” narrates Ka panda Art Randy Maliwat from the winning team. “Salamat foodpanda dahil bukod sa sobrang enjoy na makasama at makalaro yung mga kapwa Ka-panda ko, nanalo pa kami ng malaking premyo.”
Yran Basco, a Ka panda working student from Marikina is elated to make it to the finals. “Pinag-igihan talaga namin yung practice para dito at nagbunga naman yung paghahanda namin dahil nakatungtong kami hanggang finals,” he shares. “Yung cash prize na natanggap namin, sobrang laking tulong para sa mga pansariling gastusin kaya malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa foodpanda dahil nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na makasali dito.”
The champion team and finalists also received exciting and valuable prizes from the tournament’s co-presenters and official partners such as Panther Gaming Gear, Unioil, GCash, and Motivo Tech.
The semi-finals and grand finals match were streamed live via Foodpanda ph riders’ official social media pages, with eight finalist teams competing for the title.
Jacinto also added that initiatives like Panda Legends are a great way to bring a sense of community to their delivery partners from all corners of the country. “With initiatives like this, we are encouraging community-building nationwide as we provide a space for our Ka-pandas to take a break from their usual daily routine and come together for playful engagement activities – whether you’re a Ka-panda from Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao.”
To reward the Ka-panda community for their hard work, Jacinto revealed that they still have a lot in store to continuously engage their delivery partners for the rest of the year. “We will strive to offer our Ka-pandas the best possible programs, services, and assistance that will add value to their livelihoods.”