Since May this year, Filipinos are still reeling from the effects of the suspension of eSabong operations nationwide—which has affected the availability of jobs, specifically in industries related to the game.
Such was the story of Ferlie Radasa and her ailing father Ferdinand, who has been reliant on the income of his daughter, who works at an eSabong outlet to fund his dialysis treatment.
Ferdinand then received thousands of sympathies online after knowing that the free dialysis treatment and medical assistance given by the Pitmaster Foundation has stopped amid the prohibition.
“Ang sakit sa dibdib na makitang merong mga ganitong tao na nahihirapan. Knowing na eSabong lang naman talaga ‘yung pinagkakakitaan nila, pero ipinagkait pa.Sana maibalik na lang ang eSabong, alam naman po natin na marami talaga itong naitutulong lalo na sa mga kapos sa buhay at hirap ng makahanap ng ibang trabaho (It’s painful to know that there are people like this who are struggling. Knowing that eSabong is the only source of income for them, but they still deny it. I hope that eSabong will be brought back, we know that it really helps a lot, especially those who are poor and have difficulties in finding another job),” Jethy Cornel-San Miguel said.
“Sana makita po ninyo ‘yung sakripisyo ng ilan nating mamamayan na sa eSabong lang umaasa. Lahat po tayo may karapatang mamuhay ng malaya, sana ibigay nyo nalang yung pag asa sa iba para hindi na sila nahihirapan pa (I hope you can see the sacrifice of some of our countrymen who only rely on eSabong industry. We all have the right to live freely, I hope you give hope to others so that they won’t suffer anymore),” he added.
Free dialysis treatment is one of the initiatives of Pitmaster Foundation to help the public in need but has since been limited only to a few individuals as eSabong operations have been stopped.
This is apart from the income that the game generates for the families of those who work in the eSabong industry and has been reliant on the game’s revenue to survive.
“Pitmaster knows how to help people who are in need, it’s not also about having a job but also helping medically. Mang Ferdinand is a living testimonial that Pitmaster really affects people below, they are crying for help and Pitmaster gives them an opportunity and hope. The regulators should consider these testimonials as these people know how Pitmaster changed their life positively,” Daniel Trent Bernabe stressed.
Lucila Platero, on the other hand, said that a prolonged ban on eSabong operations means “banning an opportunity for people like Ferdinand to even live.”
“Medicines are already expensive for people like Kuya Ferdinand, what more if you are unemployed and didn’t have the privilege to study, and at the same time, need to address medical concerns? We have to look at the banning of eSabong as not merely a game. This industry is life for people like Kuya Ferdinand, and banning such is like banning an opportunity to people like him to even live,” she pointed out.
Meanwhile, social media users also commended the Pitmaster Foundation for its “unceasing vision” to elevate the current situation of Filipinos.
JP Fernandez said that the charity organization was an advocate for the hopeless and those in need. This, he emphasized, underscored the importance of resuming eSabong operations in order to continue its involvement in humanitarian endeavors.
“Bilang isang anak na merong magulang na need ng medical help, naka-karelate ako sa mga kababayan nating walang makukuhaan ng panggastos sa araw araw dahil sa nawalang eSabong. Sana mabalik na kasi marami talaga naapektuhan—lalo mga mahihirap at for me, Pitmasters Foundation is an instrument for goodness and marami naman talaga ang makikinabang (As a child with a parent who needs medical attention, I can empathize with our countrymen who are unable to spend money on a daily basis due to the eSabong ban. I hope eSabong operations will resume because many people were really affected—especially the poor and for me, Pitmasters Foundation is an instrument for goodness and many people will really benefit),” Fernandez said.
Furthermore, Peter Vallejo hoped that more people would recognize how the Pitmaster Foundation has remained faithful to its passionate desire to serve Filipinos.
“Ang sakit isipin na mawawalan ka ng pag-asa na maglook forward sa buhay mo dahil ‘yung sumusuporta at gumagamot sa karamdaman mo mismo ‘yung nawala. Nalulungkot ako nu’ng sinabi ni Mang Fernando na ‘gusto ko pa mabuhay’ kasi parang lumalabas na wala na siyang ibang direksyon or choice dahil katulad niya ay hindi nila kayang magpagamot at tanging Pitmasters lamang ang kanyang sinasandalan (It’s painful to think that you will lose hope to look forward in your life because the one who supports and treats your illness was suspended. I was sad when Fernando said ‘I want to live’ because it seems that he has no other direction or choice. Because like him, they can’t afford treatment and he only relies on Pitmaster),” Vallejo said.
“Kaya sana naman ay marinig ito ng iba at marealize nila kung gaano na kalawak at kalayo ‘yung narating at mga taong natulungan ng programang ito, sana dinggin natin si Mang Fernando at iba pang mga binubuo ng Pitmaster Foundation para magkaroon tayo ng tunay na development na hindi limited sa mga may-kaya at mayayaman lamang (I hope others will hear their pleas and would realize how far and wide this program has been helping people. I hope we listen to Fernando and others who relies on the Pitmaster Foundation so that we can have a real development that not limited to the wealthy),” he furthered.
Data revealed that eSabong can help fund the universal health care of the country through the income it generates for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
At its peak, the gamefowl industry reportedly generated P650 million per month in revenues for the PAGCOR At least P1.37 billion was collected from seven licensed eSabong operators from January to March 2022.
However, with eSabong out, PAGCOR projected a revenue loss of up to P5 billion for this year.