DFA to launch inter-office 'Mobile Legends' tourney in lieu of traditional sports
By Roy Mabasa
For the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), traditional sports are out and online gaming is in, especially under the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic setting where restrictions on certain physical activities are imposed.

This developed as the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Administration reportedly approved the holding of the historic first inter-division online gaming tournament featuring the highly addictive multi-player battle arena games, Mobile Legends (ML) Bang Bang.
In a letter recently circulated among the various DFA divisions, it was announced that Undersecretary for Administration Eduardo Malaya has reportedly approved the holding 2021 Health and Wellness Project called “DFA Mobile Legends Bang Bang Tournament.”
Malaya is the incoming Philippine ambassador to The Netherlands after passing the scrutiny of the Commission on Appointments last December.
Under the tournament, the DFA has formed at least nine teams comprising the different divisions, namely the Office of the Secretary; Human Resources Management Office; Office of the Asset Management and Support Services; Office of Consular Affairs; Office of Fiscal Management Services; Protocol; Office of Communications and Public Diplomacy; DFA-Rank and File Association, and the DFA Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
All the participating divisions were requested to seek clearances from their respective head offices and submit the names of the players who will compose each team on or before Monday, February 8, 2021.
Developed and published by Moonton, the game has become a craze in Southeast Asia and was among the games chosen for the first medal event sports competition at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines
Since its release in 2016, the phenomenal multiplayer online game has reportedly amassed over 500 million downloads and 75 million active players.
It was reported that the Philippines is one of the top playing countries of Mobile Legends, and Moonton plans on further incentives for Filipinos by hosting more tournaments and offline events.