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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider The Stock Market devider DigiPlus, Manny Pacquiao partner to shake up Philippine digital gaming

DigiPlus, Manny Pacquiao partner to shake up Philippine digital gaming

Published Mar 26, 2026 03:09 pm
From left: DigiPlus Chief Digital Officer Rick Li; VP for Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, and Sustainability Celeste Jovenir; AB Leisure Exponent and Total Gamezone Xtreme President Jasper Vicencio; MannyPay Chairman Manny Pacquiao; Jinkee Pacquiao; Jelyn Balajadia-Bundalian; MannyPay President & CEO Marc Bundalian; VP Marco Gregorio; and Chief Legal Officer Atty. Glenn Gacal share a ceremonial toast to mark the landmark partnership between DigiPlus and the boxing icon on Wednesday, Mar. 25, at Shangri-La The Fort, BGC.
From left: DigiPlus Chief Digital Officer Rick Li; VP for Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, and Sustainability Celeste Jovenir; AB Leisure Exponent and Total Gamezone Xtreme President Jasper Vicencio; MannyPay Chairman Manny Pacquiao; Jinkee Pacquiao; Jelyn Balajadia-Bundalian; MannyPay President & CEO Marc Bundalian; VP Marco Gregorio; and Chief Legal Officer Atty. Glenn Gacal share a ceremonial toast to mark the landmark partnership between DigiPlus and the boxing icon on Wednesday, Mar. 25, at Shangri-La The Fort, BGC.
From left: MannyPay President & CEO Marc Bundalian, boxing legend and MannyPay Chairman Manny Pacquiao, DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco, and AB Leisure Exponent and Total Gamezone Xtreme President Jasper Vicencio formalize a landmark alliance during the ceremonial contract signing on Wednesday, Mar. 25, at Shangri-La The Fort, BGC, ushering in a new era of digital entertainment for Filipinos.
From left: MannyPay President & CEO Marc Bundalian, boxing legend and MannyPay Chairman Manny Pacquiao, DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco, and AB Leisure Exponent and Total Gamezone Xtreme President Jasper Vicencio formalize a landmark alliance during the ceremonial contract signing on Wednesday, Mar. 25, at Shangri-La The Fort, BGC, ushering in a new era of digital entertainment for Filipinos.
Tanco-led DigiPlus Interactive Corp. (DigiPlus), the country’s leading digital gaming firm, has forged a partnership with global sporting icon Manny Pacquiao as endorser of its sports betting platforms, as well as the use of his playment platform and the launch of new games featuring the boxing champion.
"As the digital entertainment scene in the Philippines continues to evolve, our audience is seeking more than just games. They want authentic, narrative-driven experiences," said DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco.
He noted that “this collaboration allows us to combine the legendary story of our boxing hero with our robust technological infrastructure, providing our players with an innovative, secure, and truly local experience.”
During the launch of the partnership, DigiPlus said the collaboration signals a "new round" for the Philippine digital entertainment landscape.
A prominent feature of this synergy is a content-driven collaboration that transcends traditional branding through a suite of nine Manny Pacquiao-themed titles.
Unlike standard celebrity-branded games, the collection is made for Filipinos, carefully designed to reflect Pacquiao’s achievements and indomitable fighting spirit. The collection has already received strong positive feedback from users.
The full lineup for the year is built on mechanics from popular games in the Philippine market to ensure a meaningful and relatable experience for Filipino players.
The partnership also spotlights Pacquiao’s role as the official brand ambassador for ArenaPlus and GameZone.
“More than a digital collaboration, his ambassadorship serves as the prelude to an enduring alliance, with ArenaPlus committed to standing in the boxing icon's corner for his upcoming fights, while GameZone brings his champion mindset to life through the GameZone tour, the pioneer of table game tournaments in the Philippines,” DigiPlus said.
Pacquiao will thus be the new face of DigiPlus' premier sportsbook and elite card-and-table-game tournament hub.
The collaboration is anchored by a new payments integration with MannyPay, Pacquiao's premiere payment platform. DigiPlus, together with its suite of platforms, is the first official gaming partner of MannyPay.
MannyPay, which is powered by Traxion Pay Inc., is a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-licensed payment infrastructure.
DigiPlus stressed that it partners only with BSP-accredited payment channels in accordance with the requirements of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), ensuring that all player wallet transactions are processed through secure and compliant payment platforms.
Engineered for the demands of 24/7 gaming, MannyPay guarantees continuous operations, enabling smooth transaction processing and same-day settlements, ensuring player wallet funds are managed as seamlessly as the games themselves.
"This partnership with DigiPlus is special because it was created with our countrymen in mind. Whether it is through the games that tell my story, or handling payments with MannyPay, we are showing the world what Filipinos are capable of," said Pacquiao, Chairman of MannyPay.
He added, "I am also honored to be representing ArenaPlus and GameZone as we continue to champion the spirit of The Winner in everything we do."

Related Tags

Digiplus Interactive Corporation Eusebio Tanco Manny Pacquiao MannyPay
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