Asia
PAGCOR turns over P4.1 million cash incentives to PH Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent to Turkey
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) turned over a total of P4.1 million in cash incentives to the 82 members of the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent to Turkey.
Each member of the contingent will receive a P50,000 cash incentive from PAGCOR. The contingent consists of volunteers from different agencies including the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
“Before the volunteers returned to the Philippines last February 28, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco committed to give incentives to them as tokens of appreciation for their selfless acts. They sacrificed themselves to help and were able to conquer the challenges including bearing the extreme weather conditions. It was a huge task, but they all did it and made the whole country proud,” PAGCOR’s AVP for Community Relations and Services Eric Balcos said.
The ceremonial turnover of check was held during the welcome ceremony and recognition of the volunteers at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on March 6, 2023. The event was attended by Department of National Defense Officer-in-Charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., DOH OIC and Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire, OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando Artes, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino, and PAGCOR’s AVP for Corporate Communications Carmelita Valdez and AVP Balcos.
The Philippine response team was sent to Turkey on February 8, 2023, to help the victims of the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit the country and the northern border of Syria on February 6, 2023.
During their two weeks deployment, the team was able to serve 1,022 patients, helped recover bodies of six earthquake victims, and assessed 36 buildings in Turkey, according to USec Galvez. They also distributed blankets, bonnets and gloves to the victims.
One of the volunteers from MMDA, Dr. Ted Esguerra shared his five-point learning experience from their volunteer work.
“First, marunong tayong tumanaw ng utang na loob. Turkey was one of the first countries who helped us after typhoon Haiyan, it’s our way of giving back. Second, despite being number one in the World Index for having lots of disaster, pinakita natin sa mundo na tayo ay world-class humanitarian in work. Third, Filipinos need to become versatile para maging equipped for international response. Kailangan masanay humarap sa lugar na malamig, disyerto o mataas ang altitude. Fourth, we must learn from the experience of Turkish people. Maging handa tayo sa ganitong kalaking disaster. Isa ang Turkey sa bansang handang-handa sa lindol pero sa sobrang laki nito, na-overwhelm sila. Lastly, we need to create a humanitarian team who are trained in cross-cultural currents.”
Dr. Esguerra also expressed his gratitude to PAGCOR for the grant given to the volunteers. “Pasasalamat para sa PAGCOR dahil nakita ninyo ang kabayanihan at talento ng Pilipino. Hindi ito pabuya lamang kundi pambili rin ng gamit ng mga volunteers na nasira during our rescue,” he shared.
DOH Chief of Medical and Professional Staff Dr. Alfonso Danac likewise thanked PAGCOR for its help.
“We are very grateful to the PAGCOR management for giving this token. None of us are expecting this. We were deployed in full volunteerism. Malaking bagay ito dahil yung iba sa amin ay mababa lang ang salary grade but they willingly volunteered,” he expressed.
Dr. Danac shared that the DOH team did not just render medical services, but they also served as cooks, electricians, plumbers, cleaners, and did administrative works, among others.
“Based on self-sufficiency ang team natin. We rendered medical services but we also did our part sa camp. ‘Yung deployment natin will show to the world that our rendering services are based on professionalism and standards,” Dr. Danac shared.
Asia
NewCasinoRank Unveils Specifics of Thai New Online Casino Market
NewCasinoRank, a leading website specialising in reviewing new online casinos and covering various aspects of iGaming, has provided an in-depth analysis of the emerging online casino scene in Thailand. As Thailand remains one of the most frequented locations accessing NewCasinoRank, the team is dedicated to delivering precise and relevant information that aligns with the country’s strict gambling regulations.
Gambling in Thailand is heavily regulated under the Gambling Act of 1935, which prohibits most forms of gambling except for the government-run lottery and horse racing. Despite these restrictions, the popularity of online casinos continues to grow, driven by increasing internet accessibility. According to Statista, the online gambling market in Thailand is projected to grow by 5.56% (2024-2028), resulting in a market volume of €628.90m in 2028.
Thai players frequently visit NewCasinoRank to find reliable information on accessible new online casinos that comply with local laws. To meet this demand, NewCasinoRank’s team meticulously curates content that adheres to Thailand’s legal framework, ensuring players have access to safe and trustworthy gaming options.
Chloe O’Sullivan, CasinoRank’s Writer, emphasizes the platform’s commitment: “We highly value our Thai audience and strive to provide up-to-date information on our dedicated Thailand page. This comprehensive resource includes special features of new casino sites in Thailand, the most popular casino game developers in the country, an overview of the average bonus values based on market trends and local currency, and much more.”
Samuel Adeoye, CasinoRank’s Researcher, said: “Speaking of new casinos, sometimes it’s hard to get the most accurate information because the subject is new. Still, we manage to do that by collecting data from reputable open sources and collaborating with trusted casinos that partner with NewCasinoRank. This ensures that our content is both accurate and relevant, providing Thai players with the information they need to make informed decisions.”
Asia
Revenant Esports and Team XSpark Join Forces to Form Revenant XSpark, ScoutOP Revealed as Brand Ambassador
Revenant Esports and Team XSpark, two titans of Indian esports, have announced a strategic merger to create Revenant XSpark. This new super organization is set to redefine the esports landscape, combining the resources, expertise, and dedicated fan followings of both organizations.
United under the Revenant XSpark banner, the collaboration aims to compete in multiple popular esports titles, establish original community IPs, deliver engaging fan activations, drive innovative brand partnerships, and expand internationally.
As part of this joint venture, Revenant XSpark has introduced its BGMI lineup, featuring the lineup of Sarang, Spraygod, Shadow, and Joker, with Osmium serving as the team’s coach. These players recently captured back-to-back victories at the BGMI Pro Series and BGMI India Series, making them the only team in the history of the game to win two official BGMI LAN events.
In addition to its BGMI team, Revenant XSpark has been chosen as one of only 10 partnered organizations by The Pokémon Company to compete in the newly launched Pokémon UNITE ACL India League 2025. Fans can look forward to an exciting roster announcement soon.
ScoutOP Joins as Brand Ambassador, Expanding Revenant XSpark’s Reach
Tanmay “ScoutOP” Singh, a legend in the Indian gaming community with over 10 million followers on social media, has officially joined Revenant XSpark as its brand ambassador.
Scout was the mastermind behind the Team XSpark roster, mentoring and nurturing them to their historical back to back victories in BGMI esports. Now, as the ambassador for Revenant XSpark, Scout will bring his vast following, which not only covers India but also extends internationally, to the united brand.
Commenting on the partnership, Tanmay “ScoutOP” Singh, brand ambassador of Revenant XSpark said, “I’ve known Rohit for a while, and I’ve always been a fan of Revenant’s unique approach to content—it’s witty, filled with banter, but still subtle. It’s exactly the kind of vibe I wanted to bring to XSpark. Beyond that, our shared vision for expanding esports with multiple rosters across India and internationally made this partnership a perfect fit. Joining forces to take the Revenant XSpark name global was a no-brainer for me.”
Rohit Jagasia, Founder and CEO of Revenant Esports, commented, “Scout and I have a strong personal connection, and our brands, Revenant and XSpark, naturally share a similar fan base and values. This partnership feels like an organic next step. Scout’s holistic approach to content, spanning gaming and entertainment across multiple platforms, makes him the perfect ambassador for our brand as we aim to establish Revenant XSpark as India’s leading esports organization and expand our footprint globally.”
To celebrate this partnership, Revenant XSpark, including the BGMI team and ScoutOP, will host an exclusive meet-and-greet event in Mumbai in November, giving fans a chance to interact with their favorite players and ScoutOP himself. Stay tuned to Revenant XSpark’s social media handles for more information.
Revenant XSpark will also be working to build esports IPs. Recently, Revenant Esports also partnered with IPL team, Gujarat Titans, to bring BGMI Titans, an open-for-all esports tournament.
Additionally, Revenant Esports has a strong history within the Indian esports scene, having won the VALORANT Challengers 2024: South Asia – Split 2, to be the lone Indian team in the VCT Pacific Ascension. Furthermore, it is the only esports organization to represent India internationally in the Pokemon UNITE World Championship and the Brawl Stars World Finals.
Asia
NODWIN Gaming partners with Japanese gaming company KONAMI for ‘eFootball Diwali Showdown’
The ‘eFootball Diwali Showdown’, a special influencer tournament organised by NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, and Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (KONAMI), the leading video game developer and publisher from Japan culminated with S8UL Aman being crowned as the champion.
Eight of India’s prominent gaming personalities including Dreamboy, Yes Smarty Pie, Ezio18Rip, Sid, Senpai Spider, K18, Binks, and Aman, competed in both group stage and knockout formats.
In addition to the tournament, KONAMI has also announced special in-game rewards to celebrate Diwali with Indian gamers. Players will have the opportunity to log in to eFootball and earn exclusive Diwali-themed rewards.
This includes unique player packs featuring popular Indian football team stars, giving fans the opportunity to play with homegrown talent while celebrating the festival of lights. Alongside these packs, players can unlock special Diwali-themed jerseys, available only during this festive period.
Tournament participants K18, Senpai Spider, and Yes Smarty Pie will also be streaming the game extensively and hosting matches for fans on an integrated YouTube stream from their individual channels.
These Diwali-focused initiatives are a testament to KONAMI’s commitment to catering to India’s fast-growing mobile gaming market. As a free-to-play title, eFootball provides open access to casual as well as high-level competitive gaming, eliminating any financial and accessibility barriers for gamers from all backgrounds.
Recently, eFootball was selected by FIFA as an official title in the FIFAe World Cup, with India among the 18 countries invited to participate. Additionally, eFootball is also set to be featured in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s WAVES Esports Championship 2025 (WESC), further solidifying its relevance and appeal in India’s gaming landscape.
Earlier this year, Konami announced that eFootball has surpassed 700 million total downloads worldwide.
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