Netizens empathize with ailing e-sabong beneficiary (Sabong News)
Author
Manila Bulletin
Date
NOVEMBER 18 2022
Filipinos are reeling from the effects of the suspension of e-sabong operations nationwide.
Such is the story of Ferlie Radasa and her ailing father Ferdinand, who depends on the income of
his daughter who worked for an e-sabong outlet and the assistance given by Pitmaster
Foundation for his dialysis treatment.
Netizens who learned about the plight of Ferdinand empathized with him, aware that the free
dialysis treatment and medical assistance regularly given by the Pitmaster Foundation stopped
after the operation of e-sabong was suspended in May.
“Ang sakit sa dibdib na makitang merong mga ganitong tao na nahihirapan. Knowing na e-
sabong lang naman talaga ‘yung pinagkakakitaan nila, pero ipinagkait pa. Sana maibalik na lang
ang e-sabong. Alam naman po natin na marami talaga itong naitutulong lalo na sa mga kapos sa
buhay at hirap ng makahanap ng ibang trabaho (It hurts to see people like him suffer, knowing
that he relies solely on e-sabong, We are aware how it helped the jobless and those in need),”
Jethy Cornel-San Miguel said. “Sana makita po ninyo ‘yung sakripisyo ng ilan nating
mamamayan na sa e-sabong 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 realize
that some of our countrymen rely on e-sabong. All of us have the right live freely, so I hope you
provide hope for others).
Free dialysis treatment is one of the initiatives of Pitmaster Foundation to help those in need.
However, its assistance is now limited following the suspension of e-sabong. Also affected are
the families of those who worked in the e-sabong industry.
“Pitmaster knows how to help people in need. It’s not just about having a job, but also helping
medically. Mang Ferdinand is a living testimony that Pitmaster really impacts the life of the poor
who are now crying for help. Pitmaster gives them opportunity and hope. Regulators should
consider these testimonials as these people are aware of how Pitmaster changed their lives
positively,” Daniel Trent Bernabe said.
Lucila Platero, on the other hand, said a prolonged ban on e-sabong 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 don’t have the privilege to study, and at the same time, need to address medical
concerns? We have to look at the banning of e-sabong as not merely a game. This industry is life
for people, like Kuya Ferdinand, and banning such is like banning an opportunity for people like
him to even live,” she pointed out.
Meanwhile, social media users also commended Pitmaster Foundation for its “unceasing vision”
to elevate the current plight of Filipinos.
JP Fernandez said the charity organization is an advocate for the hopeless and those in need. He
stressed this as he underscored the importance of resuming e-sabong operations 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 pang-gastos sa araw-araw dahil sa nawalang e-sabong.
Sana mabalik na kasi marami talaga naapektuhan—lalo mga mahihirap (Being someone with a
parent who needs medical help, I can relate to those who have nowhere to go for their daily
needs after the suspension of e-sabong. I hope its operation resumes as a lot are affected,
especially the poor). For me, Pitmaster Foundation is an instrument for goodness and marami
naman talaga ang makikinabang (a lot benefit from it),” Fernandez said.
Peter Vallejo hopes more people will recognize how Pitmaster Foundation has remained faithful
to its passionate desire to serve Filipinos.
“Ang sakit isipin na mawawalan ka ng pagasa na maglook forward sa buhay mo dahil ‘yung
sumusuporta at gumagamot sa karamdaman mo mismo yung nawala. Nalulungkot ako nung
sinabi ni Mang Ferdinand 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 pains to think that some lost hope just because
the one they relied upon for support is gone. I was saddened by Mang Ferdinand’s statement, ‘I
still want to live,’ as it appears he lost direction in life because he can’t afford medical treatment
and relies solely on Pitmaster),” Vallejo said. “Kaya sana naman ay marinig ito ng iba at ma-
realize nila kung gaano na kalawak at kalayo ‘yung narating at mga taong natulungan ng
programang ito, sana dinggin natin si Mang Ferdinand 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 the extent of the assistance given by this program and Mang
Ferdinand’s plight as well as others who depend on Pitmaster are realized so development will
not be confined to the rich).”
Data show that e-sabong helps fund the universal health care through the income it shares to the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
At its peak, the gamefowl industry reportedly generated ₱650 million per month in revenue for
Pagcor. At least ₱1.37 billion was collected from seven licensed e-sabong operators from
January to March 2022 alone.
However, with e-sabong suspended, Pagcor projected a revenue loss of up to ₱5 billion this year.