Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Lyceum of the Philippines University inaugurated the LPU ESports Arena in its Intramuros campus on Monday, the first of its kind in the country.
The Philippines’ first educational institution to offer esports as an academic degree, Lyceum, opened the facility to further solidify its commitment to technology and innovation, LPU’s OIC for Academic Affairs, Ms. Jennifer D. Tucpi, shared this.
“It shows our commitment to innovation, embracing technological trend, and providing a platform for students to excel in a rapidly growing and changing entertainment and competition scene,” she said.
The institution’s four-year BS ESports program is divided into Game Design and Development and ESports Management tracks.
Described by LPU’s ICT Director, Noel Punongbayan, as an “education-inclined arena,” the esports arena boasts a state-of-the-art sound system, lighting, a production room, and a green room for streaming.
Atty. Roberto P. Laurel, the institution’s president, admitted that he was initially hesitant about the idea. But understanding the potential benefits to LPU and its students, he greenlit the creation of the arena.
“It was only the first step when I realised it,” he mused, “I’m very proud that they were able to convince me to set up this esports arena.”
The facility, powered by computers and devices from Asus, Lyceum’s partner, is housed on the 3rd floor of LPU’s main building.