By Aimerose C. Atienza

With exemplary skills and concrete goals in the past year, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tams FX (TFX) and the FEU Tech Tamaraws Esports Club (FIT iTams) won major recognitions in the 2nd annual AcadArena Awards last February 26.

The Tams FX claimed the Best Alliance Organization of the Year which is the highest award to be given to a partner esports organization of AcadArena. FIT iTams and the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Gear came as the other two finalists of the said recognition.

TFX also won the Educational Initiative of the Year with their Gamiquette, a three-day interactive webinar about healthy gaming, and the Advocacy of the Year with Tambayanihan, a program to help the victims of typhoons Odette and Maring. 

The team was also nominated in the Tournament of the Year for FEU ‘21 All-Star Tournament, a competitive tournament for all FEU Institutes and other branches, and in the Flagship Project of the Year for Siklab, a university-wide esports tourney open to all students, alumni, and faculty of various FEU campuses.

The current TFX Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Issa-Gene Medel was a Gold Awardee for AcadArena Game Scholars and was also among the finalists of the Student Leader of the Year category.

“Itong recent awards, naging ticket namin siya para lalo pang umingay at mas mapadali pa yung recognition na gusto namin makuha (These recent awards served as our ticket to bring more noise and it was a step towards getting the recognition that we want),” Medel said during an online interview with FEU Advocate.

Meanwhile, FIT iTams were nominated in the Graphic Design Piece of the Year with their One Above All event main poster. 

The FEU Tech-based esports team also shows great pride with its members being nominated in various categories. These nominations include David “Batghost” Jaraplasan for Student Esports Athlete of the Year, Dana “Jopay” Dichoso for Student Leader of the Year, Fiona Angela “Gelysian” Alano for Student Rookie Leader, and Alexis Angel “Panget~” Roxas for the Student Talent of the Year.

“Parang lahat ng mga hirap namin naging worth it and it became a drive for us to improve and achieve more not only for us pero para na din sa mga susunod na magmamana ng org namin (It is like all our hardships were worth it and it became a drive for us to improve and achieve more not only for us but also to those who will inherit our org),” iTams CEO Michaella Gonzales shared.

Upon bringing honor and glory to the university, both representatives also feel grateful to AcadArena because of the countless opportunities given by the organization.

(Photo courtesy of AcadArena)