The Esports and gaming community in the Philippines is steadily increasing in number thanks to the various technological innovations that lets gamers connect to other players in the country and all over the world online.
With the Pinoy gaming community on the rise, various international video game developers have started to take notice and include Filipino representation in their titles.
Among these video games include the widely popular online game 'Mobile Legends: Bang Bang' and fighting games 'Tekken' and 'Soul Calibur.'
Get to know these Filipino video game characters in this gallery.
Paquito is the newest hero from the popular online game 'Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.' The character is an homage to the Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao who also happens to be an ambassador for the game.
'Mobile Legends' hero Lapu-Lapu is based on the real-life Philippine hero of the same name. He was released back in May 2017.
In-game, he fights tenaciously with a barrage of skills and a shield that protects him from damage.
Josie Rizal made huge waves online when the character debuted as part of the roster of 'Tekken 7' back in 2015.
From Josie Rizal's name, features, and color scheme, this feisty fighter is undoubtedly Filipina.
The kindhearted, tonfa-wielding Talim is widely regarded as the first Filipina character in the fighting game genre. She made her debut in 'Soul Calibur II' back in 2002.
Talim's speedy fighting style and adorable demeanor was received warmly by fans of the fighting game franchise.
Santos is a character introduced in the 2004 hip-hop influenced 3D fighting game 'Def Jam: Fight for NY."
As evidenced by the Filipino flag emblazoned in his attire, Santos wears his Pinoy pride high and mighty in the 'Def Jam' game universe.
Jose Estrada is a playable character in the 1999 mecha tactical role-playing game 'Front Mission 3.'
He is a Filipino soldier who defected from the military after one of their missions claimed the life of his wife, which led to his imprisonment. He can be made into an ally or an enemy depending on the player's choices in-game.
Much like Jose Estrada, 17-year-old Pham Luis can also be recruited to fight alongside you in 'Front Mission 3.'
According to her in-game lore, she belongs to the Luis Family, one of the richest in the Philippines, but then went on to join the anti-government guerilla forces to liberate the country from its rulers.
Maria Santos is the main heroine of 'Sampaguita,' the third entry in the Japanese interactive visual novel series titled 'Yarudora' meaning "A drama you do."
In 'Sampaguita,' the player comes across an amnesiac Maria one night in Tokyo which starts the couple's quest to regain Maria's memories while trying to evade the Japanese mafia and Police.
'Hatoful Boyfriend' is a Japanese dating visual novel where the player's supposed love interests are pigeons and other bird species. There is also an option in-game that changes the portraits of these birds to what they would look like as humans.
One of the heroine's feathered suitors is the Luzon Bleeding-Heart Dove Anghel Higure. In Filipino, the word "Anghel" directly translates to angel.