TWO UST Faculty of Arts and Letters graduates emerged as winners in the 2024 Philippine Esports Awards (PEA), which honored 28 top-tier esports talents in the country.
Journalism graduate and esports reporter AC Coloma won Esports Journalist of the Year, while Communication alumnus and broadcaster Dan “Leo” Cubangay bagged the Esports Desk Host of the Year plum on April 22 at the GT-Toyota Asian Center in Quezon City.
“I think this award stamps the relevance of journalism in the esports industry, so it means a lot to be recognized alongside the best in the esports [business],” Coloma told The Flame.
“As a Thomasian, it feels like a badge of honor to [represent] the Journalism program in this niche field… UST as it is already has an established esports [organization] in Teletigers, so it feels nice to be part of the Thomasian legacy in Philippine esports somewhat,” Coloma, also a writer for INQUIRER.net, added.
The award was granted to the esports journalist for producing the most creative, accurate and impactful work in the field.
Coloma covered several esports events, including the League of Legends 2023 Season World Championship in South Korea and the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship Series.
Cubangay, who was awarded for his management and moderation of broadcast interviews and analyses, has also cast for multiple tournaments with the most recent being the 2025 ESL Snapdragon Pro Series held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“To be recognized on top of that makes me want to reach for higher heights to contribute more to the growth of our industry,” Cubangay said.
“My time in Tiger Radio molded my foundations as a broadcaster, and I carry those into every show I do… I hope to inspire more Thomasians to follow in my footsteps, as broadcasters and esports practitioners,” he added.
PEA is the leading award-giving body in the country’s esports industry. Organized by the Esports Prime Media PH Inc. (EPMP), the event included three new categories that recognized the growing presence of women in the industry. F – with reports from Christian Querol
