First Pokémon TCG U-17 Tournament introduces TCG to a New Generation of Filipino Kids
Poketto Monsutaa, widely recognized as Pokémon, reigns as Japan’s most triumphant media franchise, with an esteemed record as the world’s top multimedia franchise.
The company primarily generates revenue from its leading categories: Merchandise, Video Games, and Trading Card Games.
Pokémon in the Philippines
In the Philippines, Pokémon boasts an active following and is widely recognized through its Anime, Mobile, and Video games. The Pokémon Philippines Group on Facebook has garnered over 130,000 active members and continues to grow.
In addition to popular Mobile games like Pokémon Go and Pokémon Unite, which have an active Filipino player base, it’s noteworthy that Filipino representatives are set to compete in the upcoming Pokémon World Championship in Japan this August.
The Pokémon Company plans to boost the local Trading Card market, given its popularity in Japan and the West.
Pokémon Trading Card Game for Filipino Kids
On July 29th, the Pokémon Company hosted the first Pokémon TCG Under-17 Tournament Philippines at the Hobby Stadium, and I was fortunate to receive an invitation from one of the company’s executives.
The event thrived with a substantial turnout of pre-registered players. Witnessing kids immersed in Pokémon TCG and a new generation embracing the Pokémon world was delightful.
Pokémon Life Size Stuffed Toys; Quaxly, Sprigatito, and Fuecoco. Photo by Ian Fabula.
It rekindled my childhood memories, and I wished to have played TCG back then. Additionally, observing parents supporting their children in the tournament was heartening, and most were likely Pokémon enthusiasts as well.
The Future of Pokémon TCG in the Philippines
Although active players and Pokémon Trading Card Game Tournaments exist in the country, they’ve received limited mainstream attention. Mr. Arakawa, the Manager in charge of business development for Pokémon in the Philippines, notes the Under-17 Tournament as an initial step towards introducing Trading Card Games to a newer generation of enthusiasts. He also supervises the areas of Video Games, Anime, and Merchandise within the country. Mr. Arakawa mentions that there are further TCG-focused activities and plans in progress to expand the influence of Pokémon in these categories.
If you’re a Pokémon fan and want to learn and play Pokémon TCG, you can access all the details here: https://asia.pokemon-card.com/ph/
At the event, I received these Pokémon Trading Cards, fueling my excitement to delve into playing Pokémon TCG soon.
As previously stated, Philippine representatives are heading to Japan for the “Pokémon World Championships” in Yokohama. Let’s cheer them on from August 11-13, 2023!
For updates on Pokémon Philippines, follow their official Facebook and join the Pokémon Philippines Community.
