Peripherals

6: Azure

Pinanuod ni Azure ang mabilis na paglayo ni Sora, manghang-mangha sa pagkakaorganisa nito ng grupo nila.

"Ganun ba talaga siya?" Mahinang tanong ni Azure kay Paula.

"Ha?"

"Si Sora, ganun ba talaga siya?"

Nagkibit balikat si Paula. "Di ako nanunuod ng streams niya. Pero sabi nila maganda yung content niya. Matalino daw magsalita."

"Panong matalino?"

"Ewan." Natapos na sa pagaayos si Paula kaya't kinuha na rin ni Azure ang bag niya at lumabas para umuwi muna ng condo niya.

May ilang oras si Azure bago ang susunod niyang klase. Pwede niyang i-edit ang vlog niya habang kumakain siya ng lunch. Pero nakuha ni Sora ang interest niya kaya't pagkabukas niya ng computer niya, ang unang ini-search niya ay si Sora Santander.

May Wikipedia article si Sora kaya't yun ang unang tiningnan ni Azure.

Sora Yulo Santander (born 3 October 2000), also known by her online alias ThunderSora, is a Filipino streamer, Youtuber, professional gamer, model and internet personality. She streams Ancient League on the popular streaming platform, Strimmers and also posts videos playing the game on Youtube. She rose to fame after joining Querraiza's Ancient League contest as a wildcard player and lead various teams to win against numerous top ranked Asian Ancient League pro-gamers. Along with her team Rainbow Gaming, they placed fourth in the recently concluded Asian Invitational AL Competition.

So, leader type pala talaga siya. Isip ni Azure habang nagbabasa ng iba pang achievements ni Sora. Maiksi lang ang article, pero nakasulat ang mga contests na sinalihan at napanalunan ni Sora. Ang hindi inaasahang mabasa ni Azure ay ang maiksing panahon na naging brand ambassador si Sora para sa isang American multinational food and beverage corporation kung saan lumabas siya sa ilang commercials nito at nagawa pang magpakulay ng buhok niya na kapareho ng kulay ng soft drinks na ine-endorse niya.

Pagkatapos basahin ang Wikipedia article ni Sora ay bumalik si Azure sa Google search results niya kung saan nakita niya ang isang feature article tungkol sa pagsali ni Sora sa eSports program ng De La Torre University.

A long-time dream in the making, De La Torre University has opened its doors to the gaming community by being the first university in the country to offer a Bachelor of Science in Esports program. First in the list of enrollees is streamer and Youtuber Sora Santander, who recently placed fourth with her team Rainbow Gaming in the Asian Invitational AL Competition hosted by the Ancient League developer Nuwerk Games.

Santander, who just graduated senior high school from St. Anne University and took the STEM strand said she was aiming for a degree in computer engineering but accepted the offer of DLTU to join their Esports program because she believes there's a future in the growing industry.

Bumalik na si Azure sa search results niya at sunod na binuksan ang isang article tungkol sa laban ni Sora sa laganap na sexism sa gaming community.

Popular Ancient League streamer and Youtuber Sora Santander recently got into yet another fight with a player who made multiple sexist remarks against her, starting a debate within the Filipino gaming community about the harassment and abuse that female gamers are receiving from their male counterparts.

Santander, on her live stream last Thursday said, "video games were made for everyone to enjoy. Just because most games are filled with macho characters, gun battles and fast cars doesn't make it a man's world. We girls enjoy beating up crazy mob bosses and driving jet powered cars, too!"

The gaming industry has struggled to gain women players in recent years. In 2014, there were reports of harassment and other abusive behavior. The scandal, known as "Gamergate," involved male gamers targeting women players throughout the industry.