The Sibol Philippine team survived a tenacious Thailand side to win the DoTA 2 gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Avid gamers can soon pursue a professional career in esports, as a gaming agency announced it has partnered with a Manila-based university in establishing a four-year degree program dedicated to the competitive gaming industry.

Tier One Entertainment, a gaming agency founded by esports veterans Alodia Gosiengfiao and Tryke Gutierrez, announced that the agency, along with Lyceum of the Philippines University, were "80 percent" done drafting a curriculum for a Bachelor of Science in Esports program.

Gutierrez said students will choose between game design or esports management as potential course tracks, refusing to disclose further details on the potential class subjects.

"This is a golden opportunity to show our society that gaming is not a waste of time. I'm giving you a heads up that this course is not going to be easy, it's not going to be just about fun and games," Gutierrez said on his official Facebook page.

Gutierrez also appealed for public support as they sought to have the curriculum approved by the government.

"We'll do our best to push this industry forward but we need more help. Study hard, train hard. We need you," he said.

If approved, the program may be able to provide job opportunities, specifically to those who want to work in the esports industry, Gutierrez said in a separate post.

"The goal has always been to create more opportunities for gamers in Asia. If this curriculum gets approved, we won't just be providing post-career opportunities for gaming but we will have a new generation of graduates ready to work in the esports industry," he said.

Gutierrez said they will be submitting the curriculum design to the Commission on Higher Education on March 4.

If the program "goes well" according to Gutierrez, he said it would be possible to have "a full course" available by this year.

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