Draft:Bernard Chong

Bernard Chong, also known as Bernard “Bren” Chong, (born December 25, 1980) is a Filipino angel investor, serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a founder in Philippine gaming. His investment portfolio spans traditional enterprises and technology ventures, including gaming, retail, real estate, entertainment, and food and beverage. Bernard has attained multiple recognitions and top-of-world rankings in mobile gaming, Bernard Chong is the founder of the championship-winning mobile gaming team AP Bren (previously known as Bren Esports), co-owner of Synergy88 Studios, and scion of the Chong clan that owns World Balance.

Early Life and Education
From a young age, Bernard claimed to have entrepreneurial interests alongside a passion for gaming, comics, and animation. As early as grade school, Chong began selling products from their family shoe business, World Balance. During his university years, he ventured into several businesses, most notably in the recycling industry.

Bernard Chong attended De La Salle University in Manila, where he obtained a degree in Electronics Computer Engineering from the Gokongwei College of Engineering. In 2001, Chong and his thesis group published a thesis on the efficacy and implementation of a communication system powered by two-way TV microwave receivers, which they developed.

Career
After completing his education at De La Salle, he returned to his family business and helped bring the World Balance footwear brand to prominence, with over 200 store locations and collaborations with Binibining Pilipinas, Disney, Star Wars, and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). During this time, he diversified his portfolio through several other investments. Bernard has held stakes in animation – ASI Studios; communications – Energy FM; food and beverage – Tim Hortons/Kko Kko; entertainment – RKB Productions; IT – Thirty-One Digital/Beepbeep.ph; BrenPro Inc. and Mineski Events Team.

In 2017, Chong founded Bren Esports. Under his direction as the chief executive officer, the organization’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team won the M-series World Championship title in 2021, marking a significant achievement in Philippine esports. Bernard's BrenPro Inc. is also a founding corporation of The Nationals, the first-ever esports franchise model league in the Philippines, launching its operations in 2019. The league offered a platform for Filipino esports athletes to be selected for tournaments sanctioned by the SEA Games, the Asian Games, and the Olympics.

AP Bren
AP Bren, formerly Bren Esports, is a Southeast Asian professional esports organization based in the Philippines. AP Bren has fielded competitive teams in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, CS:GO, PUBG, League of Legends, Overwatch, Hearthstone, Clash Royale, Arena of Valor, Rules of Survival, Valorant, and Tekken. In the Philippine esports league The Nationals, the team competes as Bren EPro. The organization was founded on August 16, 2017, by Bernard "Bren" Chong who is part of the Chong clan that owns World Balance.

In July 2023, the esports team was purchased by Aces Pro Corp., replacing the longtime chief executive officer of Bren with Jean Alphonse “AJ” Ponce. The newly-acquired team adopted its current name, AP Bren.

On December 10, 2023, AP Bren became the first organization to win two world titles and the first team to win the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship on home soil. AP Bren was also the first Philippine team to win the M-Series.

The BrenSEED Foundation
In 2023, Chong established the BrenSEED Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on global education. The BrenSEED Foundation is dedicated to empowering aspiring leaders worldwide by providing transformative educational resources and comprehensive professional development opportunities across industries.

Barangay 143 (2018)
Bernard Chong is known for his work on the award-winning Barangay 143, contributing as an executive producer, creator, and writer for the Filipino-Singaporean anime series. The show reached Netflix Asia’s top ten “most watched titles” after its debut on the popular streaming platform.

Dino Girl Gauko (2019)
Bernard served as an executive producer for the animated Netflix series Dino Girl Gauko, which premiered in late 2019 and released its second season in March 2020.

Other production credits
Chong is also credited as an executive producer for Love Is Love (2019) and Shady Grove (2022).

Drug trafficking allegations (2021)
In 2021, Bernard Chong was issued an arrest warrant by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Philippines for alleged involvement in importing illegal drugs. The case centered on a shipment of methamphetamines discovered at the Manila port, which was initially linked to Fortuneyield, a company where Chong had served as CEO until 2019.

Court documents later identified Wealth Lotus Empire Corp. as the actual consignee of the shipment, exonerating Fortuneyield. Chong appealed the case, arguing that the initial court lacked jurisdiction and had abused its discretion. In May 2023, the Court of Appeals dropped all charges against him.

Falsified receipts allegations (2023)
In May 2023, the NBI filed a case against Bernard Chong and Brenterprise International Inc. employees for allegedly printing fraudulent receipts. The Department of Justice (DOJ) court ruled that the evidence was insufficient and the allegations lacked probable cause, leading to the dismissal of the case.

Personal Life
Bernard Chong currently resides in Beverly Hills, CA, and is a father. He enjoys hobbies such as LEGOs, chess, reading, and comic books.