MANILA, Philippines?The Philippines bagged first place in an international technology competition after a team of young students developed a game aimed at battling poverty, environmental pollution, and other social issues.

Team By Implication, consisting of students from the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines, got the $25,000 cash prize at the Microsoft Imagine Cup Game Design competition with its entry titled Wildfire.

The game asks players to battle poverty, gender inequality and environmental degradation and save the world by social action and volunteerism.

Inspired by the spirit of volunteerism displayed during and after the wrath of Typhoon Ondoy (international codename: Ketsana), Team By Implication developed Wildfire that centers on the idea that social problems can be addressed if people will work together.

?After the havoc wreaked by Typhoon Ketsana, we saw that Filipinos responded immediately and actively to disaster efforts. We were moved by this and Wildfire demonstrates the amazing things people can achieve when and if they work together,? said Philip Cheang of Team By Implication.

Team By Implication outshined 400 other students from around the world.

?We at Microsoft Philippines are very proud of Team By Implication and we congratulate them on this big achievement,? said Tim Vergel de Dios, Academic Developer Evangelist, Microsoft Philippines.

?Their victory shows the innovative minds of the Filipino youth and their great potential to help solve real-world problems, with the help of technology,? he added.

Student teams competed in five categories: Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Design, IT Challenge, and Digital Media.

The Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals will be held in New York City. To learn about the Imagine Cup 2011, visit http://www.imaginecup.com.