Derick Elomina discovered poker at 14, playing home games with his high school friends. What began as a pastime quickly grew into a passion that shaped his career. By 21, he entered the poker industry as a field reporter — just old enough to step foot inside the casino. Starting as a hand reporter, he steadily honed his craft, blending sharp observation with growing writing skills. Known for his dedication, he constantly roams the floor to capture the action, conduct interviews, and deliver live updates. With a strong commitment to the game and a passion for telling poker’s stories, Derick continues to build his path in the industry.

Updated: 2026.03.08

Juden Francisco is a highly successful Filipino professional poker player and a prominent figure in the Southeast Asian live tournament scene. Known for his tactical consistency and dominance in Manila-based festivals, Francisco has built a reputation as one of the Philippines’ most reliable grinders. A multiple-time champion with a knack for deep runs in high-volume fields, he is currently enjoying a career peak in early 2026, highlighted by major scores in the Manila Megastack and Super Series circuits.

Career Earnings & Recent Results

Juden Francisco has become a fixture at final tables across the Philippines , with his career trajectory showing massive growth between 2024 and 2026. His recent performance at the Manila Megastack 24 at PokerStars LIVE in Okada Manila last March 2026 was a masterclass in tournament navigation, where he captured the title in the PHP 25,000 No-Limit Hold’em event for PHP 243,200 ($4,172). This victory followed a successful stint at the Manila Super Series 23 in January 2026, where he won the Survivor Knockout event. His ability to consistently find the winner’s circle in diverse formats, from bounty events to survivor structures, has solidified his status as a top-tier regional professional.

Recent Tournament Highlights:

Year	Event	Prize
2026	Manila Megastack 24 – PHP 25,000 NLH (1st)	PHP 243,200
2026	Manila Super Series 23 – Survivor KO (1st)	PHP 45,000
2024	APPT Manila – PHP 20,000 NLH Bounty (Final Table)	PHP 88,400

Biography & Poker Background

Hailing from the Philippines, Juden Francisco represents the growing technical depth of the local poker community. He first gained notice on the Metro Card Club and PokerStars LIVE Manila circuit as a player with exceptional patience and an innate ability to read the technical meta of the Asian circuit. Unlike some players who focus solely on high-roller events, Francisco is a high-volume specialist who excels in “Mid-Major” tournaments with massive fields and complex structures. His rise in the Global Poker Index (GPI) Philippines rankings reflects his work ethic, frequently competing in back-to-back series throughout the year. In 2026, he is recognized not just for his titles, but as a technical mentor within the Filipino poker community.

Play Style & Strategy

Francisco is renowned for a “highly adaptive, exploitative, and resilient” play style. During his recent Manila Megastack victory, he demonstrated an elite ability to shift gears based on table dynamics, transitioning from a “small-ball” approach in the early levels to high-frequency aggression during the final table. Strategically, he is a proponent of maximum pressure in knockout formats, where his understanding of bounty equity and survivor dynamics gives him a distinct mathematical edge. His approach focuses on mental endurance, a trait that has allowed him to outlast fields of hundreds in the humid, high-pressure environments of Manila’s premier poker rooms.

Want to follow Juden as he continues his dominant run through the 2026 Asian Poker Tour (APT) and Manila Super Series? You can find his profiles and updated stats here: