Julian Elona: Respecting the Grind

While chronicling and witnessing the growing appreciation for e-sports, e-sports reporter and associate editor Julian Elona offers his insights on fatherhood and e-sports for the many gamer dads or dads-to-be.

Just like how the e-sports industry grows, so does Julian Elona as a girl-dad and as an associate editor of ONE Esports. With more people honing their skills to make a name for themselves in competitive video games, he’s the one who witnesses and documents their rise to fame. Although his career path appeared to focus more on digital marketing, the many contributing articles he wrote for the e-sports industry finally landed him the job that focused married his two passions: journalism and video games.

Despite the success of his work being hinged on how much and long he plays, Julian reveals that, especially as a dad, some changes had to be made when balancing fatherhood and his love for video games. The time you spend playing video games — mababawasan iyan talaga, he intimates. “Yung eight hours ka maglalaro, mababawasan iyon. Siguro ngayon, mga three, four hours lang for me. Pero part iyan talaga sa trabaho ko and swerte ako, na understanding yung misis ko.”

From Gamer Dude to Gamer Dad

There’s a common belief that video games are just for kids and when one becomes a parent, it’s time to bid goodbye to the laugh-filled nights spent playing with friends. Or, the adrenaline kick found in most competitive or challenging video games.

So when Julian found out he was going to be a dad at 24, it was quite a shock and surprise. A welcome one for sure but, like all the video games he played, he needed people to play the support role in navigating the new normal of being a parent.

“I know most people in our generation [the millennial generation] have kids when they’re older. And it was daunting,” he admits. “So I joined a lot of support groups. My parents, my friends, and even my colleagues were supportive in helping me figure things out.”

Some of those things that needed careful deliberation included balancing his time while making enough to support his family. As an e-sports writer, Julian was always on the prowl for the latest e-sports news on X (formerly known as Twitter). But with the e-sports industry climbing its fair share of obstacles, which heavily affected how much people were willing to pay for such profession, he had to make some adjustments.

However, the time spent balancing and answering the demands of his job and family is something he finds rewarding. “It’s scary, true. But as time passes by, it becomes even more rewarding.”

The Perks of Being a Young Dad

Although aware that securing family financials is every dad’s worry, Julian reminds that money shouldn’t prevent him from doing a parent’s bare minimum. “At least for me, the bare minimum of being a father is just to be there for your kid’s milestones. They look up to you; kasi everything we [parents] say, it’s Gospel Truth. Malaking bagay yung nakita nila andoon ka even for the small things – it builds up.”

Some of the little gestures include listening to his three-year-old daughter (turning four this November) Janna Sophia play CocoMelon’s songs for the umpteenth time, in spite of the crunch time. Or, while waiting in the official press and media area of major e-sports tournaments, he makes a quick ring especially when they take him out of the country. While many parents would lose their track of thought from the energy of the situation, Julian attributes his ability to focus to his youth and his days playing video games.

“Siguro if I were 30 or 40, parang mas mahirap to accept or tolerate what Janna likes. Especially kung di ka masyado tech savvy, akala mo lahat may some weird conspiracy stuff. Noong bata, we were already watching questionable stuff like Happy Tree Friends or something!”

For those who don’t know, Happy Tree Friends are shorts that showcase adorable creatures. But the joyful and seemingly innocent art hides the gruesome and blood-soaked ending.

“Plus, there’s all that energy,” Julian chuckles. “Yun yung advantage na kaya ko pa habulin anak ko.”

On holding off on dreams

But usually, with all that energy, millennials hold off having children to further their professional careers or academic attainments. It was no different for Julian Elona who admitted to wanting to take a master’s in education or marketing before he became a dad. And while having Janna may have caused a detour, he doesn’t mind the delay.

“It’s just a small hiccup. Pero alam ko naman at one point kaya once Janna’s older,” Julian chuckles, optimistic about upskilling. “It’s just a bit of a wait and if it’s for Janna, di naman problema yun. Besides, baka pati misis ko – baka gusto niya magsabay kami mag-Masters!”

He adds, laughing. “But yeah, mahirap din na I can’t really go out with friends, travel – medyo magastos mag-travel kung may dala kang maliit. Makulit pa sya [Janna]!”

How video games made him a better dad

Amid the deafening cries of all the damage video games do to people, Julian Elona reveals the patience that video games embedded in him. “Kung naglalaro ka dito sa Pinas, we know just how players always trash talk. And with that, you got to really keep your cool. Kind of like when Janna has a tantrum. No point in yelling, talk it out and do something.”

Some of the games he’s played such as League of Legends, Mobile Legends, and even DOTA2 are quite punishing when it comes to losing. Probably where he got most of his patience, he laughs. “But the one thing I had to unlearn from gaming also was the time spent. Kung andito na si baby, wala na yung oras. All gamer dads will know this.”

E-Sports: The New Wave of Athletes of Young and Old

Despite video games not looking as physically straining as traditional ones, the training is just as grueling, according to Julian Elona. These guys [the players] have personalities and stories too, he adds. “These guys live and breathe e-sports. The notorious 18 hours they play doesn’t mean they’re stuck doing the same thing. They train, learn about each other – e-sports, especially yung mga usual nasa tournament, kailangan talaga kilala mo yung kakampi mo.”

And while he is well-aware of how e-sports is not for the faint of heart, Julian stays for the love of video games. “People play video games to have fun, in general. Pero kung maglalaro ka lang for the glitz, glam, and money, mawawala din yung saya sa paglalaro.”

Even being the story-teller of this growing industry is quite the challenge as sometimes the call is outside of the Philippines. With e-sports tournaments held in Malaysia, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries, Julian relishes in the fact that most of the tournaments at least are held in places within the same timezone. However, he’s had to turn a few down in the name of family commitments.

“But I don’t regret turning them down,” Julian admits with a bit of snicker while glancing every so often at Janna who played CocoMelon’s songs again. “If you have a prior commitment, stick to it.”

The secret to parenting a gamer kid

A former gamer kid now dad, Julian Elona sees both sides of the situation. On one end, he knows that parents want the best for their kids by establishing a routine. But he also knows the frustration wherein a gamer kid needs to abandon a game (which the community considers as bad camaraderie regardless of reason) to respond to what their parents requested from them. These kinds of quarrels is what makes parent thinks that their kids are addicted to video games.

“But that’s the thing; it’s not addiction so long as they can balance it. Kung okay sila sa school o naglalabas every so often then, it’s okay,” Julian points out. “Besides, mas nakakasira yung pagyoyosi, drugs, or even alcohol. At least sa video games, it can be an avenue for other things: kungwari introvert anak mo, edi yung game magiging parang shield or bridge nila to talk to others. Pati hand-to-eye coordination – video games do have its benefits.”

Despite the fantastic effects and enthralling stories video games often market with, if there’s one lesson Julian’s learned from both fatherhood and gaming, it’s to be patient and respect the grind.

“It’ll be hard talaga. There are days parang ayaw mo na. Pero it’s rewarding in the end especially when you see that cute little baby,” he assures.

More about dads?

Benedict Cua: Welcome to Single Fatherhood
Oscar Oida: Fatherhood Made Him A Better Reporter
Jon Lucas: His Biggest Role As Dad