From gaming to martial arts: Xericho's father-son bonding

CEBU CITY, Philippines — If you’ve gone to any gaming or hobby events in Cebu, chances are you’ve seen Xericho Monte de Ramos.

From event organizing to participating in live action role-plays (LARP), Xericho would be there. He probably had his hand in making most events possible, but he also participates just as a guest from time to time.

As active as he is in community building and engagement, Xericho is also a father. As such, for this Father’s Day 2026 Tech INQ feature, we interviewed him on how his hobbies brought him closer to one of his sons.

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Xericho’s bonding through games

Xericho got into gaming early, recalling how it was a huge part of his childhood. Coincidentally, his youngest son picked up the same hobbies and interests as him.

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“I’ll talk about my youngest son because he’s the one who naturally gravitated toward a lot of the same interests I had growing up,” Xericho said during the interview.

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Back in his younger years, Xericho enjoyed fighting games such as Mortal Kombat and King of Fighters, games that his son enjoyed as well.

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“Gaming is still one of the easiest ways for us to bond,” Xericho shared. “We play together, talk about games, compare favorite characters, and sometimes I get to introduce my youngest son to games I grew up with.”

In fact, as fighting game enthusiasts, Xericho and his son both took up martial arts as a hobby.

“Martial arts became another special connection,” Xericho confessed.

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“There’s something rewarding about sharing not just the activity but also the process behind it. Learning discipline, dealing with frustration, improving little by little, and celebrating progress together,” he added.

How Xericho Discovered Games

“I grew up playing whatever I could get my hands on and eventually explored almost every genre,” Xericho discussed when asked how he got into gaming.

“But, action and fighting games really became my thing,” he emphasized.

What Xericho loved about fighting games like Mortal Kombat King of Fighters were the characters themselves as well as the learning curve that comes with mastering the games.

“I loved the characters, learning moves, competing with people beside you on the same screen, and that feeling that if you practiced enough, you improved,” Xericho said.

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Besides fighting games, Xericho would also dabble in strategy games, as it gave him a different kind of bliss. The happiness one is rewarded for planning, creativity, and thinking ahead.

More than entertainment, Xericho is grateful for the connections video games bring, being able to find his first real friendships.

“Before social media and online communities became normal, games were where I met people, stayed after school, visited arcades, and learned how to connect with others through a shared interest,” he explained.

As he got older, Xericho’s interest in games eventually evolved into his other hobbies, combining creativity, community building, and creating experiences.

In fact, he’s got so many hobbies that range from sketching with Urban Sketchers Cebu, toys with Toys and Figures Convention Cebu, event organizing with MainQuest Cebu, and many, many, many (it’s not even enough ‘manys’) more.

“Looking back, a lot of those hobbies started from the same place: games taught me that stories become more meaningful when you experience them with other people.”

How to be a Gaming Dad

“Today my gaming habits changed more than disappeared,” Xericho explained how his attention is now directed to other things. He said that he still enjoys games but his preference now leans more toward single-player experiences.

“I enjoy good stories, memorable worlds, and games that let me slow down and appreciate the experience,” he clarified.

That said, becoming a father meant that he could share his hobbies in life to his son, which includes his passion for fighting games and its related hobbies.

“Becoming a father changed a lot of how I experienced my hobbies. Things I originally enjoyed for myself slowly became things I could share,” Xericho stated.

“Seeing him discover both gaming and martial arts feels special. It doesn’t feel like passing down hobbies as much as sharing experiences.”

Although both he and his son bond through games, Xericho does not force his interests to his son.

“He has different games, different influences, and his own preferences. I don’t really force hobbies on him. I just try to expose him to things and support whatever genuinely excites him.”

Xericho’s advice for other dads

For Xericho, it’s all about the time spent together doing something a father and their child mutually loves more than the activities themselves.

He does give a word of caution, though, for fathers wanting to introduce their hobbies to their child.

“Share your hobbies without trying to recreate yourself through your kids,” Xericho shared. “Invite them into your world. Let them see why you love something. But also let them enjoy it in their own way,” he further explained.

He then cited his personal experience as an example.

“If you love games, play with them. If you train, let them join. If you create communities or events, let them see the people and experiences behind them,” Xericho said.

“Kids don’t always remember the exact game, tournament, or activity years later. But they remember that their parent made time for them,” he explained.

Looking back on his journey, Xericho’s fondness for video games was the common thread connecting every chapter of his life.

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“For me, games gave me my first friendships. Action games led me into martial arts. And now both have become ways to spend meaningful time with my son.”