How My Mom Reacted When I Chose Esports — K1ngKong
On social media, Mobile Legends pro King Perez, aka K1ngKong, doesn’t just call his mom by name. He calls her Mother Earth. It’s a playful nickname, but one that reveals the closeness they share — a bond built on trust, affection, and years of quiet support behind the scenes.
“Para siyang best friend ko na babae,” K1ngKong tells ALL-STAR. “Nasa point kami ng relationship na wala akong ikinahihiyang i-open up sa kanya. Kahit anong kwento, kaya kong sabihin.”.
Their connection runs deeper than the usual parent-child relationship. Zayfrin Perez has been K1ngKong’s sounding board and moral compass, especially in moments when the pressure of pro play weighs heavily on him. Her advice? Simple, but powerful.
“Dalawa ang pinakamahalagang payo niya,” K1ngKong shares. “Una, kahit anong mangyari, maging mabait sa lahat ng tao. Pangalawa, maging humble lang palagi.”
Respect and humility—values she taught not through speeches, but through constant reminders and example. “Naniniwala rin siya na pag humble ka, mas maluwag ang pagdaloy sa ‘yo ng blessings,” he adds.
It’s the kind of life wisdom no coach can teach. While coaches focus on strategies, his mom helps him deal with the emotional weight of wins and losses.
“Kapag tungkol sa game at talo kami, sasabihin niya, ‘Tapos na ‘yon. Mag-focus ka na lang sa next game,’” he recalls. “Siya ang nagtuturo sa akin ng acceptance — hindi lang ng talo, pero ng buhay.”
That mindset has helped K1ngKong stay grounded. “Yung pagtanggap nila ng talo, nakaka-affect sa akin in a good way,” he says. “Nase-center ako. I’m reminded to look forward to what else is in our control.”
“Ako nang bahala sa Papa mo.”
Zaifrin’s support didn’t always come easily. When he first told her he wanted to pursue esports, Zaifrin had reservations.
“Noong una, hindi siya sure kung papayag siya,” K1ngKong admits. “Nag-usap kami tungkol sa mga possibilities. Eventually, na-convince ko siya.”
What followed was a turning point — not just for his career, but for their whole family dynamic. “Oo, si Mommy yung unang pumayag,” he says, laughing. “Siya kasi yung pinaka sobrang malambot sa akin.”
In fact, she took it upon herself to convince his father. “Ako na bahala sa Papa mo!” she told K1ngKong — a promise that she would make sure he got the support he needed to pursue an esports career.
K1ngKong’s parents—Roderick and Zayfrin—never miss a match. They are always at the MPL venue, throwing their support to their son whose esports career they didn’t believe in at first.
Now, every time K1ngKong steps on stage—lights blazing, fans roaring, pressure mounting—it’s not just the hours of grind or the strategies in his head that carry him. It’s the quiet strength of a mother who chose to believe.
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