THE “Smiling Demon,” a world champion, and a witty, hilarious troll to both fans and haters—that’s how fans have come to know Aurora Gaming PH’s star jungler, Cedrix “Demonkite” Caranto.
But behind the persona who never fails to make people laugh is a devoted father—one who has worked tirelessly over the years, making countless sacrifices, even if it means missing precious moments with his family.
So how does Demonkite navigate life as a professional player while embracing his role as a father?
So Close Yet So Far
Demonkite’s family lives in Quezon City, not too far from Aurora’s bootcamp in the Pasay area—just on opposite sides of Metro Manila—yet it still feels like worlds apart.
As much as he wants to go home, spending time with his family isn’t always possible due to the demands of being a professional player—long practice hours, scrimmages, and a packed schedule, especially with MPL Philippines Season 17 already in full swing.
During a highly competitive season, time is a luxury.
With daily practices and match days, being physically away from his loved ones comes with the job. Still, Demonkite bridges that gap through simple video calls whenever he can.
“For example, ngayon, MPL or kung may paparating na international event, siyempre magpapaalam ako nang maayos, and then bumabawi ako sa video call kasi kapag nami-miss nila ako or nami-miss ko sila, laging tumatawag. Communication lang talaga, kasi kapag nako-communicate ko nang maayos sa fiancée kung ano ‘yung mga mangyayari, nagiging okay naman,” Demonkite said in an exclusive interview with SPIN.ph.
It’s a routine familiar to many professional players—quick check-ins, late-night calls, and stolen moments of connection in between a demanding schedule.
Maintaining communication is a shared effort, and Demonkite’s fiancée fully understands the demands of his career while offering unwavering support.
“Pagdating sa family, walang masyadong problema, kasi ‘yung fiancée ko nire-respect niya talaga ‘yung nature ng work—busy man ako sa pag-stream, during game days, or practice, hinahayaan niya lang ako,” he explained.
The Cost of Chasing Greatness
Over the years, the 23-year old jungler has learned how to manage the distance from his family—but one thing still weighs heavily on him: missing the precious growing moments of his one-year-old daughter, Celynn.
As his child grows, so do the demands—requiring more support, more care, and more moments filled with love, patience, understanding, and, above all, a father’s presence.
“Mahirap din kapag nalalayo sa kaniya. Kapag may international tournament mahirap sa pakiramdam,” he expressed.
Demonkite, together with Aurora Gaming PH, spent nearly a month in Indonesia for the M7 World Championship earlier in January—and it wasn’t just the pressure of competition that tested him, but the emotional toll of being away from his family and his beloved daughter.
The pursuit of greatness demands sacrifices—especially the time spent away from loved ones—a price Demonkite continues to pay.
Who Is Demonkite as a Father?
Behind closed doors, when the roar of the crowd fades, who truly is Demonkite as a father?
“Maalaga, masipag, and loving,” Demonkite answered confidently.
For him, nothing compares to coming home to a child who greets him with a bright smile—a powerful reminder of the purpose behind all his hard work and sacrifices.
“Kapag umuuwi ka, makikita mo ‘yung big smile ng baby mo. Sobrang nakaka-motivate. Parang araw-araw gugustuhin mo palaging bumangon kasi makikita mo siya,” he said.
Whenever his demanding schedule allows him to be with his family, Demonkite makes it a point to give them his full, undivided attention.
“Kapag nagse-spend ako ng time with them, talagang naka-focus lang ako sa kanila. Hindi ako nagpo-phone or wala akong ibang ginagawa,” he explained.
In a world where he is celebrated as a champion, a top-tier professional player, and a personality admired by many, Demonkite finds his greatest role not in the Land of Dawn—but at home.
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