Coined as the last frontier of the Philippines, Palawan also has its fair share of talents that were graced by the creativity of God. One of which are the three Palawenos who comprise the National University – Men’s Volleyball team for the upcoming 20th ASEAN University Games to be held on July 26-August 6 at Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.
The two out of the 15-man preliminary pool of the team are Clarenz Belostrino (20) and Michaelo Buddin (20).
On their early days
Growing up, Clarenz, the Palaweño setter of the team, recalled where his passion for playing volleyball had stemmed, saying that it was mostly because of the influence of his two older brothers.
“Volleyball player po kasi yung dalawa kong kuya, so parang na-enganyo na rin po akong mag-athlete, tsaka mag-volleyball po. Dun na po nagsimula lahat. Kaya simula elementary po hanggang ngayon, naglalaro ako,” he said.
As for Michaelo, playing as an open spiker for the team, said that he was introduced to the sport through his father who was also a veteran to the sport during his early days.
“Habang nagkukwento po siya nung mga na-experience niya before, na-inspire po akong maglaro po. Sinabi ko, “Yung mga di mo naabot (na pangarap), ako na lang yung mag-aabot, magpapatuloy ng mga pangarap mo dati,”” said Michaelo.
Aside from spiking, the two told the news team that they were both inclined into playing various sports before, other than what they are playing today: Michaelo used to play table tennis and basketball, while Clarenz used to soar in badminton.
Michaelo shared his district meet experience when he was still playing in his hometown at Mangsee, Balabac. During that time, they had a district meet with only a few sports events that the students may join in. As a 7th grade student, he was pulled to play table tennis and volleyball. Unfortunately, his table tennis event was canceled due to their zone’s lack of budget for the rest of the activities on the meet. Given the chance to still be able to play for his latter sports, Michaelo recalled his approach to his then coach in volleyball who had also allowed him to enter the list of spikers after a few days.
After a couple of months of training for the said meet, Michaelo felt dismayed to be set aside from the game, leaving him to only watch the game throughout the event.
“Nung nag-district meet na po kami, ang nangyari po, syempre, nagtraining ka ng ilang buwan, pinaghandaan mo yun ng ilang buwan, tapos na-bangko ka lang po dun ng ganun-ganun lang,” he said.
“Nung na-bangko po ako dun, yun po yung parang naging motivation ko po na, “Sige, ipagpapatuloy ko yung volleyball. Ipapakita ko sa inyo na may mararating ako dito kahit na ganun yung nangyari sakin,” said Michaelo.
Playing for 8 years now, Michaelo was seen on MIMAROPA meet back in 2019, escalating to Palarong Pambansa in the same year, then being recruited to play for the Bulldogs years after.
For Clarenz, 11 years into spiking, he expressed his gratitude upon being recruited to play as a Bulldog back in his 8th grade, for which he was also seen with potential during a MIMAROPA meet. However, a student-athlete coming from a province is also partnered with sacrificing time being with their families.
Leaving hometown for dreams
Although Palawan almost has it all–from sumptuous delicacies, great hospitality from its residents, feasible day and night life, plus, its alluring natural beauty–it is still inevitable for one to go out of their comfort zone and leave the province to escalate life’s slow burn and search for what their future holds in other places. Being a Palaweño with high hopes and dreams, Clarenz and Michaelo took their chances to soar high in Manila.
In the interview, Clarenz said that he thinks it had always been a volleyball player’s dream to be able to play for the National University since the Men’s Volleyball are often than not champions during the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) games.
“Siguro po pangarap lahat ng mga volleyball player mapunta sa NU. Lagi po kasing nagchachampion sila (Men’s Volleyball) sa UAAP. Sobrang hirap (din) pong iwan ang Palawan, lalong-lalo na yung family ko po dito. Sobrang lungkot po tsaka mahirap pong mag-adjust sa Manila,” said Clarenz.
Michaelo also furthered Clarenz’s response and added that on the first days of his recruitment to NU, he first felt indecisive on what to do, and seeked advices from his parents on whether he would take the offer or not, considering that he will be far from his safe haven for long.
“Sobrang tagal kong naging undecided po sa gagawin kong desisyon kasi syempre gusto ko po kapag nag-decide na ako, as in buong-buo na po yung loob ko. Nanghingi ako ng advice sa parents ko kung maganda ba siya or dapat bang ituloy ko siya,” he said.
“Hindi po talaga ako sanay na mahiwalay sa magulang po, kaya nung sinabi nila sakin na, “I-try mo lang like 1 year. Kapag di mo na kaya, balik ka lang dito, pero kapag na-try mo, magustuhan mo, malay mo magtuloy-tuloy,” Michaelo added. He also strengthened his statement by saying that.
Inspirations along aspirations
Clarenz and Michaelo were also vocal about their favorite volleyball players who are mostly alumni of the MVT of National University.
“Yung former setter po ng NU, yung alumni po namin, si kuya Vince Mangulabnan po. Then yung mga coach po namin ngayon, si Coach Jessie and si Coach Dong po,” said Clarenz, adding that his Coach Jessie also plays as a setter for the upcoming SEA Games and his Cong Tong, also a setter for the Philippine Team for volleyball.
On the other hand, Michaelo became ecstatic about sharing his inspiration in playing–another former player of the NU Bulldogs, Bryan Bagunas, who also plays abroad as an open spiker.
Being able to play out of their comfort zones have molded them both to grow gratitude within their hearts for people who have helped them to establish the path that they are on right now. The setter and open spiker firstly conveyed their credit to God who sees everything from above, who have helped them to humble themselves enough to continuously play for years now.
“Unang-una po, thank you sa family and kay Lord, pati na rin po sa mga sumuporta po samin simula pa nung una. Syempre po yung nagbigay po ng opportunity samin—yung NU po, and yung coach ko po,” Clarenz declared.
“Siguro kung wala po sila, wala po ako ngayon sa kinakatayuan ko. Ngayon pong college, yung coaches po namin na nag-tiwala po saming i-line up po kami sa ASEAN po,” he said as he ends his statement.
Being a rookie for this year, Michaelo could not briefly discuss how he is more than appreciative to be on this year’s line-up for the ASEAN University Games, giving sole credit to his parents who have supported him since day one of taking the path on his university of today.
“Syempre po, sa mga tao na naniniwala po sa skills na meron ako, and sa mga coaches ko po sa Palawan, and sa mga coaches rin po namin ngayon sa college po kasi grabe po yung tiwala nila samin,” Michaelo shared.
“Sakin po, as a rookie, first year pa lang po, pero binigyan na agad ng ganitong opportunity na ma-line up po agad. Sobrang pasalamat po sa kanila sa tiwalang binigay nila sa akin,’’ he added.
The ASEAN University Games 2022
About four months from now, we are yet to see another set of our own who will be paving the province’s name on greater heights. Both of the spikers are doing self-preparation to be conditioned in the upcoming games, aiming to not only give pride to their university but mostly to the place that they grew up in.
After all, it is within our great pride to be able to see one of our own to soar in the international scene, right?