THE hearts of Sisi Rondina’s parents, Arnold and Alona, swell with pride as their daughter turns her dreams into reality.
Back in their humble home in Cebu, the graduating University of Santo Tomas star started out in volleyball with one goal in mind - to earn a little amount of money to support her sisters’ school allowance.
Sisi recalled how her father would be against it at first.
“Si Papa nagagalit nga dati sa volleyball ko kasi hindi na ako umuuwi sa amin,” she recalled. “Kasi ako sa sarili ko, ‘yung volleyball dati, source of income ko eh kasi wala naman kaming pera ‘yun na ang pambaon ko sa amin magkakapatid.”
Fast forward to present, Arnold admitted he regrets not supporting Sisi right from the start.
“Oo noon sana hindi ko na lang pinigilan,” he said. “Kasi akala ko ano eh, maliit lang siya tapos akala ko hindi [niya kaya] pero ganyan pala siya [kagaling].”
“Gustung-gusto niya talaga abutin ang pangarap niya mag-volleyball kaya sabi ko sa kanya dati maliit lang, ‘wag na, tama na, kasi sobra sobra na ang practice niya sa volleyball,” he added.
In the past five years that Sisi has been in Manila, she has won four beach volleyball titles in the UAAP and a couple more in the Philippine Super Liga and PSL beach volleyball and her stints in the commercial leagues has helped her family buy a house in Compostella, Cebu.
“Totoo ‘yun eh kasi ‘yung bahay namin nipa hut lang ang bubong tapos kapag umuulan tumutulo,” said Arnold.
“Sabi niya, ‘Pa, nasa Manila na ako makakabili na tayo ng bahay, mapapalitan na natin ‘yung [bahay natin], hindi na kayo matuluan ng tubig ng ulan,’” he added.
The 46-year-old father of four couldn’t contain his emotions, his eyes glistening with tears of joy seeing how Sisi has made such an achievement.
“Masayang-masaya, sobrang saya. Hindi ko mapigilan ang emotion ko. Parang naiiyak ako sa [tuwa], naabot niya ito,” he said.
Being away from Sisi, Alona admitted that they had no idea that she is a big star in Manila.
In fact, they only rely on what they see on the news and read online.
“Sa Cebu kami so hindi namin gaanong alam ang nangyayari sa anak namin, nababasa lang namin. But even though nababasa namin feeling namin sikat na rin kami,” said Alona with a giggle.
Alona also revealed that although she was a former volleyball player and Arnold used to play basketball, Sisi is far more talented than they were.
“Nag-mana siya sa aming dalawa ng Papa niya,” she said. “High school pa lang ako volleyball player din ako, libero ako. Hindi ako pareho ni Sisi na lumilipad. Sa high school lang ako, hindi na ako nag-college dahil sa kahirapan.”
The Rondina family led by Arnold, Alona and their three other children, Christina, Karen and Criselda, flew to Manila on Tuesday to watch Game Two of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament, thanks to the efforts of the UST community.
It will be the first time for the Rondina family to watch Sisi play live.
“Napakasaya na nakarating kami dito para sa Game Two niya, sinabi na niya na hindi talaga kami makakapunta dahil nga sa financial [reasons]. Pero sa tulong ng Thomasian community lahat nagtulung-tulong maraming-maraming salamat talaga,” said Alona.
“Kaya nga andito kami kaya hindi ko akalain talaga na tinupad niya ‘yung sinabi niya,” said Arnold.
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