SWIMMING ACE "HAROON CALI" Certified Dolphins!

Swimming Ace Haroon Cali
By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan

HAROON Cali, born in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to a civil engineer father Lominog Cali and midwife mother Bridget Dieto Caballero on May 16, 1987, was left to the care of his aunt in Iligan City a month after.

He realized that he wouldn't have gone to where he is now in the sport of swimming if not for Aunt Florita Cabalhin.

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"She is my inspiration. I started swimming when I was five. It was my cousin who encouraged and taught me to swim. My aunt, who is the older sister of my mom, enrolled me to a swimming lesson when I turned six so I can engage into competition," he reminisced.

He said Aunt Flori accompanied him wherever he competed. It may be in the Batang Pinoy Games, Mindanao Friendship Games, Palarong Pambansa or in any other local or regional meet.

But Ronz's aunt died of stroke in 1997. It was also the year that he missed action in the Palaro.

"I didn't compete in the Palaro that year because there was no one who could be with me. My aunt had been very supportive since I learned the sport. She took good care of me and encouraged me to practice more and achieve my goals. I loved her so much and her husband, too. They're my parents here while my real parents worked abroad," he told this writer.

He said it was only in 1997 that his parents, who worked in Saudi for about 15 years, came home and decided to settle in the country for good.

All grown-up

I remembered seeing Ronz for the first time in one of the Mayor's Cup Age-Group Swimming competitions held at the Ladislawa Country Club in Buhangin.

I also saw him during the first MFG in Tubod, Lanao del Norte in 2001 where he won a bronze medal for Iligan. He also recalled seeing me at the revival of the Bimp-Eaga Games in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan in 2003.

But I was surprised to see him all grown-up and more confident in Iloilo City during the National Prisaa Finals last year.

He even grew taller than me. Argh! When before we just see eye-to-eye, now I really have to look up when I talk to this five-foot-seven young man.

Time may have changed Ronz' many features and outlook in life, but he remained friendly, accommodating and you can say that again, bubbly! He never runs out of things to say.

The eldest in a brood of three, Ronz will soon march the aisle with a degree in Bachelor in Secondary Education-Mapeh at the University of Mindanao.

"I took BSED major in Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health because I know that my abilities and capabilities are more on bodily-kinesthetic which means I'm more inclined to physical activities. I love to swim, dance, choreograph and teach other people. I get to share my skills and at the same time earn money. I think this is the only course that can help me achieve my goals and ambitions in life," he said.

He will soon graduate but not without an honor or legacy to leave his alma mater and Davao City, which he considers his second home.

Reaping honors

Ronz first competed in a local event in the "City of Majestic Waterfalls", - Iligan - in 1996 where he won a silver medal.

He then competed in a regional meet in Cotabato City where he brought home two silvers and one bronze. But he failed to win any medal in the Palaro held the same year.

"It was only in the 2003 Palarong Pamabansa in Lanao that I finally won a gold medal. I bagged five golds and two silvers. I felt very happy because I achieved one of my ambitions in life," he said.

He got into the UM swimming varsity team through the help of Coach Denis Beciera.

He continued, "I was offered a class A scholarship so I accepted. I joined the team because I wanted to experience the life of being away from my parents and they also supported me."

The Ian Thorpe fan shared that with his scholarship, he enjoyed 100 percent free tuition, sports uniform, good training and dormitory.

Among his other exploits were the 2002 Milo Little Olympics Most Outstanding Athlete award in Cagayan de Oro and 2003 Palaro most outstanding athlete award in Lanao.

He captured gold medals in the 4th Bimp-Eaga Games in Malaysia, 2006 National Prisaa in Dagupan and 2007 National Prisaa in Iloilo.

His one gold and two silver finishes in the 2008 National Prisaa in Zamboanga City and one gold in the National University Games in Bacolod earned him the So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation Most Oustanding Male Swimmer Award.

He received the award at the Grand Regal Hotel on July 22.

Ronz said he could never imagine not being in sports.

"This is where I made a name for myself. I toured different places for free. I also earned money and got to college without paying any amount. I gained a lot of friends and I've helped my parents. Sports gives me a healthy lifestyle," he added.

His greatest dream is to compete in the Olympics - a dream of every athlete.

Five years from now, Ronz sees himself as a good model PE teacher, aerobics instructor and swimming coach