Small world, big dreams.
Dreamers have carved paths that led them to compete on the same court, field or pool.
But more than a place of competition, those paths led Clara Yzabela “CY” Delos Santos and Aubrey Tom to a new home.
Tumbles and turns
Entering the University of the Philippines (UP) had been a long-time goal for CY since she was in elementary school.
Preparing for her UP Varsity Swim Team (VST) debut, the record breaker’s plans required her to enter new territories.
Before swimming for the Maroons, the breaststroker planned to begin her journey as an Iskolar ng Bayan in high school. However, after the Palarong Pambansa in May 2019, her dream took a pause as the UP Integrated School (UPIS) VST was no longer recruiting then.
That was when she decided to move to Manila and don España’s yellow and white.
The then-University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigershark bagged a total of three UAAP records when she competed in the girls’ division for Seasons 86 and 87 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
She broke the record for the 50-meter breaststroke in the preliminaries and, along with her three teammates, shattered records in the 4×50-meter medley relay and the 4×100-meter medley relay.
But these titles did not stop her from moving to Diliman for college. These achievements did not anchor her in place.
Instead, the 5-foot-3 sprinter moved to Diliman to pursue the dream she once put on hold – suiting up for UP.
“Before pa kasi, I want to go to UP na talaga. ‘Yong sa parents ko naman, no’ng sinabi ko na I want to go to UP, they agreed naman,” the State U rookie told Tinig ng Plaridel.
This Season 88, she added two more UAAP records to her name, shattering the records for the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and the 4×50-meter freestyle relay with three of her fellow maroon swimmers.
READ: UP VST, TFT add to UAAP 88 medal haul
Before the UP College Admission Test and UPVST results were released earlier this year, CY left the Marikina Poseidon Swimming Club — her nest since she was seven — and joined the Rising Atlantis Swim Club (RASC), which is led by UPVST coach Marichi Gandionco.
Training under coach Marichi gave her a glimpse of the UP swimming environment.
Apart from the new setup, the Iska from the Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT) met fresh faces — batchmates and teammates — that gave her the motivation and home she needed to adjust.
“The way they welcomed, parang feel ko nasa UP na ako [before] eh,” she said. “I was like training here sa UP pool [and] training here sa Celeb [Sports Plaza], parang feel ko [I] belong talaga here.”
And indeed, she belonged.
Amid the accolades, CY admits there were pressures and jitters she had to overcome.
“[Nandoon] ‘yong pressure, ‘yong kaba, ‘yong mentality kung paano mo ‘to io-overcome […] pati na rin overthinking eh.”
But the journey she’s been through, from transferring schools and clubs, has brought her a system ready to carry her feet whenever they felt heavy.
“The way [how] I overcome the fear, the pressures and everything, parang every time na nararamdaman ko ‘yon, andyan ‘yong teammates ko for me,” the 17-year-old swimmer said.
That shared support system in and out of the pool sparked comfort and friendship within the team, even between teammates who had once been elementary-school rivals.
Lighting up the lane
Despite coming from different schools and teams, batchmates CY and Aubrey had known each other way back since they both competed in the same tournaments, such as the Batang Pinoy Nationals and Palarong Pambansa.
It was not until this year that they started racing for the same squad when CY joined RASC, the team Aubrey had been with since UAAP Season 85.
Hailing from Cainta, Aubrey started training with the Cainta Alpha Dragons at age five and remained with them until she transferred to coach Marichi’s team in late 2022.
The all-rounder has been leaving a trail of maroon-tinted accomplishments since 2019, when she was crowned Rookie of the Year in the juniors division of UAAP Season 82 and had a full-circle moment this Season 88, bringing home the same award for the women’s division.
Since then, she’s been living her dream: venturing from UPIS to UP Diliman. “UP was really my plan talaga ever since I was a kid. [It] was always UP.”
Despite dreaming with her eyes open, the college atmosphere as a landscape architecture major added some weight.
The 5-foot-1 swimmer faced tough battles with her schedule, as far as going days without sleep, working on her plates and then plunging straight to training in the morning.
“I’m someone with a strong mind pero that really tested me kasi super pagod,” Aubrey shared. “I don’t mind ‘yong physical pagod, but mentally, emotionally, ‘yon talaga, super draining niya.”
But more than the dawn, it was her team and batchmates who brightened her days, especially as she navigated the struggles in her first three months as a freshman.
“I’m dorming here in Acacia so I’m with some of our batchmates. They really helped throughout my UAAP preparation. Sometimes, sila pa ‘yong nagsasabi sa’kin na huwag ka mag-training, matulog ka na lang’,” the rookie shared.
Apart from the comfort of friendship, Aubrey repeatedly highlighted her value for family, saying she was lucky to have them close by.
“I’m quite lucky na my family is there na I can go home when I need them kasi malapit lang sila sa’kin,” she said.
Exiting the season with memorable performances, the swimmers welcome a period of recovery as no major preparation will be in the works for a while — a new routine they need to get used to.
CY and Aubrey have been through a cycle of preparation for swimming tournaments all year-round since elementary school, making this break period feel unfamiliar but well-earned.
“Pahinga talaga, so medyo naninibago [ako] na I can rest,” Aubrey shared.
The maroon youngsters add the extra to the ordinary by being student-athletes who overcome challenges while fully embracing the life that comes with it.
“It’s hard to separate swimming sa outside swimming,” Aubrey said. “It’s a part of me, hindi mo na siya mahihiwalay.”
CY and Aubrey’s journeys have etched honor and excellence into their name. But more than the prestige, the home they feel from the people around them is etched into their hearts.
Their stories show how an athlete can stretch their journey and how the long course can be worth taking.
