Fil-Am Wong dreams of swimming for RP

GARAPAN, Saipan — Filipino-American swimmer and CNMI 2008 Athlete of the Year Rezne Wong hopes to represent his parents’ home country of the Philippines someday. The 18-year-old envisions himself improving his times and eventually making the Philippine national swimming team after college. Wong will be red-shirting for the University of Hawaii-Manoa swimming team this coming school year following his graduation from Marianas High School. “I want to have that Philippine flag on my uniform one day. I want to represent the Philippines after college. It is a long way to go, but it’s never too early to have dreams," he said. Wong added that representing the Philippines would not only be a great honor but also will be a new experience for him. “To be on a team with dedicated and talented Filipino athletes is something that I never experienced in all my years competing in sports. I have always been on a team with Americans, Japanese, and Chamorros. It would be a great honor to represent my home country alongside fellow Filipino athletes," he said. Wong’s father is Ely Thomas C. Wong of Mahayag, Zamboanga, Del Sur and his mother is Emelita San Jose Wong from Bocaue, Bulacan. Pinoy at heart Wong said while he was born and raised on Saipan, the capital of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, he is Filipino through and through. “I am just a Filipino growing up in an American culture on Saipan. I am also one-fourth Chinese but I didn't have much Chinese influence. I am Pinoy because that's what I am, and I am proud to be one. Although we are all just people, God gives each person a genetic heredity, and we have to accept it with gratitude." Wong said he has been to the Philippines a total of eight times. The most memorable of which was the time his entire family went to Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. “Before most of my cousins were married or preoccupied with other activities." The next two trips, however, were not as happy. He went back to the Philippines in 2005 when his grandmother died and again last year when his grandfather passed away. Potential University of Hawaii-Manoa swimming head coach Victor Wales believes Wong has a great chance of eventually making the Rainbow Warriors team. “I really appreciate the effort Rezne has made to become a better swimmer. Many times it’s an athlete’s work ethic that ultimately decides whether they will be successful or not. I'm hoping that once Rezne is put into a situation where training times, facilities, competition and coaching are readily available, he will be able to improve at a rapid rate," he said. Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association (NMASA) Hall of Famer and Saipan Swim Club co-founder Bill Sakovich recommended Wong to Wells and he too believes his former ward has the potential to compete in Division I. “Rezne used to be skinny and a short little kid and he was pretty good for his age group. But he has really shot up and really blossomed. He’s got the potential. Nothing against his current coaches, but I think he has the potential swimming in a more competitive environment," he said. Sakovich likens Wong to his own son, Jonathan, who was part of Guam's Olympic swimming team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics in Korea. “My son was good down here but he wasn’t great. That’s the case with Rezne right now. I’ve talked with the UH-Manoa coach several times. He (Wong) could’ve gotten a smaller scholarship from a couple of other schools, financially wise but it was cheaper to go to Hawaii. Because of his persistence, the coach said, ‘OK, look I will give you the opportunity.’ He’s never done it before. He never had a walk-on. But because of Rezne’s persistence Victor gave him the chance," he said. Wong plans to enroll at the marine biology program of UH-Manoa. The Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan stalwart also intends to minor in Athletic Training and Digital Arts. – GMANews.TV