By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

INDISPUTABLY, Filipinos’ top 20 favorite sports nowadays are basketball, boxing, volleyball, pool (billiards), football, our national sport called sepak takraw, badminton, lawn tennis, golf, chess, volleyball, cycling, running, table tennis, taekwondo, kickboxing, shooting, bowling, archery and the newest e-sport. Obviously, pole vault is less-known among us Filipinos (including myself) not landing in the top 20. But I guess not anymore, with the sudden rise of our national pole vaulter named Ernest John (EJ) Obiena

Yes, I was impressed initially by his accomplishment – winning twice the coveted gold medal in the 2015 and 2019 Southeast Asia Games (SEA) in Singapore and Philippines, respectively.  (His first international stint was a failure in 2013 SEA Games held in Myanmar placing only fourth to miss the podium stand).  From thereon, things were going up for Obiena winning the gold medals in the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships in Qatar, U.A.E. and also the Universiade Games in Naples, Italy in the same year.

Fresh from his 11^th place finish in the just concluded Tokyo Olympic Games last month won by world veteran Armand Duplantis of Sweden, Obiena, journeyed to Europe two weeks after the quadrennial meet and competed again against some of his Tokyo co-Olympians. Officially invited to join the 2021 Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria, the 25-year-old six-foot-two gangly Tondo, Manila-born Obiena, surprised everybody (including this writer) when he leaped 5.93 meters to win the gold medal last September 12 to the delight of the cheering crowd, majority of whom were our overseas Filipino workers. Not only that, he also erased a seemingly unbreakable Asian pole vault mark 5.92 meters established by Igor Potapovich of Kazakhstan in 1992 held in Dijon, France. Obiena’s recent remarkable feat has assured him of a berth in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Obiena’s trip to Europe was financed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) under the leadership of chairman Butch Ramirez, and also supported by Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) Sports Foundation. And before that record-breaking achievement, Obiena participated first in Paris, France and won silver for his record 5.91 meters, was fourth in Zurich, Switzerland with 5.83, fourth again in Berlin, Germany with 5.81, fifth in Lausanne, Switzerland with his lowest 5.52, and tenth in Brussels, Belgium, the lousiest of his six stints in Europe with 5.65. His effort catapulted him to No. 5 from No. 6 in the world rankings. It was reported from televisions and newspapers that Obiena will receive P1.5 million for surpassing the Asian record in Paris and another P250,000 for resetting the Philippine mark in Innsbruck. Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Phillip Juico promised to continue supporting Obiena financially thru PSC in all his overseas endeavors especially his training and competitions until the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Obiena is the first Filipino given a scholarship by the world governing body the International Athletic Association Federation (IAAF). After those six outdoor battles in Europe, Obiena aims to compete this time at the World Indoor Championship next month to be hosted by Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

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There’s a sports bill filed by Deputy House Speaker Eric Martinez of the Second District of Valenzuela City for the establishment of the Philippine Olympian Memorial. The bill aims to honor, immortalize and commemorate the Filipino Olympians who performed with distinction in their chosen sports in Olympic Games. If this bill successfully passes, I’ll doff my hat to Cong. Martinez. I’m confident the bill will be approved.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. MATTHEW 7: 21

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