GORGY RULA
Everybody loves a winner!
Hindi magkandauga sa pagpapa-picture kay Ernest John “EJ” Obiena ang mga dumalo sa luncheon presscon ng Filipino pole vaulter nitong Oktubre 10, 2023, Martes, sa FFCCCII Bldg., Binondo, Manila.
Madalian ang mediacon dahil may iba pang appointment si EJ, na gold medalist sa recent Hangzhou Asian Games.
Read: EJ Obiena, nasungkit ang unang gold medal ng Pilipinas sa 2023 Asian Games
Highlight ng pagtitipon ang ceremonial turnover ng PHP5M donation ng Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).
Bukod sa PHP5M check na ibinigay kay EJ, nagdagdag ang dating presidente ng FFCCCII na si Ambassador Francis Chua ng PHP1M para sa dagdag niyang budget sa kanyang training for Paris Olympics 2024, at para sa kanyang team.
Sobrang proud ang grupo ng Filipino-Chinese businessmen sa achievement at karangalang ibinigay ni EJ sa ating bansa.
Ang sabi nga ng presidente ng FFCCCII na si Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro, "He excellently personifies the 'Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy’ spirit that cherises ethnic Chinese heritage and champions Philippine progress."
Kasama ni EJ ang kanyang ina na kaagad na nagtago ng tseke ng pole vault athlete.
Pahayag ni EJ, “The donation today is significant enough for me to be able to pursue and take the best options of me going to Paris. Thank you so much for everyone here.
“I just remember when I was driving a while ago, I remember walking the streets here in a... going back in high school, so getting the signatures, did you remember?
“In school, so we wanna get the scholarships and discounts, we need to go in this building to have it signed.
“Yeah! I remember going here when I was a kid with my mom, and it brings back a lot of memories.
“And to give you a little bit of how far I've been and how far I’ve become, and I'm very proud of my roots and very thankful again to the position I'm in today because of everyone here."
JERRY OLEA
Paano ba mai-inspire ni EJ ang mga kabataan upang ma-achieve ang tinatamasa niyang tagumpay? Paano susundan ang mga yapak niya?
Pag-amin ni EJ, “I don’t really know. I don’t think there’s a speficic blueprint to… how do you say… just put someone there and become very successful.
“But if there’s gonna be an integral part, you need to be happy in what you do.
“You need to enjoy what you do, so that any hardship that comes your way, something you consider part of the game or part of your journey.”
Bukod sa matinding training na pinagdaanan ni EJ, hindi biro ang mga hinarap niyang pagsubok nang nasangkot siya sa negatibong isyu. Pero hindi siya natinag at patuloy lang siya sa pag-ensayo para mapatunayang kaya niyang magbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa.
Read: PATAFA committee recommends EJ Obiena's expulsion from PH team
Sabi pa nga ni Dr. Pedro ng FFCCCII, "During that time, tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang training niya, di ba? And that is very inspiring. Kahit na nahihirapan, kahit kulang na ang budget, tuloy pa rin, di ba?
“Ang pagsisikap, kailangan tuluy-tuloy. Bawal sumuko. Ang sumuko, talo, di ba? Ang hindi sumusuko, yan ang mananalo.
“If you give up, that's the end. You have to continue inspite of struggles, inspite of problems, inspite of difficulties. And that’s what EJ symbolizes.
“That's why he continues to work, and he's going back to Paris to work hopefully for the Olympic gold medal… Kakayanin niya yan!"
Hindi lang daw puwedeng sabihin ni EJ ang lahat ng mga ginawa niya para malagpasan ang hinarap niyang struggles bilang athlete.
“I was able to do it with a lot of people's help," dagdag niya.
Ano ang ine-expect niya sa Paris Olympics?
“I think wala po akong expectation. I have aspirations, I would say,” sabi ni EJ, na ang iniisip ay kung paano pa niya mapagbubuti ang kanyang performance at masungkit doon ang gold medal.
Sa Hangzhou, ano ang reaksiyon niya nang mag-cheer sa kanya ang 80,000 katao na karamihan ay Chinese, kahit pa kinatawan siya ng Pilipinas?
Sey ni EJ, akala niya ay ibu-boo siya lalo pa’t katunggali niya ang Chinese team.
“It was definitely opposite of what I expected. I was expecting boos, especially I was going toe-to-toe against the Chinese team,” pagngiti ni EJ.
“I was expecting a loud and long boo but it was totally opposite. There were lots of cheers, lots of positive energy.
“And for a moment in time, I think it was not about Chinese or Filipino, you know. It was whole Asia watching the best of Asian athletes compete.
“And I think that unifies the whole continent.”
NOEL FERRER
Napaka-humble ng 27-year-old athlete na ito na hindi raw niya itinuturing na isa siyang sikat na celebrity.
“I'm an athlete, not a celebrity," pakli ni EJ nang tinanong kung dumami ba ang mga endorsements niya pagkatapos niyang mag-gold sa 19th Asian Games at iba pang napanalunan niya.
Napapailing at natatawa na lang siya nang tinanong kung sinong artista ang gusto niyang gumanap sakaling isasapelikula ang kuwento ng kanyang buhay.
Lalong naningkit ang mga mata ni EJ nang tinanong kung meron ba siyang showbiz crush. Hindi siya talaga sanay sa showbiz.