EJ Obiena at ang mga opisyal at miyembro ng FFCCCII
PARATING nakayuko at tila hiyang-hiya ang gold medalist sa katatapos lang Hangzhou Asian Games na si Ernest John “EJ” Obiena nang humarap kahapon sa ilang members ng media.
Obviously, hindi pa talaga sanay ang Filipino athlete sa pagharap sa press people pero in fairness, game na game naman siyang nakipag-selfie sa mga entertainment ditors and reporters.
Naganap ang presscon ng Filipino pole vaulter kahapon, October 10, sa FFCCCII Bldg., sa Binondo, Manila, kasabay ng ceremonial turnover ng P5 million donation ng Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).
Bukod sa P5 million (tseke) na ibinigay kay EJ, nagdagdag pa ang former President ng FFCCCII na si Ambassador Francis Chua ng P1 million. Super proud daw ang Filipino-Chinese businessmen sa karangalang ibinigay ni EJ sa Pilipinas.
Ito’y pangdagdag daw sa budget ni EJ para sa gagawin niyang paghahanda paglaban niya at ng iba pang members ng kanyang team sa Paris Olympics 2024.
Mensahe ni EJ sa natanggap na “regalo,” “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,” pahayag ni EJ na kasama pa ang kanyang ina sa nasabing event.
Natanong si EJ kung paano ba niya mai-inspire ang mga kabataan para magtagumpay din lalo na ang mga nais sumunod sa kanyang yapak.
“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,” paliwanag ng binata.
Marami ring bumilib kay EJ dahil sa kabila ng mga challenges na hinarap niya ay nagtagumpay pa rin siya. Sabi 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!” aniya pa.
Sabi naman 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.”
Sa question naman kung marami na ba siyang natanggap na offer for endorsements ngayong gold medalist na siya ng Asian Games, “I’m an athlete, not a celebrity.”
Napangiti at napailing na lang si EJ nang matanong kung sinong celebrity ang gusto niyang gumanap kung isasapelikula ang kanyang life story. Hindi rin niya sinagot kung meron siyang crush sa showbiz.