Ni NOEL ABUEL
Inihain sa Kamara ang resolusyon na magbibigay ng pagkilala kay pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena sa pagbibigay karangalan sa bansa sa pagkapanalo ng makasaysayang bronze sa 2022 World Athletics Championships at pag-angat sa number 3 sa world rankings sa pole vault.
Ayon kay Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando “Rolan” Valeriano, si Obiena ang nagiging inspirasyon ngayon ng mga kabataan dahil sa husay at galing sa pole vault.
Nabatid na si Obiena ang natatanging Filipino at nag-iisang Asian na nanalo ng medalya sa track and field at athletics competition sa 2022 World Athletics Championships sa Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Maglinis ni EJ ang 5.94 meters, at nasira nito ang sariling Asian, national, at personal record na 5.93 meters.
“EJ once said that he hoped to inspire his fellow youths of Tondo, where he is from. He wants them all to dream, and go after this dream, for anything is possible through hard work and grit,” sabi ng mambabatas.
“The truth is that EJ is a real inspiration, not just to us from Tondo, but to all of us Filipinos This outstanding athlete, who is not just a world class pole vaulter, but a person of unparalleled compassionate character,” dagdag pa ni Valeriano, ang chairman ng House Committee on Metro Manila Development.
Nauna nang naghain si Valeriano ng resolusyon sa House Committee on Youth and Sports Development para magsagawa ng imbestigasyon sa umano’y harassment laban kay Obiena ng Philippine Athletic Track and Field Association (PATAFA), ang kanyang sariling National Sports Association (NSA).
Ang noo’y presidente ng PATAFA na si Philip Juico, ay inakusahan si Obiena ng palsipikasyon ng mga dokumento ng liquidation at hindi pagbabayad sa kanyang coach na itinanggi ni Obiena at ng kanyang coach ang mga paratang na ito, na napatunayang hindi totoo.
“I am very happy that the unwarranted distractions are now gone and EJ was able to put such an absurd issue behind him. I am very honored to know a generational athlete like EJ. I hope that our country will be able to have more EJs. Someone who we would truly foster and support. Someone who would not be bothered anymore by endless bickering and politicking of some NSAs,” paliwanag pa ni Valeriano.
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