ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA ended his four-week vacation on Friday but not without an important and memorable courtesy call on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Malacañang.
President Marcos heaped praises for the world No. 3 and Asian record holder, who’s bound to return to the world pole vault center in Formia, Italy, to plunge into a two-month spartan-like training as he tries to secure a ticket to his second Olympics in Paris 2024.
“From your President and I think from the rest of the Philippines, we are so thankful to all what you’ve done, for bringing honor,” President Marcos told Obiena. “I think that is the greatest tribute that you can give—the greatest service as an athlete now is to bring honor to the Philippines.”
Obiena was all smiles during the brief meeting with the President whom he presented his world championship bronze medal he clinched in Eugene, Oregon, last July. The President obliged and did a mock medal ceremony for the 26-year-old from Tondo.
Marcos also told Obiena to do well and qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics Games.
“We look forward to the Games in Paris, I hope you do well,” President Marcos said. “If there’s anything that we can do to help you to get a beautiful result, just tell me because I know how important that is.”
“So thank you very much and I congratulate not only you, but also those who have supported our champion,” he added.
Obiena waa accompanied in Malacañang by his father Emerson, sister Emily and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Noli Eala and Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy.
Obiena arrived with his girlfriend, German long jumper Caroline Joyuex, last September 15 and made the most out of the vacation, his first since the December 2019 Southeast Asian Games where he won gold.
Joyuex returned to Germany last week to attend to her own training but managed to visit several of the country’s pride, especially the captivating beaches of Palawan and island vacation paradise in the Visayas.
Obiena flew to Italy via Qatar Airways early evening Friday and waiting for him in Formia is his legendary coach, Ukrainian Vitaly Petrov.
Perhaps it’s a vacation hangover, but Obiena admitted he’ll love to return to training a day after arriving in Formia.
“Most probably the next day, we will start training, but I hope not,” said Obiena, who’ll gear up for indoor competitions in the winter. “Probably I’ll be competing in January for the indoor season, but there’s no fix date so far on how we plan to attack the season.”
Image credits: Malacañang