By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Thanks to Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), Asian pole vault king EJ Obiena is getting richer.
A P5 million check was awarded to Obiena for winning a gold medal in the just-concluded 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio Pedro said the financial reward is for Obiena preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“EJ Obiena is our Filipino Chinese community’s contribution to the Philippines, exemplifying our being ‘Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy’ of cherishing our ethnic Chinese heritage and at the same time being full-pledged Filipino citizen helping Philippine progress,” Dr. Prado said during a simple ceremony at the FFCCCII Building in Binondo, Manila.
FFCCCII Honorary President Ambassador Francis Chu has also awarded Obiena with an additional P1 million to support his Olympics campaign.
Obiena couldn’t thank enough for the support he has been receiving and vowed to give his best to bring more accolades not only to the Filipino Chinese community but to the whole country as well.
Obiena has also received P3 million from his high school alma mater Chiang Kai Shek a few days back and P1 million each from CKSC alumnus Carlos Chan of Oishi and businessman and Quanzhou Philippines Association President Anson Tan.
Obiena won one of the country’s four gold medals at the Asiad with a record-breaking effort of 5.90 meters.
His win ended the country’s 37-year gold medal drought in the continental showpiece – with the late Lydia de Vega-Mercado being the last to win the