By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
One of EJ Obiena’s dreams is coming to a reality.
This, after the two-time Olympian announced that a new pole vaulting facility will be unveiled on Nov. 22 at the Marcos Stadium in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
“I am so excited for this and make the sport more accessible to our young Filipino talent,” Obiena said on a social media post late Monday, Nov. 11, adding that this is just the first of the many new facilities he plans to build for the future of the sport in the country.
He also disclosed that he will be flying from his training camp in Formia, Italy to kickstart the event, where there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a coaching clinic and a pole vault seminar “to kickstart and create a sustainable program for the region.”
The event is open to the press and public.
Obiena admitted that while he dreamed of winning an Olympic medal for the country, he also hoped that more Filipinos would discover and get into the sport of pole vault.
“I believe this is an Olympic sport Filipinos can excel in. We can be globally competitive year after year,” he said.
“My dream is (that) the Philippines being a global force in pole vault doesn’t end with me. It continues on for generations to follow,” he added.
To achieve this, Obiena said the country needs facilities particularly in far-flung regions. He cited the example of Hokket delos Santos, a 20-year-old rising star from Ilagan, Isabela, who captured the silver medal in last year’s Southeast Asian Games.
“What if he did not have access to the facility? We would not have won that medal,” Obiena said.
He added he can make that happen by raising money for new facilities in the provinces, and thanked the support of his team to make this giant leap possible.
“To my partners, Puma, LeGarde, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitals, VISA and Ayala Malls, (thank you) for empowering this dream of mine. Special thanks to Porsche Design, Allianz, Milo, Summit, Rebisco and Puregold. Last but not the least, thank you to everyone who have been following and supporting me, bid on the auction back in 2023, bought PUMAXEJ shirts and donated to this cause,” Obiena said.
