EJ Obiena through the eyes of his father Emerson: From jumping for toys to competing with the big boys in the Olympics

EJ Obiena is once again on the biggest stage of sports as he will compete in the men's pole vault finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics early Monday.

Obiena, now Asia's best and the world no. 2 in his sport, traces his roots in pole vault to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, where his father Emerson also spent most of his time as an athlete.

Emerson was also a national team athlete in pole vault and represented the Philippines in tournaments such as the Southeast Asian Games in 2007.

"Nagsimula siya as tag along lang. Pagkatapos ng trabaho, magkikita kami ng wife ko sa Rizal Memorial. Hinihintay nila ako matapos mag-ensayo. 'Yun na rin yung Luneta nila eh," Emerson told GMA News Online on the sidelines of Philippine Airlines' send off for athletes back in June.

"Pagkatapos ko mag-ensayo, minsan 'yung bata (EJ), makikita ko na hinahawakan din 'yung gamit ko, parang ginagaya ako. Tinry ko ipasubok sa kanya. Hinawakan ko 'yung kamay niya, binitin ko siya sa pole, tapos binato ko siya sa kutson. Nagustuhan niya, ulit daw ulit. Ganun lang nagsimula ‘yun."

[He started as a tag along. After work, me and my wife would meet at Rizal Memorial. They would wait for me to finish training. That was their Luneta… After training, I would sometimes see my kid touching my equipment, copying me. I let him try it. I held his hand, I let him hang on the pole and I threw onto the cushion. He liked it and wanted to do it over and over. That’s how it started.]

What was once playtime for the father and son tandem eventually became a part of their routine as the young EJ would also want to get more toys after practice — perhaps, an early sign of how focused EJ could be on his goals.

"Nung lumalaki na, mga 8 years old, binibigyan ko ng… EJ ito, pagkatapos ko mag-ensayo, try mo talunin ito. 'Pag natalon mo ito, mamaya dun tayo sa fast food, 'yung may laruan. 'Yun ang premyo niya. Every time matatalo niya personal best niya, looking forward to that.

“Literally, tatalon siya para doon sa food and sa toys.”

[When he was growing older, around 8 years old, I would give him rewards like ‘EJ after your training, try to jump this. If you can clear this, I’ll take you to the fast food restaurant later, the one with the toy.’ That was his reward. Every time he would beat his personal best, he’ll be looking forward to that… Literally, he would jump for the food and toys.]

Jumping to greatness

However, more than the rewards and the time Emerson and EJ spent on the track, what the older Obiena saw was how his son really enjoyed the sport.

"Nage-enjoy siya, gusto niya 'yung pakiramdam 'yung tinatapon na papunta siya sa kutson.”

[He enjoyed himself, he really liked the feeling of being thrown onto the cushion]

Now, Emerson said his Olympian son has already surpassed what he has previously wished for EJ and for Philippine pole vault.

"Nalagpasan niya expectations ko. Ang pangarap ko lang talaga sa sport namin, magkaroon ng atleta na at par, at least world class," Emerson said.

"Umabot ng Olympics, bonus na sakin 'yun. 'Yun lang target ko. Di lang siya at par, naging competitive pa.”

[He has exceeded my expectations. My wish for the sport was to have an athlete at par, at least world class. Making the Olympics, that was just a bonus for me. That was my target. He’s not only at par, he became competitive, too.]

With a medal within reach of EJ's hands — or maybe his poles — Emerson prays that his son's sacrifices would eventually bear fruit.

"Hopefully, 'yun talaga dinadasal ko kasi matagal din na panahon 'yung hinihintay niya. He sacrificed na malayo sa amin para sa Olympics na ‘yan."

[Hopefully, that’s what I’m praying for because he has waited for this for so long. He sacrificed to be far away from us for the Olympics.]

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However, it is not only EJ who is sacrificing for his Olympic dreams.

His family as well has been sacrificing time away from their son, but Emerson understands why it is needed to be done.

"Siguro ako medyo nasasanay na ako (EJ being away), pero 'yung wife ko, minsan sinasabi niya inagaw ng sport 'yung kabataan ni EJ, 'yung oras niya bilang nanay na makita 'yung bata na lumaki. Naiintindihan ko 'yun, ganun din siguro sa'kin pero siguro, alam kong gusto ng anak ko 'yung ginagawa niya, pangarap niya ‘yan."

“Nandito lang kami. Hintay lang kami. Kung dumating 'yung time, mag-catch up din kami para sa mga panahon na hindi kami nagkasama.”

[I guess I’m getting used to EJ being away. But my wife, she sometimes says that the sport robbed EJ of his childhood and her time as a mother to watch her child grow up. I can understand that, I feel the same, but I know my son wants to do what he is doing, this is his dream… We are just here. We will be waiting. When the time comes, we will catch up for all of the time that we were not able to be together.]

Just hours away from competing with the big boys of his sport, EJ, hopefully, returns to the Philippines with a medal in hand — and comes home to his family to share some happy meals.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News