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(L-R) Pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, coach Vitaly Petrov, Emerson Obiena, and Jeanette Obiena during EJ Obiena's meet-and-greet at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, September 15, 2024. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

Pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, coach Vitaly Petrov, Emerson Obiena, and Jeanette Obiena during EJ Obiena's meet-and-greet at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, September 15, 2024.

Article (news)

EJ OBIENA

Camille Naredo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1726467794837091624_EJ fam.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="(L-R) Pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, coach Vitaly Petrov, Emerson Obiena, and Jeanette Obiena during EJ Obiena&#x27;s meet-and-greet at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, September 15, 2024. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">(L-R) Pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, coach Vitaly Petrov, Emerson Obiena, and Jeanette Obiena during EJ Obiena&#x27;s meet-and-greet at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, September 15, 2024. <em>Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Emerson Obiena was surprised to see the set up at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Sunday for an event headlined by his son, two-time Olympian EJ Obiena.</p><p>&quot;Actually, wala akong idea sa pinaplano nila,&quot; said the elder Obiena, explaining that his son&#x27;s manager and his daughter were at the forefront of the planning.</p><p>&quot;Pagdating ko kanina rito, sabi ko ganito pala kalaki tapos may program pala. Akala ko regular lang na magkikita, magpa-picture kay EJ mga fans niya,&quot; he said. &quot;Ang ganda, tapos meron pa siyang physical talaga na representation ng height na natalon niya. Nasa second floor, six meters.&quot;</p><p>The event was a celebration of EJ&#x27;s achievements -- making it to the six-meter club in pole vault, qualifying for the Paris Olympics, placing second in the World Championships, winning gold at the Asian Games. It also served as a fundraiser, as the younger Obiena wanted to donate pole vault pits all over the Philippines to encourage aspiring athletes.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/9/15/ej-obiena-focused-on-recovery-ahead-of-preparation-for-indoor-season-1654">READ: EJ Obiena focused on recovery ahead of preparation for indoor season</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/9/15/ej-obiena-aims-to-build-pole-vault-pits-to-help-future-athletes-1819">READ: EJ Obiena aims to build pole vault pits to help future athletes</a></div><p>&quot;We&#x27;ll be able to donate three pits all over the Philippines,&quot; EJ told reporters after the event. &quot;I&#x27;m not donating one in Manila anymore; we have enough here. At least equity-wise, I wanna do it in places where there&#x27;s really not a lot of facilities. That would change, I think, the grander spectrum of things.&quot;</p><p>In this regard, Emerson -- a former pole vaulter -- is on the same page as his son. EJ&#x27;s exploits at the international level has generated a wave of interest in pole vault, and the elder Obiena -- now a coach -- hopes to see more athletes follow in his son&#x27;s footsteps.</p><p>&quot;Andito si EJ sa ganitong level, maraming mga na-inspire na mga bata,&quot; he said. &quot;Maaga akong aalis kasi I have to attend &#x27;yung pole vault clinic for beginners. Ang daming gustong mag-try.&quot;</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3068824"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div><p>To see his son have such an impact is a source of pride for Emerson, who wryly notes that pole vault was a &quot;dying sport&quot; during his time. &quot;Ang hirap, kasi hindi siya ganoon kakilala, and kulang din kami sa gamit,&quot; he recalls. </p><p>As EJ grows in popularity, so has the sport. Even a heartbreaking result at the Paris Olympics -- where EJ placed fourth -- did not dampen the growing enthusiasm for pole vault. Indeed, Emerson believes that the setback in the Summer Games may have a silver lining both for EJ and for their event.</p><p>&quot;[I&#x27;m] very, very proud. I mean, even though hindi nakuha ni EJ &#x27;yung medal sa Olympics, parang mas lalo pa yatang dumami &#x27;yung nag-follow sa kaniya. Nakita nila kung paano talaga &#x27;yung pakiramdam ng nagsikap ka, ginusto mo, you failed, pero you try to stand up again,&quot; he said.</p><p>EJ&#x27;s considerable fanbase came out in droves during Sunday&#x27;s meet-and-greet, where the pole vaulter was also joined by volleyball superstar Alyssa Valdez, two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist for karate Jamie Lim, and Philippine women&#x27;s national football team captain Hali Long.</p><p>The turnout has given Emerson hope that pole vault is no longer a dying sport, but he also remains realistic.</p><p>&quot;Hopefully, sana ma-sustain namin,&quot; he said. &quot;&#x27;Yun ang ano ko. EJ is not gonna be there forever na maglalaro sa high-level meets. We need to find someone to follow his footsteps.&quot;</p><p>That the Philippines has the talent to produce more pole vaulters is of no question to Emerson. Even now, there are already promising vaulters in the pipeline, including Hokett delos Santos, the silver medalist in the 31st SEA Games behind EJ.</p><p>Emerson&#x27;s concern is finding more of them, encouraging them, and developing them.</p><p>&quot;Mahirap makipag-agawan sa ibang sport eh. Pagka-umabot na ng mga 5-7 yung athlete, nasa volleyball, basketball or ibang sport na &#x27;yan,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung generation ngayon, I would encourage them to try it, kasi right now, &#x27;yung facility and equipment-wise, hindi na tayo limited,&quot; he also said. &quot;So I would encourage them to try pole vaulting, and who knows? Baka umabot kayo ng Southeast Asian, Asian, or maybe world.&quot;</p><p>What will it take for an athlete to develop into a pole vaulter? Emerson listed the qualities he believes are needed: &quot;sprinter-type, jumper-type na may gymnastic ability.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Tapos siyempre, matapang,&quot; he added. &quot;Marami tayong Pilipinong ganoon. Kailangan lang natin bigyan ng pansin, alalayan, turuan ng maayos. &#x27;Yung support ang kailangan.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/8/28/ej-obiena-closes-2024-season-early-due-to-back-injury-1853">READ: EJ Obiena closes 2024 season early due to back injury</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_jK6jnuGsp0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>Emerson Obiena was surprised to see the set up at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Sunday for an event headlined by his son, two-time Olympian EJ Obiena.</p>

Emerson Obiena was surprised to see the set up at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Sunday for an event headlined by his son, two-time Olympian EJ Obiena.

As his son rises, Emerson Obiena keeps an eye on pole vault's future

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As his son rises, Emerson Obiena keeps an eye on pole vault's future

Camille Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 16, 2024 07:58 PM PHT

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