EJ Obiena receives House commendation for global win

Ernest John Obiena reacts as he competes in the men’s pole vault final during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest on August 26, 2023. (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines–The House of Representatives extended its heartfelt commendation and congratulations to Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Uy Obiena for clinching the silver medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

This official acknowledgment came via Resolution No. 1255, which received unanimous support in the House.

Describing Obiena, the lower chamber heralded him as a “Filipino Olympian and internationally renowned and multi-awarded pole vaulter.”

They noted that Obiena “steadily ascended and reached the standard to qualify for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary by perfecting his pole vaulting skills and showing exceptional progress after finishing with a bronze medal during the previous World Athletics Championships held in Oregon, United States of America.”

Notably, Obiena was cited as the “only Filipino to stand on the medal podium of the 2023 World Athletics Championships.”

The resolution further celebrated Obiena’s string of victories in various international competitions, from gold medals in the Bergen Jump Challenge, the Orlen Cup, the Perche En Or indoor pole vaulting match, to the True Athletes Classics.

His achievements in the Internationales Stabhochsprung Meeting, the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, the Orlen Copernicus Cup, and a second Orlen Cup were also emphasized.

A pinnacle moment in Obiena’s career was highlighted when he set an Asian record during his first-place finish at the International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria in 2021.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan, Senior Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos, and Tingog Party-list Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre were all credited as the authors of the resolution.

The resolution also lauded Obiena as one of the “three distinguished members of the world’s exclusive six-meter club in pole vaulting.” The authors expressed their pride in his continuous achievements and commended him as a beacon of inspiration for the Filipino youth and the broader sports community.

“Dominating the international competitions in the field of pole vaulting, the performance par excellence of Ernest John ‘EJ’ Uy Obiena deserves the highest commendation and distinction for the honor and glory he brought to the country,” the authors emphasized.

In a gesture of recognition, the House will be forwarding a copy of the resolution to the esteemed Filipino pole vaulter.