The Philippines’ top pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena expressed gratitude to the country’s top sports stakeholders as he prepares to unveil his best self by carrying the country’s flag during the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games.
“It is my pride and honor to be carrying our Philippine flag in the opening ceremony of the upcoming SEA Games in Hanoi,” said Obiena, no longer the combative type at the height of his conflict with the Philippine Track and Field Athletics Association.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the sports governing bodies of the Philippines for giving me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thank you @officialpatafa for your blessing to do this; Thank you @olympic.ph for your nomination and thank you @phil.sportscommission for your support,” added Obiena, who will be defending his golden title in the men’s pole vault.
Obiena acknowledged that he is “not just representing athletes, but over 100 million proud Filipinos.”
He is also thankful to Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz for her support. “Maraming salamat po ate @hidilyndiaz for guiding me and enabling me to have this opportunity. I am blessed to have such a humble role model to look up to.”
Diaz congratulated Obiena for the honor and assured him of her support.
Obiena will surely draw attention in the competition proper as he was formally included in the 49-man national squad after the successful completion of his mediation with his mother federation.
In a gesture of goodwill—and after Obiena apologized to the Patafa board of trustees, Patafa president Philip Ella Juico and all the athletes and coaches for certain actions and statements he made—the federation agreed to endorse him to various international competitions on a case-to-case basis subject to federation’s rules and regulations.
Obiena, the Asian record holder in the men’s pole vault event, also appeared more mentally prepared as his liquidation issue with the Philippine Sports Commission “has finally come to a close.”
Juico, as authorized by the Patafa board, formally transmitted their new entry by name list that includes Obiena and 4×100-meter relay member Kurt Baril to the Philippine Olympic Committee on April 8—a few days after the completion of the historic mediation brokered by Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, with the help of the Office of the Solicitor General and the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.
Aside from Obiena, other athletic stars like Kristina Knott, William Morrison, Christine Hallasgo, Aris Toledo, and Sarah Dequinan will all return to defend their respective SEA Games’ titles.
Toledo, a 27-year-old native of Nueva Ecija, will defend the decathlon title he won in 2015 in Vietnam and defended it twice in 2017 Kuala Lumpur and the 2019 Philippine SEA Games.
