EJ Obiena named flag-bearer for Team Philippines in 31st SEA Games

  • Page Views 690
  • OLYMPIC pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has been named Team Philippines’ flag-bearer for the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam.

    Obiena and Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz were both nominated by the Philippine Olympic Committee for the honor but the organizers deemed that only one athlete can be given the honor. Diaz supported Obiena’s selection, saying that the latter is the “story of every Filipino athlete who fights to bring home pride and glory to the country.”

    “I’m very happy to see EJ as our flag bearer for Team Philippines,” said Diaz, who, like Obiena, will defend her weightlifting gold medal in the postponed Games from last year. “I’m happy for him and the rest of the Philippine delegation. I will support him.”

    “There could only be one flag bearer for each country. We nominated Hidilyn and EJ, but it was turned down,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said. “Like Hidilyn, EJ has all the qualifications to be our flag bearer.”

    Obiena is favored to win a SEA Games gold medal. He won gold in the 2019 Philippine Games with a commanding leap of 5.45 meters and since then, has set the bar higher to a new Asian men’s record of 5.93 meters he set last year in Innsbruck, Austria, last year.

    “It’s an honor,” Obiena said. “I was heading home after training here in Formia [Italy] when I received the message.”

    As flag bearer, a big responsibility comes with the honor. But Obiena said he’s ready for the challenge.

    “All I can do for now is to train harder and be better, and smarter,” the 26-year-old Obiena said. “I really want to defend my SEA Games title.”

    The 6-foot-2 pole vaulter is one of 656 athletes who will be defending the country’s grip of the overall championship in the Games that Vietnam is hosting for only the second time since 2003.

    The hosts programmed 40 sports—the Philippines is competing in 39 of them—which they intend to dominate. But Tolentino is undaunted.

    “We are fielding a fighting team,” Tolentino said.

    Team Philippines will fly to Vietnam in batches with the main bulk set to leave on May 10, two days before the opening ceremony. The Games end on May 23. (JNP/ sunstar Cebu)

     

     

    CAPTION: Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena was named Team Philippines’ flag-bearer for the 31st Southeast Asian Games next month in Vietnam. (EJ Obiena Facebook page)

    Share

    New Posts Recently publish post More

    • 02 June 2023
      1 day ago No comment

      1 million Filipinos in Canada to mark heritage month in June

      It’s June, and it’s Filipino Heritage Month across Canada. The community has grown over the years, and Filipinos now number close to one million.Based on Statistics Canada projections, Filipinos are expected to number over two million across Canadain 2041. The 2021 Census established that a total of 957,000 people ...

    • 01 June 2023
      2 days ago No comment

      B.C. promotes equity with anti-racism research priorities

      VANCOUVER – The Province takes another step improving access to government programs and services for Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities, with the release of 12 priorities for anti-racism research. Seven research priorities were put forward by the provincial Anti-Racism Data Committee. Indigenous Peoples recommended three research priorities and two ...

    • 01 June 2023
      2 days ago No comment

      Filipino Musicians on Stage at Pinoy Festival Burnaby

      “Magmula no’ng ako’y natutong umawit, naging makulay ang aking munting daigdig…kay ganda ng ating musika Ito ay atin, sariling atin at sa habang-buhay awitin natin!”. Maestro Ryan Cayabyab wrote masterful lyrics and a melodic tune that continues to characterize OPM (Original Filipino Music) ever since it’s debut in the ...

    • 01 June 2023
      2 days ago No comment

      1 million Filipinos in Canada to mark heritage month in June

      It’s June, and it’s Filipino Heritage Month across Canada. The community has grown over the years, and Filipinos now number close to one million. Based on Statistics Canada projections, Filipinos are expected to number over two million across Canada in 2041. The 2021 Census established that a total of ...

    • 25 May 2023
      1 week ago No comment

      Parliamentary secretary’s statement on Anti-Racism Awareness Week

      Mable Elmore, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives, has released the following statement in recognition of Anti-Racism Awareness Week: “Anti-Racism Awareness Week, from May 22-26, 2023, is an opportunity for British Columbians to learn about B.C.’s diverse culture and history, and to consider how they can help fight discrimination, racism ...

    %d bloggers like this: