EJ Obiena nangiti nang usisain sa showbiz crush; FFCCCII nagbigay ng P6-M

SHOWBIZ KONEK
ni Maricris Valdez Nicasio

SIMPLE, mahiyain ang gold medalist na si   Ernest John “EJ” Obiena na nag-uwi ng gold sa katatapos na 19th Asian Games na ginanap sa China.

Puro ngiti at hindi makasagot nang uriratin ng entertainment press kung may showbiz crush ba ito at kung sakaling isapelikula ang kanyang buhay sino ang gusto niyang gumanap.

Ramdam din namin ang kabutihan ng puso ni EJ dahil agad nitong sinabing ibanahagi niya ang P5-M na  ibinigay sa kanya ng Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).

Ginanap ang turnover ceremony noong Martes ng umaga sa FFCCCII bldg  na bukod sa P5-M (tseke) na ibinigay kay EJ, nagdagdag pa ang dating President ng FFCCCII na si Ambassador Francis Chua ng P1-M. Kaya may kabuuang P6-M ang makukuha ngFilipino pole vaulter.

Kita ang buong pagmamalaki ng mga Filipino-Chinese businessmen sa karangalang ibinigay ni EJ sa Pilipinas.

Kaya naman ang ibinigay na P6-M ay pangdagdag sa budget ni EJ para sa gagawing paghahanda sa paglaban nila ng kanyang mga ka-teammate sa Paris Olympics 2024.

“The donation today is significant enough for me to be able to pursue and take the best options of me going to Paris. Thank you so much for everyone here,” natutuwang wika ni EJ.

“I just remember when I was driving a while ago, I remember walking the streets here… going back in high school, getting the signatures, did you remember?

“In school, so we wanna get the scholarships and discounts, we need to go in this building to have it signed. Yeah! I remember going here when I was a kid with my mom, and it brings back a lot of memories.

“And to give you a little bit of how far I’ve been and how far I’ve become, and I’m very proud of my roots and very thankful again to the position I’m in today because of everyone here,” sambit pa ni EJ.

Samantala, marami ang bumilib kay EJ na sa kabila ng challenges na hinarap niya ay nagtagumpay pa rin siya. Sabi  nga ni Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro ng FFCCCII, “During that time, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang training niya, ‘di ba? And that is very inspiring. Kahit na nahihirapan, kahit kulang na ang budget, tuloy pa rin.

“Ang pagsisikap, kailangan tuloy-tuloy. Bawal sumuko. Ang sumuko, talo. Ang hindi sumusuko, ‘yan ang mananalo. If you give up, that’s the end. You have to continue inspite of struggles, inspite of problems, inspite of difficulties. And that’s what EJ symbolizes.

“That’s why he continues to work, and he’s going back to Paris to work hopefully for the Olympic gold medal. Kakayanin niya ‘yan!” aniya pa.

Sabi pa ni Dr. Pedro, “He excellently personifies the ‘Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy’ spirit that cherises ethnic Chinese heritage and champions Philippine progress.”

Natanong din si EJ kung marami na siyang natanggap na offer para sa mga endorsement, “I’m an athlete, not a celebrity.”