It wasn’t an easy trek, really.
It’s not exaggeration to say that every Filipino parent puts a premium on education, sometimes even at the expense of their child’s dreams.
Sports? It’s just another hobby that won’t help you go places.
World-class pole vaulter EJ Obiena went through a similar plight early in his career.
“Being from an Asian country, education comes first. Being a Filipino-Chinese that’s a big deal,” Obiena said in a video posted on Thursday by Track & Field Weekly on Instagram.
In the same interview, the former UST student-athlete shared pursuing pole vaulting was an argument between him and his parents back then.
“Then suddenly I decided to leave the scholarship that I had in a prestigious university to take a leap of faith,” he said.
He added: “After busting my knee, I get why my parents didn’t like it and I understand why that time it was an argument.”
He soldiered on nonetheless.
Fast forward to today, Obiena, who recently won a third straight Southeast Asian Games gold medal, is one of Philippine sports prized gems. He has risen to no. 3 in pole vault world rankings.
A few days ago, he made history after leaping over 6 meters in the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway.
“I think I made my point when I said I’ll regret it if you (parents) stop me. I’ll be angry for the rest of my life for not being able to know if i could,” he said.
Like some of the country’s sporting greats, Obiena is another proof that that if you pursue something, there’s a big chance you can make it. If you didn’t, well, at least you got to try.
(GM)