WORLD No. 5 pole vaulter Ernest John (EJ) Obiena has every reason to be motivated and inspired after settling his row with Patafa in a mediation process spearheaded by the Philippine Sports Commission recently and named by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as the country's flag bearer to the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
He received the news while heading home after his training in Formia, Italy.
“It is my pride and honor to be carrying our flag in the opening ceremony of the upcoming SEA Games in Hanoi," EJ posted on his Facebook on Monday, April 18, 2022.
The POC nominated him and Tokyo Olympics women's weightlifting gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz, as flag-bearers but the organizers, however, maintained that only one athlete can be given such an honor.
Hence, EJ became the sole flag-bearer. He thanked the sports governing bodies in the country for giving him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Patafa for its blessing, POC for the nomination, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the support.
He also thanked his 'Ate Hidilyn' for guiding him and enabling him to have the rare opportunity.
"I am not just representing athletes but over 100 million proud Filipinos," EJ said.
The six-foot-two athlete is expected to defend his gold medal in the Hanoi Games, which he won in the 30th edition held in the Philippines in 2019 with a 5.45-meter mark. He also raised the bar with a new Asian men's record of 5.93 meters that he set in Austria last year.
He also won a silver in the Perche Elite Tour in Rouen, France in March 2022.
Why make an issue of him being named as a flag-bearer when even Hidilyn doesn't mind at all. She even said she's happy for EJ and the Philippine delegation. After all, Hidilyn already experienced being a flag-bearer during the 2012 London Olympics and it will be EJ's first time.
The Olympic champion even said that EJ is the "story of every Filipino athlete who fights to bring home pride and glory to the country." We have all been witnesses to how EJ fought for his slot in the national team with the much-publicized dispute he earlier had with Patafa.
Can we not just be happy for our new flag-bearer? Can we just be at peace now that our 656 SEA Games-bound athletes are ready to show their wares and fight for the flag and country in Vietnam?
Comparing athletes on who is more deserving to become a flag-bearer should not even be an issue at all.
Let's just build up our athletes instead of crushing their spirits with unnecessary intrigue or controversy. That's not the call of the hour. We need to unite to boost the athletes' morale. Please let's spare them any more cause for stress and worry as they focus on their training.
Congrats, EJ! We look forward to seeing you march and wave our red-white-and-blue flag with pride.