The House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon unanimously adopted House Resolution (HR) 317 honoring pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Uy Obiena for bringing pride and glory to the Philippines.
Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, and Tingog Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre commended Obiena, world’s No. 3 vaulter, for winning the gold medals in the 26th Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting in Jockgrim and True Athletes Classic 2022 in Leverkusen, both in Germany.
“Resolved by the House of Representatives, to congratulate Ernest John ‘EJ’ Uy Obiena for winning the gold medals in the 26th Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting held in Jockgrim, Germany and in the True Athletes Classics in Leverkusen, Germany. Resolved, further, that a copy of this Resolution be given to Ernest John “EJ” Uy Obiena,” the resolution reads.HR 317 was adopted in consolidation with HR Nos. 103, 105, 123, 131, 138, 147, 207, and 246.
The lawmakers lauded Obiena, a Filipino Olympian and Men’s Pole Vault record holder, for his remarkable contributions in bringing honor to the country.
“The exemplary performance of Ernest John ‘EJ’ Uy Obiena in pole vaulting deserves utmost commendation and distinction for the honor and glory he brought to the country,” the resolution said.
“With his string of accomplishments, EJ’s feat is one of the greatest in Philippine athletics’ history, and underscored the kind of dizzying heights the country has achieved in pole vaulting,” according to the resolution. “He is set to compete again in various events, and with his hard work and determination to be the best male pole vaulter, success is within his reach.”
On August 23, 2022, Obiena won the gold medal in the 26th Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany.
In a span of five days, EJ Obiena won another gold medal during the True Athletes Classics 2022 in Leverkusen, Germany on August 28, 2022.
In the 26th Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting, Obiena kicked-off his seven-meet stretch by clearing 5.81 meters and beating 10 other competitors, including second placer Christopher Nilsen of the United States, who cleared with 5.71 meters, and Kurtis Marschall of Australia, who earned the third spot with the same height of 5.71 meters.
During the True Athletes Classics 2022, Obiena won thru countback after clearing the bar at 5.81 meters to finish ahead of Rutger Koppelaar of the Netherlands and Kurtis Marschall of Australia.
Aside from bagging the gold medals, the pole vaulter also reached the standard to qualify for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
From his historic bronze finish in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States of America, Obiena rose from number 6 to number 3 in the men’s pole vault ranking, and still number 1 in Asia.