“He is truly the pole-vault king of Asia – Philippines’ star athlete EJ Obiena wins Asian Games pole vault with games record,” wrote Agence France Presse (AFP) journalist Andrew McKirdy. “Congratulations, EJ, on clinching our first gold in men’s pole vault at the 19th Asian Games!” President Bongbong Marcos tweeted.
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) led by President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro expressed congratulations for the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games and the country’s first ever Asiad track and field gold in 37 years won by Ernest John “EJ” Uy Obiena (whose Chinese name 蔡華強 is pronounced as “Chua Hua Kiong” in Hokkien, Minnan or south Fujian province language and “Chai Hua Chiang” in Mandarin) on September 30, 2023 at the packed 80,000-seat, lotus-inspired and high-tech Hangzhou Olympic Centre Stadium in Hangzhou City, China.
Thunderous applause as Philippines shattered Asiad pole vault record
EJ Obiena said: “What a way to conclude this amazing season. Jumping in front of a thunderous-synchronized claps of 80,000 people in a breathtakingly beautiful Hangzhou Stadium was more than enough to blow my mind and unquestionably register a core memory. What a privilege it was to deliver the country’s first gold in the 19th Asian Games and break the Championship Record.” The thunderous applause and cheers of the Chinese crowd at the massive stadium for the Philippines’ Asian Games record-breaking pole vault win of EJ Obiena showed that sports promotes goodwill and Asian solidarity, a positive sign for continued Philippines-China friendship.
FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio Pedro said that like the Federation’s Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs nationwide in its 170 chambers and diverse business organizations from Aparri to Tawi Tawi, EJ Obiena and other Filipino Chinese athletes competing to bring honor to the Philippines, they exemplify what he describes as “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy” or ethnic Chinese who cherish their cultural heritage and also at the same time are full-pledged Filipino citizens helping Philippine progress.
EJ Obiena is alumnus of Chiang Kai Shek College, a school good in Chinese-language classes and teaching Confucian moral values, also the alma mater of civic-spirited philanthropists FFCCCII Chairman Emeritus Lucio Tan of Tan Yan Kee Foundation, late George S.K. Ty of Metrobank Foundation, late Henry Sy, Sr. of SM Foundation, Oishi snacks/Liwayway Group founder Ambassador Carlos Chan (who in 2019 alone had donated 100 public schoolbuildings to rural areas of the Philippines through FFCCCCII’s philanthropic “Operation Barrio Schools”) and Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee Foundation.
FFCCCII, PCCI, ECOP support Philippine team in Hangzhou Asian Games
Good luck and support for the Philippine team of athletes to the Hangzhou Asian Games were expressed by FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro at the September 15, 2023 Pandesal Forum at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City, a week before the grand opening rites of the Asiad.
Dr. Pedro also sent his best wishes to host city Hangzhou of China for the success of the Asian Games, which hosted a record 12,400 athletes from 45 nations competing for 481 gold medals in 40 sports. Aljazeera reported: “The Games are bigger than the Olympics when it comes to the number of athletes and sports—and this year’s competitions is billed as the biggest in history”.
Dr. Pedro’s other co-speakers were Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr. and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George Barcelon. They all manifested strong support for the Filipino athletes.
Biggest ever & most high-tech Asiad opening ceremony
POC President Bambol Tolentino said that he hopes the Philippine team shall exceed the four gold medals in the last Asiad, and that he expects Hangzhou City and China shall stage a “spectacular and amazing Asian Games” because he said that’s how the Chinese nation usually stages international events.
Indeed, the high-tech, stunning Hangzhou Asian Games’ opening rites in the mega stadium marked the richest and most skillful use of augmented reality in history, shedding spotlight on the sustainable and digitally enhanced future of such gala events, according to the creative team.
Even though Chinese civilization invented fireworks thousands of years ago for celebrations, this historic use of stunning digital fireworks “showed fireworks could be a thing of the past” according to British newspaper “The Guardian”. Chinese organizers used digital fireworks for environmental sustainability. The stadium’s lotus design was inspired by Hangzhou City’s world-famous scenic West Lake and its lotus blossoms.
Futuristic performances combined with dazzling, ancient cultural performances to showcase not only the progress of beautiful city of Hangzhou, but also the epic socio-economic transformation of China into the world’s No. 2 biggest and still dynamically growing economy.
More than 4 Golds goal & better Philippines-China friendship at Asiad
POC president Bambol Tolentino said the Philippine sports delegation to the Asian Games in Hangzhou City will be 396 athletes, and he has high hopes that the country can surpass the previous performance of 4 gold medals in the last Asian Games.
Tolentino praised China’s preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games, saying he expects it to be “amazing and spectacular” because that is the way they usually host and organize events. He added, the famous Italian traveller Marco Polo described Hangzhou City as “Paradise on earth”.
Mayor Tolentino added that despite recent territorial disputes between the Philippines and China, he hopes the host shall treat Filipino athletes with fairness. In a positive sign of goodwill promoted by sports, the jampacked stadium filled with a huge Chinese crowd cheered on Filipino athletes like EJ Obiena.
Philippines-China sports cooperation, Hidilyn Diaz was aided by China coach
ECOP President Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr., PCCI President George Barcelon and FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio Pedro all expressed high hopes that Philippine athletes will do well in the sports competitions and that better friendship between the Philippines and China can be promoted due to this Asian Games, especially since China is the country’s No. 1 trade partmer.
The business leaders said the Asian Games is good opportunity to foster friendships among Asian countries, especially between the Philippines and host country China.
Barcelon cited the Philippines’ first ever Olympic gold medal winner weightlifting athlete Hidilyn Diaz’s 2020 victory with big help of her China coach Gao Kaiwen, which Barcelon cited as “a good example of fruitful Philippines China cooperation”. Gao had been coaching Diaz since 2018 before her historic Olympic win. Barcelon said sports is one area where the Philippines and China can have good cooperation.
As proof that sports is non-political and helps foster friendships, the Taiwan delegation was greeted by thunderous ovation by the Chinese crowds and applauded by leaders led by President Xi Jinping during the Hangzhou Asian Games opening ceremony. The Philippine delegation was also enthusiastically applauded and welcomed.
Nelson Mandela once said “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair.”