IT WAS an ordinary yet eagerly anticipated day for two longtime security guards stationed at the University of Santo Tomas’ engineering building.
Elmer Vea and his partner Joevie Lumontod knew that EJ Obiena—the pride of UST and Asia’s top pole-vaulter—would visit the campus. But the itinerary was already set: just a quick visit.
The security guards did not expect Obiena to stop by the Fr. Roque Ruaño Building, the place they have looked after for about two decades. But a surprise visit will always come with surprises, this time in the form of a familiar figure with a steady stride approaching from behind.
Vea, 44 years old, blinked, momentarily caught off guard. The figure smiled—warm, familiar, unchanged yet somehow transformed. It was UST’s very own athletics prodigy who took a pause in his studies to chase his dreams on the grandest stage of them all.
“Kuya, kumusta na? Na-miss kita! (How are you? I’ve missed you!),” Obiena said.
For a split second, the years dissolved, and the no-nonsense yet approachable guard softened when he was brought back to the time when Obiena was still a student going through the building’s entrance.
Lumontod, who rides his bike all the way from Caloocan City every day, broke into a wide grin when he saw the Olympian standing at the entrance surrounded by a crowd.
For the two guards who had witnessed Obiena from his early student-athlete days, the moment felt surreal.
“Medyo nag-mature siya tingnan… Pero siya pa rin yung parehong EJ (He’s more mature now, but you can still see it, it’s the same EJ),” Lumontod told The Flame.
“Nakaka-proud… Hindi niya kami nakalimutan (I feel proud… He has not forgotten us).”
The Olympian pole vaulter returned to his school last Sept. 12 after being away for two years to focus on his training for the 2024 Olympics.
Despite falling short of a podium finish in the Paris Olympics, Obiena’s leap to stardom was still warmly received by many Filipinos for his humility.
“Nung dumalaw siya dito ginulat niya ako, nabigla ako akala ko kung sino… Hindi ako makapaniwala kasi napapanood ko lang siya sa Olympics… biglang nandito na siya, natuwa ako (When he came back to visit, he surprised me. I couldn’t believe it was him because I had only seen him on TV during the Olympics),” Vea said.
Obiena’s homecoming brought back fond memories for two of the security staff, who had been working at the Ruaño building for almost two decades. Both security guards could not help but express their pride as they managed to have a quick chat with the decorated athlete.
“Masipag siya… Araw-araw, nakikita ko siyang determinado sa pag-aaral at pagpapraktis sa laro niya (He was hardworking. Every day, I saw him determined in both his studies and training),” Lumontod said, recollecting how far Obiena had come since his days as an engineering student.
For them, it was a moment to take a trip down memory lane on how Obiena went from a determined student-athlete to becoming a world-renowned superstar.
‘Idol’
When the young Obiena entered the Tigers’ den to enroll in the Electronics Engineering program, both Vea and Lumontod recalled him as a genuinely approachable and respectful student.
“Masipag siya pumasok… Mabait siyang bata, approachable (He was diligent in attending classes… He was kind and approachable),” Lumontod said.
“Pagkatapos ng practice niya, bumabati siya samin, nakikipagkwentuhan (After practice, he would greet and chat with us),” Lumontod added.
Even in his student days, Obiena would always take the time to greet security guards with a smile.
“Nung andito siya nag-aaral, kada papasok binabati namin yan [ng] ‘idol’ o ‘sir,’ mabait na bata yan, sumasagot naman nag-re-respond sa amin (When he was studying here, we would greet him every time he came in with ‘idol’ or ‘sir,’ he was always polite and would respond to us),” Vea said.
“Minsan kinakumusta namin, ‘O idol, kumusta training, ang pag-aaral?’(Sometimes we ask how is he doing, ‘Idol, how was the training and your studies?’),” the guard added.
While taking up an engineering degree, Obiena was an up-and-coming star for the UST Tiger Tracksters.
Rising above the challenge
Being a student-athlete is no easy feat, especially when studies and intense training clash with each other. Obiena’s journey was not smooth as he endured a demanding daily schedule. The young athlete juggled academics with rigorous training as he competed in both the UAAP track and field events and the Unigames.
“Nakikita ko siyang determinado sa pag-aaral at pag-pa-practice… Minsan laging late siya, tumatakbo siya (I see him determined in both his studies and training… Sometimes, he was running late and would be rushing to go to his class),” Lumontod said.
Lumontod recalled how Obiena was highly disciplined and dedicated to his athletic training. The young athlete would start his day as early as 5 a.m. to jog at the grandstand and then later rush to his classes at the Ruaño Building.
Vea admired Obiena’s perseverance toward his passion and dreams.
“Kahit mahirap ang training, tuloy-tuloy pa rin siya… Kahit mahirap din ang engineering, pumapasok pa rin siya (Even though the training was difficult, he continued… Even though engineering is difficult, he still goes to classes),” he said.
“Makikita mo sa itsura niya tuwing exam na pinagsasabay talaga niya ang training at pag-aaral, at bilib talaga ako dun (You can see it in his face every exam days that he handles training and studying at the same tome and I’m really impressed with that).”
Vea and Lumontod also remembered a time when they assisted Obiena when he had an injury.
“Talagang ina-assist namin pero hangga’t kaya niya, sige lang, kinakaya niya… Ayaw niya magpatulong (We would assist him, but he kept pushing through… He didn’t want help),” Vea said.
According to Lumontod, Obiena’s determination became one of his defining traits because he always strived to push forward past setbacks.
“May problema siya sa grades kasi nga focus siya masyado sa athletics, determinado talaga siyang kakayanin niya (He had problems with his grades because he was so focused on his training, but he remained determined),” he said.
Vea also observed this quality, saying that Obiena sacrificed a lot as a student-athlete. “Kahit hirap siya, talagang gagawin niya para sa kinabukasan niya (No matter how hard he is going through, he will still do it for his future).”
Unfinished dream
Obiena is reaping the results of his hard work, etching his name as one of the most iconic athletes in Philippine sports history.
Despite placing fourth in the Paris Olympics, the 29-year-old star was ranked as the world’s third-best pole vaulter. However, a lower back injury sidelined the Olympian since the end of his Paris journey.
But this did not hinder the Filipino pride from opening a pole vaulting facility at Marcos Stadium in Laoag, Ilocos Norte on Nov. 22 to let aspiring athletes reach greater heights.
According to him, it has been his lifelong dream for the Philippines to advance the sport he fell in love with.
“This is my first attempt to teach our young athletes how to ‘fish’ for medals,” Obiena wrote in a social media post on Saturday night, Nov. 23.
“I believe in investing in our youth. I believe in the greatness that resides in every Filipino in every corner of the Philippines,” he added.
Obiena said that the next facility would stand at Tagum City in Davao del Norte.
Lumontod could not help but flaunt his deep sense of pride to have been part of Obiena’s journey during his time at UST.
“Proud na proud na mayroon tayong EJ Obiena na nag-aral sa UST na naabot yung pangarap niya (We are very proud that we have EJ Obiena who studied at UST and reached his dreams),” he said expressing his joy.
Also feeling immense joy was Vea who encouraged Asia’s best pole vaulter to grow more as an athlete.
“Ako ay natutuwa at naabot na niya mga pangarap… Sana mapagtagumpayan niya pa mga mithiin niya sa buhay, at sana mag-grow pa siya (I’m really happy he achieved his dreams… I hope he continues to succeed and keep growing).”
During the lighting ceremony for the Olympics-themed Paskuhan last Nov. 29, Obiena returned to UST as a torch bearer, making him an inspiration for Thomasians to reach for their dreams despite the hurdles they are facing.
But Obiena knows that while he has achieved much, he still has an important goal to fulfill.
“Gusto niya din talaga magkaroon ng degree… Sabi niya babalik siya nung nung last kaming mag-usap nung bumalik siya dito sa UST (He really wants to get a degree. He told me during our last conversation when he came back to UST),” Lumontod said.
With the possibility of Obiena returning to complete his studies, the two security guards would welcome his return and feel proud of his desire to finish his degree.
They are quite sure they will be greeting the same down-to-earth EJ once he decides to come back to the building that served as one of the first witnesses to his resilience and determination.
They will be cheering for the prized Thomasian athlete and Olympian as he strives to clear a bar called college.
“Maganda yun, matutuwa kami kasi makikita namin siya dito… Kahit gaano kalayo narating niya, ganoon naisip niya, nakakatuwa (That would be great, we’d be happy to see him again. It’s touching to think that despite how far he’s come, he still considers going back to finish his degree),” Vea said. F
