Aired (September 29, 2024): Kilala bilang Olympics athlete at number 3 pole vaulter sa 2024 World Athletics Rankings, tinitingala ni EJ Obiena ang kanyang mga magulang bilang kanyang superheroes. Kung ang kanyang ama ay parang Marvel superhero sa kanyang mata, ang kanyang ina naman ay isang real-life superhero, ngunit marami rin silang pinagdaanan na pagsubok bilang mag-ina. Alamin ang kanilang kwento sa limited series na ‘to.
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00:00Welcome to my mother, my story.
00:05Thank you for having me.
00:07A friend of mine called me.
00:08He said, what's the title of EJ Obriana again?
00:12I said, what title?
00:13Nothing.
00:14No, but can you give him a title?
00:16He said, Pambansang Boyfriend.
00:20Here we go again.
00:21How do you react?
00:22I mean, I think the whole country is just so in love with you.
00:26I hope it's for the good.
00:28It is.
00:29As long as it's in the positive side, I think I'll take it.
00:31I'll take it.
00:32And I think it's also a testament of how much you're liked by our countrymen.
00:39What makes me me?
00:59How I grew up, where I grew up, how I grew up.
01:02That's how I approach life.
01:04That part that she did for us, it is one milestone that maybe I would say the family
01:11have brought for this country.
01:13And it couldn't be erased.
01:15Hi, I'm EJ Obriana and my mother is Maria Ginetta Obriana.
01:19And this is my story.
01:215, 4, 3, 2.
01:34I think still a superhero, but in a more in a real life sense.
02:02When I explain that my dad is like a superhero when I look at him, it's more like the Marvel
02:08DC Comics kind of style.
02:09Because you see him when I was young, he was jumping, pole vaulting.
02:12It's really amazing to see.
02:14And you know, as much as kids doesn't want to admit it, we look up to our parents.
02:19And with that, he is like the Marvel Comics superhero.
02:24But my mom is more like the real human heroes.
02:29Like, you know, the people that take care of you, that really gives their time.
02:34You know, we have that.
02:36Correct me if I'm wrong.
02:37Your dad won a silver.
02:38Yes.
02:39In the SEA Games.
02:40Pole vaulter.
02:42Yes, po.
02:43Ang mom ay hurdler.
02:45Yes, po.
02:46Kumusta ang pagkakaroon ng mga atleta bilang magulang?
02:52Good and bad.
02:53Good and bad.
02:54Let's start with the good.
02:55The good, you know, they already went through that path.
02:58So, nadaanan na po nila, so may experience mo sila.
03:01They can walk you through it.
03:02They know the ins and outs.
03:04So, with that, it's a good thing.
03:07The bad thing is, they're also athletes.
03:09They have recognitions.
03:11You're, there's a shadow cast over you.
03:14You know, as a guy who was sa Nobiyana sa last time, they expect me to dominate the event at such a young age.
03:20And everybody knew what my dad or who he was.
03:25And also, of course, you know, there are blurred lines having your dad as a coach.
03:30There are things, po, na, like your dad can say that the coach can't.
03:36And there are things that the coach can't say that the dad can't.
03:40Explain that.
03:41You know, your coach can be very rough.
03:43Like, he can tell you you're nothing.
03:45He can say that to you and take it as a coach.
03:47It's a different impact.
03:49But when a parent says that you are nothing, it's different, right?
03:54It's like, it gives you this certain emptiness.
03:58Like, it's different.
03:59When a parent says you're not good enough, it's like a, it's like a definition of yourself.
04:04Tagos.
04:05Yeah. Iba, poy.
04:06Pero nasabihan ka as a coach?
04:09Never about my athletics, naman, po.
04:11It's different. It's a totally different thing.
04:14We used to, ah, this place, you know, this place.
04:18I used to spend really late nights here.
04:21This is old, sir?
04:22Yeah.
04:23Pag masama po yung ensayo, natapos ng hindi maayos, pag uwi sa bahay, yun pa rin yung pag-uusapan.
04:29Pag iba yung coach mo, pagkatapos ng ensayo, that's done.
04:33I get that.
04:341995, tatay mo nasa SEA Games.
04:37I think he was competing.
04:39Nagkasakit ka, nagsusoka ka.
04:41Pero hindi pinaalam ng mommy mo that you were sick.
04:47I am referring to that story dahil may ugali ba ang mamo na pag may problema,
04:55hindi niya sinasabi sa'yo dahil ayaw niyang madistract ka?
05:01Yes, meron po. Pero basa ko na po nanay ko.
05:05Ah, alam mo na?
05:06I know when she's doing that, po.
05:09So, I think natutunan ko rin po yung sa kanya.
05:12So, ngayon may ganun rin po kung, like, I don't want them to worry, for example.
05:16Hindi mo rin sinasabi?
05:17Yes, po. Not in a bad way.
05:19It's more of, ah, ayaw ko silang mag-alala, lalo na kung hindi naman kailangan.
05:32Oo, sa anong baby ho ito?
05:35Very hyperactive.
05:37Halaga? As in, takbo ng takbo?
05:38Yes, po.
05:39No, kasi wala kaming magbabantay.
05:42So, kasama ko yun sa pagnatitrain yung dad niya sa Rizal.
05:46Pumasok siya ng Rizal Memorial, the grass there, tatakbuhin niya talaga yun.
05:50Hindi po ba yung mga grass, meron niyang maliit na, parang tumutubong maliit na flower, white, diba?
05:56Kukuni niya yun.
05:58Tapos habang nangunguha siya, malayong mararating niya,
06:01babalik yang siya sayo, sasabihin niya,
06:03Mami na!
06:04Means marami na, kasi medyo bulul pa siya, eh.
06:08Napalo niyo ho yan?
06:09Marami.
06:10Marami.
06:12Madami.
06:14Madami na, palahod ko pa rin po yan sa ASEAN at sa mundo.
06:17Nagawa sa kanya.
06:19Makulit nun po kasi naman ako.
06:21Nung lumaki talaga si EJ sa Tondo, pati si Emily,
06:26do you remember your friends?
06:28Yung bata, kapat?
06:29Talaga?
06:30Anong mga nilalaro nyo?
06:31Yung trompo.
06:32Yung trompo, totoo, like, bawal kami dumabas.
06:35So, dun lang kami sa loob ng bahay magtotrompo.
06:38Kasi ayaw nila na lamalabas kami.
06:40Okay.
06:41Then yun, yung mga kaibigan ko, sa Lagubang po, yung...
06:45Sa Lagubang?
06:46Yung dinilikit back-to-back, tapos pinag-re-wrestling.
06:50Yun po.
06:51Tuwang-tuwa ka na dun?
06:52Yeah, imagine, parang now thinking back, parang...
06:56Wow.
06:57Life has been good, you know?
07:00I would say.
07:01Iba na yun.
07:02Iba na.
07:08Bukat nila!
07:09I love you, AJ!
07:16What are your thoughts now,
07:17na your son is one of the top pole vaulters in the world?
07:23Well, one, I would say that what AJ have done
07:27is really one thing that make our flag there outside.
07:32This sport is not known before.
07:35Walang nakakakilalap,
07:36but now, if you see it in even European circuit,
07:39because of him, our flag was there.
07:42Yung part na yun na nagawa niya para sa atin,
07:46it is one milestone that maybe I would say
07:50the family have brought for this country.
07:52And it couldn't be erased.
07:54Diba?
07:55It couldn't be erased.
07:56It was there.
07:57It's a history that has been made.
07:59And I'm very thankful for everybody
08:02who have helped him to reach that part.
08:052017, nagkaroon ko ng injury.
08:08Bakit hindi ka sumuko?
08:09Doon po talaga na pumasok yung gusto ko ba talaga yung ginagawa ko.
08:14What does it mean to be an Olympian?
08:16That big controversy happened with Patafa.
08:19I was to receive a letter from Patafa
08:21accusing me of de facto stealing.
08:23Anda raw siyang humarap sa korte
08:25para lilisin ang pangalan niya at kanyang pamilya.
08:27There were recommendations to file charges
08:29against you and your mom.
08:31You know, leading up to that,
08:32our relationship kind of took a toll.
08:34I was saying, pinibenta mo ko eh.
08:40Yun!
08:442017, nagkaroon ko ng injury.
08:48Naalala ko yung kwento na
08:51kung masusunod lang ang gusto ng mga magulang mo,
08:54ayaw na nila.
08:56But you decided to go for it.
08:59At ayaw mong huminto.
09:03Bakit hindi ka sumuko?
09:05And there was that six-month time of recovery with my ACL.
09:10Really helped me po talaga to digest everything that's happening.
09:16Doon po talaga na pumasok yung gusto ko ba talaga yung ginagawa ko.
09:21Ano ba ang pole vote para sakin?
09:23What is this actually?
09:25Do I love it?
09:26Do I really want to risk my future for this?
09:30What does it mean to be an Olympian?
09:32All of these things, you know, like it clouded my judgment.
09:35And come that day, I'll hate myself if I don't even try.
09:41But yeah, I was expecting my parents to be with me.
09:48But they've seen their fair share of failures that I've taken and injuries.
09:58Yeah, they were athletes.
09:59Yeah.
10:00And they were coming from a space of love.
10:02Yes.
10:03So you saw the point of your parents.
10:05I did.
10:06But you went through that process and still came up with the decision,
10:09Hindi, lalaban pa rin ako.
10:11So I remember, I think I...
10:14Nakauwi ko lang po galing UST that time.
10:16My dad was sitting dun sa parang sofa po.
10:19My mom was in the, marapi sa bedroom.
10:22I remember it very vividly because, so I was hoping my dad would be on my side.
10:27So I was like telling, like I think I'm going to take a leave of absence.
10:31I'm going to try to pursue this.
10:33And going all the way, my dad was the first one to say,
10:37Sorry, bakit?
10:41And he used some rough words, of course.
10:44It's very expressive, you know, that disappointment with my decision.
10:48Kasi I have a scholarship in UST.
10:50I've signed a five-year scholarship.
10:52So I'll be done, you know.
10:55Pole vaulting was a means to an end.
10:57In the beginning, it wasn't like I loved it or I did love it,
11:01but it was like a way for me to get a scholarship.
11:05So I didn't expect that reaction from my dad.
11:09Then I was a bit surprised with my mom.
11:12You do what you want to do.
11:14Sabi ka ang mamo.
11:15Yes po.
11:16I can see that she was not happy about it.
11:19I think naintindihan po niya na hindi natin ako mapipigilan.
11:22Like I saw that in her face that she was not exactly happy with my decision,
11:28but she respected me enough and she understood that this is something that I really need to do.
11:35So, yeah, the conversation was a bit rough and I need to assure them, you know,
11:41that my feet are still grounded.
11:43And I said, two years.
11:45Give me two years.
11:46If in 2019, 2020, I don't become an Olympian, I'm done.
11:55Nung mga first time na nag-abroad na nag-training, gaano kahirap yun, mommy?
12:02Na napawalay na sa inyo si EJ?
12:04The first kasi na umalis siya, it is with his dad.
12:07So, kasama niya si papa niya doon for three weeks, two months.
12:12Tapos bumabalik ulit si dad niya kasama niya.
12:15Kaya naku-continue yung training here.
12:17Pagkatapos po, nung unang-unang alis niya talaga na siya lang,
12:21yun yung medyo ano na kami kasi siya lang mag-isa.
12:25Hindi rin namin alam how was it kung pag siya na lang nandoon.
12:29Kaya medyo kabado ka.
12:32So, yun na nung nagkasakit siya doon, na nalaman naming may sakit siya,
12:37na na-COVID kasi siya doon.
12:39So, nung na-COVID siya, lockdown dito sa atin.
12:42Walang pagkain na makakapagdala.
12:45So, natawagan ko na ulitin mo yung tissue niya to ask kung kamusta siya.
12:50Kasi hindi namin alam kung paano siya papakainin.
12:53E si coach siyempre may edad na.
12:55So, yun yung part na medyo ano kami kaya kahit gabi.
12:59Iba yung ating time zone.
13:01So, kahit gabi na, hindi na mamatay yung phone ko.
13:04It's 24-7 on.
13:06Kasi gusto ko malaman na pag binigay sakin na,
13:09si Nico kasi yung name niya.
13:11We ordered food. It's already there.
13:13And he's fine now.
13:21You didn't get a medal in the 2024 Olympics sa Parade.
13:25Sabi ng mom mo,
13:27pick up the pieces, learn from it, and move on.
13:30At ito rin yung parati niyang sinasabi sa mga batang atleta na kanyang kino-coach, tinuturuan.
13:36Anong dating sayo nun?
13:39She knows me more than anyone else.
13:41And, yeah, that's what I did.
13:43You know, I put emotion, I carved it out.
13:46Remove emotion, then think.
13:48What happened? Why? What could have I changed?
13:52To make it better, she raised me good enough
13:55to know that that's the right thing to do.
13:57When you're about to run,
13:59isa ka dun sa mga top pole vaulters na hindi masyado matagal.
14:04Hindi masyado matagal.
14:08Nagdadasal ka.
14:10Yes po.
14:11Not before I jump, but before I compete po, of course.
14:15Not there, but before you compete.
14:18Yes po.
14:19So my belief is, I need to be ready.
14:23God will give the opportunity, I need to grab it.
14:26So all I ask is, give me the strength to grab this opportunity.
14:31And ganun po yung mindset ko, kasi as an athlete po,
14:36it's not that I can't depend on God, but I shouldn't.
14:39I need to believe in my work, you know, in my craft, in my efforts rin po.
14:45And in God willing, He'll show that opportunity for me,
14:48and I'll be ready to grab it.
14:50That's how I see my faith po, in God.
14:56Yung nasa taas ka sa ere, you know, I think that's one of the loveliest moments.
15:01If you make the bar, yes.
15:05If you make the bar, yes.
15:06Okay, it's all about those moments.
15:08Pag halimbawa na-clear mo yung height na yon,
15:11describe to me that, what are you thinking?
15:14What is that feeling like?
15:16Goosebumps.
15:17Success.
15:18Success.
15:19Bliss.
15:20Really.
15:21Especially pag yung height po, something you've never achieved.
15:24Kung baga, this is the moment you're really, literally, reaching new heights.
15:33Once na-clear niyo po yun, then you see it.
15:36Bago pa kayo.
15:37If you see my photos, most of the time, I look to my right.
15:40Most of my photos, before I land, I look to my right.
15:43Most of my photos, before I land, I look to my right.
15:45Because yung coach ko po, nandun po.
15:47Okay.
15:48Then before I even fall, I can celebrate.
15:50You know, because you can see if you hit it or not.
15:53That moment of pure adrenaline, pure bliss, it's hard to put into an exact word.
16:00It's just, success po.
16:02You know, the moment you achieve something successfully, it's that feeling po.
16:08And then that freefall gives you the adrenaline.
16:12It's a beautiful thing po.
16:22Voto ho kayo kay Carola.
16:24Excited ka, mami, magkaroon ng apo?
16:27Yes, of course.
16:28Oo.
16:34Nagpunta ka sa studio sa Fast Talk.
16:36Tuwang-tuwa kami.
16:37Kasi lahat ng kasama mo, mga babae.
16:40You're surrounded by very strong and very decent women.
16:44Yes.
16:45Lola was there.
16:46Your tita was there.
16:48Mom was there.
16:50Lahat mga kababaihan.
16:52How does it affect you?
16:54And how has this shaped you as a man?
16:58I guess I have a very good perspective of the other side of the gender.
17:02Yeah.
17:03I didn't realize that until you made me aware of it now.
17:07And very present.
17:08Wow.
17:09They were there.
17:10And I personally loved it.
17:11Watching Lola.
17:14My Lola would love this for sure.
17:15This was quite really interesting.
17:18Nakita mo yung relasyon ng dad at mom mo?
17:22Nakita mo kung paano tinatrato ng dad mo ang mom mo?
17:27What is it telling you as a young man who one day is going to be a husband
17:34and who is going to be a father?
17:36I think I can be better.
17:39Of course, no relationship is perfect and I don't want to discuss that in any shape or form.
17:44But yeah, my mom is a strong, really strong woman.
17:49And my dad is a very respectable man.
17:51But they're not perfect.
17:53And I think I've learned from that.
17:55I could be better for sure.
17:57And that's what I plan.
17:59To learn from their mistakes and learn from their guidance.
18:09Kailang kaunang nagka-girlfriend?
18:11I'm college na po.
18:12High school wala?
18:14Ayaw, mommy?
18:15Strict ka dun?
18:18The way na, hindi naman ganun ka-strict.
18:20Pero ang gusto ko kasi makatapos siya.
18:23Yan yung point ko sa kanya.
18:25Hindi daw strict, pero hindi po ako nakapag-prom.
18:28Bakit?
18:30May competition.
18:32The next day?
18:33The next day, may competition.
18:34So, kasi sa competition, hindi siya pwede mapuyat para magkaroon siya ng magandang performance, diba?
18:40Baka naman ayaw mo lang magkaroon ng date.
18:42Exactly.
18:46Alam na niya yung pagka hindi ko type yung girl.
18:49Sasabihin ko yan sa kanya.
18:50Maliit?
18:51Oo, maliit siya, hindi babagay sa'yo.
18:53Or, mas maganda to kaysa dito.
18:56Pwenta mo na, pwenta mo na yung...
18:58Sa college po, may dinala po akong girl.
19:01Gusto po.
19:02Like, she's nice, very strong, beautiful, but very short.
19:07Very short.
19:08Okay.
19:09Sabi ng nan, mataas yung ihi daw.
19:13Like, I remember joking,
19:15Paano magiging mataas?
19:16Ang liit-liit na.
19:17Paano magiging mataas yung...
19:18You know?
19:19Ibi sa'yong mayabang.
19:20Yes, po.
19:21Pero like...
19:23Ba't mo naman, mami, siniraan ka agad?
19:26Kasi...
19:28Medyo maliit siya talaga kasi.
19:29Pero sabi nga niya noong after, noong umalis siya...
19:31Umalis siya.
19:33Sabi niya,
19:34Ma'am, mabait siya.
19:36Yung explain niya sa'kin, mabait siya.
19:38Yung tulungan niya ako, naggaguide siya sa'kin.
19:41Pero para sa'kin kasi, hindi pa yun yung time.
19:45Sa lahat naman siguro ng magulang,
19:47ang bata, hindi natin siya gusto kaagad na mawalay sa'yo, diba?
19:52Kami, iilan lang sila.
19:54So, ang ano ko sa kanila talaga parang...
19:56Hindi pa pwedeng pakawalan.
19:58Parang ganun.
19:59That's true.
20:02Kami, noong unang pinakilala si Caroline ni EJ,
20:05ano yung una mong may instinctive reaction ka?
20:10Ang pinakauna ko doon is gusto ko makita kung ano yung itsura talaga.
20:15And at the same time, how tall, how short, you know?
20:18Bakit ito yung nakuha niya?
20:20Yun yung una sa mind namin.
20:22Pero noong pinakilala niya, mabait kasi naman siya.
20:26Dahil kung hindi, sasabihin mo naman, ano yan?
20:29Yes.
20:30Yes.
20:31Pero mabait po siya.
20:32Okay.
20:33Boto ho kayo pa Caroline?
20:35So far, yes.
20:37Sa nakakasama namin siya, diba?
20:39Mabait siya.
20:40He takes care of him.
20:42I hope she won't change.
20:44At saka, maganda kasi nagkakaintindihan sila.
20:46Parang kayo ni dad, parehong atleta.
20:50Yes.
20:51Hypothetical, one of these months in the next three, five years,
20:56ang sabi ni EJ,
20:57Mami, upapakasal na ako.
21:01Actually, nagpe-prepare naman na kami ng dad niya.
21:04Kasi we know he's not young.
21:06And life doesn't stop being an athlete.
21:09There is a life after athlete.
21:11This is what we always preach sa mga bata, na tinuturoan namin.
21:15So yun yung ano namin, we just need to be ready for it,
21:19and accept where he is.
21:21It's better to see how he grows after, rather than not.
21:26Mas magandang makita mo kung ano yung ano niya,
21:28then you can still guide.
21:30Pero siyempre, it's still their decision.
21:33Excited ka, Mami, magkaroon ng apo?
21:36Yes, of course.
21:38Do you know that you're a honeymoon baby?
21:40Yes, I think so.
21:41Alam mo yun?
21:42Yes, I think so.
21:45Nakaka-excited, kasi may kasabihan na iba daw talaga ang apo.
21:48Yan po, sabi niya.
21:49Kung hindi ako nagpaparinig sa'yo.
21:51Iba daw talaga yung apo, kaysa sa anak.
21:53May mga nagsasabi noon.
21:55Pagdating sa pera, sabi nga ni EJ, he handles his own money.
21:59Ang ganda nung relasyon na yun.
22:03Hanggang saan ka nakikilam, pagdating sa finance?
22:06Actually, taga-deposit lang po.
22:09Taga-deposit, and if ever he asks me to,
22:12Oh, this one, bigay natin dito, ito gagastusin dito.
22:15I just jot it down there, and give it to him.
22:17Para alam niya, it's accountable with that passbook na ito-ito napunta dito.
22:22Pero sa kanya yun, ang ano lang namin sa kanya is,
22:26matuto kung paano siyang palaguin,
22:29at paano siya para,
22:31for his future, yun lang.
22:33That big controversy happened with Patafa.
22:37That must have been painful.
22:38Really is.
22:39Did I steal the money or not?
22:41If not, then there's nothing.
22:43You know, there's nothing.
22:44Nadispalto umano ng top pole vaulter na si EJ Obiena,
22:48ang 85,000 euros o 4.8 million na kabuang pera na sweldo ng kanyang coach na si Vitaly Petro.
22:56I also received a letter from Patafa,
22:58accusing me of de facto stealing the money intended for Mr. Vitaly Petro.
23:03Dinihayag ni Obiena ang kanyang salobid sa naging desisyon ng Patafa na tanggalin siya sa national team.
23:09Bagamat malukot siya sa rekomendasyon ng komite,
23:11hindi na rin daw siya nagulat.
23:13Anda raw siya humarap sa korte para linisin ang pangalan niya at kanyang pamilya.
23:172021, because this has something to do with your relationship also with your mother,
23:22that big controversy happened with Patafa.
23:26Tapos na ang kwentong ito.
23:27Yeah.
23:28That chapter of your life deeply hurt you and your family.
23:34Yeah.
23:35I would say.
23:36Pero I wanna know, EJ, now as we talk,
23:40have you forgiven the people you think wronged you and your family?
23:47Yeah.
23:48Yeah, I would say.
23:50Most of them, I understood in the position that they were in.
23:54I get it.
23:56It's not something I would take against them.
23:59Right now, it's not even I feel bad or happy or anything.
24:03I feel indifferent.
24:05I think that's when I can truly say I move on and really put that in my rear view.
24:11Napapag-usapan lang natin because that must have been painful.
24:13Because misappropriation of funds, embezzlement.
24:16Alala ko ito.
24:17I mean, these are the headlines.
24:18Nagkaroon ng Senate hearings.
24:21There were recommendations to file charges against you and your mom.
24:26Nag-abono ang nanay mo ng a certain amount, P600,000, dahil nadidelay ang iyong allowance.
24:31Ang kinalabasan ay there were recommendations to file charges against your mother.
24:37Looking back, how did it affect your relationship with your mother,
24:43especially because she was the one involved in that controversy?
24:48You know, leading up to that, our relationship kind of took a toll, to be honest.
24:52Because I was saying, binibenta mo ko eh.
24:55Because she was working with the Federation, and it was…
25:00Who was working with the Federation?
25:01My mom. My mom.
25:02Okay. Alright.
25:03So she was working for the Federation.
25:04So you were mad with mom?
25:06I was angry. I was like, most of the time, I was like,
25:08I don't want to deal with this guy. I don't want to.
25:11Like, why? Why? Why?
25:15Her job was kids' athletics, which is totally disconnected to my position as an athlete.
25:25And she was not hired because she was my mom.
25:27She was hired because she's capable to do her job.
25:29The job.
25:30So I keep telling her, you're not my mom in Patapa.
25:33If they want to talk to me, they can call me.
25:35They have my number. They have all of this.
25:37We had this conversation multiple times.
25:39Because I didn't want na kami yung magbabanggaan.
25:43If they ask me of something that I cannot give the Federation,
25:48then they should ask it directly to me.
25:50I remember when that thing blew up, and I was like,
25:53what is this money that they're talking about?
25:55This and this.
25:56I didn't know that she actually put that P600,000 of her own money.
26:01Hindi niya alam na nag-abono.
26:03Hindi mo alam na nag-abono ang money.
26:05I didn't know.
26:06Because I was, of course, pushing.
26:08I was like, hey, where's the fund? Where's the fund?
26:10No, Lutis.
26:11I didn't know.
26:12Nung nagkataon na, we're bookkeeping,
26:15and I was looking at my statements, and she's looking at her statements.
26:19I think it was like 3 a.m.
26:21I was getting really frustrated,
26:23to the point where I said,
26:25you might be the reason why I cannot fight this.
26:31Because I have a smoking gun.
26:34I have a lot of things that I can fire,
26:38but figuratively, it's like if I fire it,
26:42they're within the line of fire.
26:45And I kept feeling that I can't express everything that I could.
26:50Because she was there.
26:51Yes, and it's tough.
26:53Kasi she was very loyal to the Federation.
26:56She was really doing everything that she can.
26:59And to see her own friends, per se,
27:02really kind of turn against her
27:04and use their friendship to really hurt me,
27:08because they know that I care for my family.
27:11Sorry, it made me pissed, really.
27:14I wanted them to pay.
27:18But that moment, it's not a good feeling.
27:22It's not a good feeling,
27:23especially seeing your faces in headlines with all of this.
27:29I didn't even know what is embezzlement.
27:31I didn't know what is malversation.
27:33When I received that letter, that email,
27:36I googled it because I didn't know.
27:39Pero EJ, alam mo rin ko ng pinagagalingan ng mommy.
27:44Nangutang ako, ginamit ko ang savings ko,
27:48kasi hindi dumadating ng oras ang allowan sa anak ko.
27:52I knew. I understand that.
27:53As simple as that.
27:54I know the complications of being attached to or working for the organization.
28:00But bottom line, you know what I'm saying?
28:04I understand that. I fully understand it.
28:08But I hate to be, not just me,
28:10to put our family in that position.
28:13I'm okay with it. I'm fine with it.
28:15I understand where she's coming from.
28:17I just hope that I knew.
28:19Because if I knew that it was her money,
28:21then it would have been a different conversation.
28:24Because then I would know, okay, you know, it's fine.
28:28I'll find my own way.
28:30We'll deal with it.
28:31Or at least I'll borrow directly to you.
28:33You don't need to lend it to the federation.
28:35The federation will give it to me.
28:37People are saying, you're going to go into mediation.
28:39But in the end, if my memory serves me right,
28:44you fought because you wanted your name and family to be clean.
28:49Yes.
28:50Just the only thing I hold in this life truly is my reputation.
28:56And I wanted that to be clean.
28:58I really do.
28:59And I know what I did. I know I didn't.
29:01And with that, I really wanted it to end first.
29:05We were having already the audit, the co-audit, and all of these things.
29:10I'm just waiting for it.
29:11See, that's the crux of the problem.
29:13Right.
29:14It's not all of the other angles that was being thrown.
29:17It really is, did I steal the money or not?
29:20Did I do this, what they're telling me, malversation and embezzlement?
29:24Did I do this or not?
29:26If not, then there's nothing.
29:28You know, there's nothing.
29:29And your family is with you. Your mother is with you in this story.
29:32And that made it really difficult.
29:34Because they knew.
29:35They knew where to, you know, really strike where it'll hurt, you know.
29:42They knew it. They knew it.
29:52The controversy that we were talking about earlier,
29:54that has something to do with the case that you were involved in.
29:57Mommy, as a mother, what did you learn from your son?
30:01I learned from him to be strong.
30:03And to learn to stand.
30:05Yes.
30:06Because I was the one who said, yes, yes, yes, okay, okay.
30:10As far as I can give, as far as I can be with.
30:14But that's where I learned from him that you also need to stand.
30:20You need to be firm and decide.
30:23Because it's not that they're the only ones who should give you this,
30:28that you'll be controlled, you know.
30:30But you have your abilities.
30:32You have your talents that you can do.
30:35You can't just stand firm with what you can do and the correct things.
30:43Mommy Jeanette, now, and looking back at what had happened,
30:48if you were to apologize to your son, what would you say to him?
30:55I would probably apologize because I didn't open up to him.
31:03Regarding that I valued my friend more than him.
31:10So, I hid from him that I was the one who shelled out,
31:15I was the one who gave to him.
31:22That thing, that I will tell, sorry, from what had happened,
31:27I've become more stronger.
31:29Right.
31:30To stand firm for the right.
31:32And your relationship also became stronger as a family.
31:38Yes, yes.
31:49Looking back, EJ, after this controversy,
31:53you fought, your life continued,
31:57the question is, what should sports organizations do?
32:02What should government do to help athletes?
32:07There's a lot of ways that I think athletes can be helped.
32:12I think we really need to push for a change in the law
32:16that would allow governing bodies to, I'm not saying to control the NSAs,
32:23but to implement and enforce that they do what's their responsibility,
32:28which is to take care of the athletes,
32:30make sure that the athletes are doing what's best,
32:33training as much as possible, that's all they need to do.
32:37But I think a Magna Carta would be good.
32:39A Magna Carta for?
32:41For athletes.
32:42For athletes.
32:43That would give them a platform, give them a gateway
32:46where they can also ask for help if need to,
32:51and hopefully all these documentation that,
32:56you know, we have young kids who are part of the national team.
33:05In the middle of that controversy, I remember,
33:09there were overtures from other countries
33:13that if EJ Obiena is interested,
33:16he can be a naturalized citizen for another country.
33:20Pero pinili mong maging Pilipino,
33:24even at the toughest moment of your life.
33:28Talk more about it.
33:30There's a lot of offers, for sure.
33:32It made more sense.
33:35Both, you know, career-wise and financially,
33:38it made a lot more sense.
33:40And I talked to Ate Heidelin, I talked to a lot of people,
33:44and there's such a thing that sometimes you need to do what's right.
33:48At that time, I knew what's right is I need to stand my ground
33:53and really show that, you know,
33:54athletes can fight through all these sports politics and win.
33:58And I felt that I was in a position where I could do this,
34:04and I was blessed enough that I had people really behind me
34:08to really help me make the right decision.
34:11Therefore, I stick to it.
34:13And I think there's a new breed of athletes.
34:17These are athletes that are willing to talk.
34:20These are athletes that are willing to stand for what they believe in.
34:24And I'm very proud to have done that.
34:29Okay, EJ, gaano mo kamahal ang bayang dito?
34:34What makes me me?
34:36Kung paano ako lumaki?
34:37Saan ako lumaki?
34:38Paano ako pinalaki?
34:39That's how I approach life.
34:42Those are my guiding values.
34:45I might go to another country.
34:47It's not going to be the same.
34:48You're not just representing your people.
34:51There's going to be a point in your life where you need to stand for what is right
34:54and not necessarily what's best for you, but what is right.
34:58The way I motivate myself, the way I approach my training,
35:02the way I represented Philippines was definitely, you know, honed by my own.
35:10And that's why when I made world number two,
35:14I said, who would have known a kid from Tondo would be a world number two?
35:20And that strikes something.
35:23And it's something that I hope resonates with a lot of people.
35:29We wish you the best.
35:31We wish you the best.
35:32And we want to thank you for all the things that you've done for this country
35:36by just being the best of who you are.
35:38It's an honor, po.
35:40Mananalo ako ng medalya sa 2028 LA Olympics.
35:45Magpapakasal ako in the next five years.
35:48Pogi ako, yes or no, and why?
35:56Noah, we just wanted to ask you a couple of questions.
35:58Hindi ito fasto, pero yes or no ito.
36:01Kinambahan na naman ako.
36:02Yes or no ito and why?
36:04Okay.
36:05Mananalo ako ng medalya sa 2028 LA Olympics.
36:10Yes or no, at bakit?
36:12Yes, because I'm capable of it.
36:15Pogi ako, yes or no, and why?
36:21Parang nahirapan ka dun.
36:24No, I guess.
36:26Because, I don't know.
36:28Okay, I understand.
36:29Yeah, it's weird to say yes to that question, po.
36:32It truly is.
36:34Papasok ako ng showbiz.
36:36Yes or no, and why?
36:38No, it's very hard.
36:41I can't do your job, po.
36:43Magpapakasal ako in the next five years.
36:45Yes or no, and why?
36:48Yes, because I think it's time.
36:51Magmamana sa akin ang magiging mga anak ko.
36:54Yes or no, and why?
36:57Yes, hopefully the good side.
37:01Really?
37:02Oo, the good side.
37:03I think you have more good sides.
37:05You know, by being honest about your flaws and weaknesses,
37:08I think, makes you strong.
37:10Yeah.
37:11Diba?
37:12For sure.
37:13Kung halimbawa lamang, bigyang karami yung pagkakataon,
37:15mag-sorry at magpasalamat sa mami mo,
37:18how'd you do it?
37:21I think, first, I'll start siguro, thank you.
37:24Maraming salamat.
37:25Thank you, really, for having the patience,
37:29being strong,
37:32really doing everything that you can to raise us.
37:36I know it's hard.
37:38I know it was not something that she expected.
37:43The challenges that she faced,
37:48it's a totally different path that I think she expected growing up.
37:57With that, I apologize sometimes.
38:02My emotions get the better of me.
38:04I get angry with her sometimes.
38:06I get, you know, let's be real.
38:10I get rude, and I do apologize for that.
38:15I should be better, and I will be better.
38:24If you were to say thank you to your son,
38:26anong ipagpapasalamat mo, mami?
38:29Papasalamat ako sa kanya,
38:31kasi kahit ganito kami na love and hate,
38:36but definitely I know pag mag-isa na siya,
38:39pinapakinggan din niya yung sinasabi namin.
38:42And I know he learns from it,
38:45alam niya kung ano yung dapat niya gawin
38:47with all the people that helped him around,
38:50who built him who he is right now.
38:53I'm very, very thankful.
38:54And to the Lord who gave him that wisdom,
38:57na makita niya kung ano yung tama,
38:59ano yung dapat,
39:00para ituwid kung anuman yung maling na gawa namin bilang magulang.
39:05So I would like to thank Him for that.
39:08And to be one of yung tinitingala at inidolized ng mga bata,
39:14it's one very fulfilling thing for a parent na meron kang ganyang anak
39:20na tinitingala ng tao,
39:22lalo na kapag siyasabihan ka with somebody who you didn't know,
39:27telling you na,
39:28Mami, you have raised a very good son.
39:31And you have.
39:32And I'm very, very thankful for him,
39:35because he showed it.
39:37It will never be known outside kung hindi siya ganyan,
39:41kung hindi niya,
39:42kung hindi niya na-analyze,
39:45na-intindihan,
39:47at gumawa kung ano yung tama.
39:49So, thankful, thankful really for everything.
39:54But what a blessing.
39:56You know, just listening to the both of you,
39:58this is a blessing to each other.
40:00And by being such, you're a blessing to all of us,
40:03witnessing your story.
40:05Salamat.
40:06From mom to everybody.
40:08Simple.
40:10Really.
40:13Maraming, maraming salamat.
40:19Hi, brother.
40:21Mami, flowers po.
40:24Salamat, salamat po.
40:25Salamat.
40:26Salamat, salamat.
40:27Salamat, salamat.
40:29So much.
40:37Bye.
40:38Bye.
40:39Bye.
40:40Bye.
40:41Bye.
40:42Bye.
40:43Bye.
40:44Bye.
40:45Bye.
40:46Bye.
40:47Bye.
40:48Bye.
40:49Bye.
40:50Bye.
40:51Bye.
40:52Bye.
40:53Bye.
40:54Bye.
40:55Bye.
40:56Bye.
40:57Bye.
40:58Bye.
40:59Bye.
41:00Bye.
41:01Bye.
41:02Bye.
41:03Bye.
41:04Bye.