Mayor Honey Lacuna awarded P500,000 as cash incentive to Olympian pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena ,a true-blue Manileño from Tondo and a student from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) or a Thomasian, just ike the lady mayor.
The symbolic check was handed by Lacuna to Obiena at the Mayor’s Office in Manila City Hall, where tjhe lady mayor congratulated and thanked him profusely for bringing pride for the city and the entire country as well.
“We congratulate Ernest John Obiena on his best Olympics finish so far in his still young athletics career. The fourth place finish was his best effort at that high-pressure moment. Our Manileño pole vaulter from Tondo and fellow Thomasian is proudly and joyfully welcomed in the country’s capital now that he is back home with his family, friends, and neighbors ” Lacuna said of Obiena.
“Isa kang Bayaning Manileño, EJ. Mahal ka namin dito sa Magnificent Manila,” the mayor told Obiena, as she wished him safe travel. Obiena left on the same night to prepare for another competition slated on August 21.
Lacuna stressed that the pride and glory that Obiena had brought for his fellow Manilans will forever be etched in the hearts of everyone in Manila, including those running and working in the city.
She also lauded Obiena for his sportsmanship when he acknowledged and applauded the new world and Olympic records set by Sweden’s Armand Duplantis during the event.
According to Lacuna, what Obiena did is worthy of emulation among the youngsters.
Obiena achieved a career-best 4th place finish in the men’s pole vault event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, clearing a height of 5.90 meters. This marked a significant improvement from his 11th-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
