Soaring, searing

Yes, there is such a country as the Philippines. This was the loud and clear message of Filipino Ernest John Obiena to the world last Monday. The beleaguered lone entry to world athletics pole vaulted to bronze in the championships known for Jamaican and American sprinters, Kenyan and Ethiopian distance runners and other track and field athletes who run fastest, jump longest or highest and throw farthest.

It is the first ever medal in the worlds by any Filipino, man or woman. Even Lydia de Vega who ran first to the finish line in the Asiad century dash twice in a row, but now battles to run away from her final destination, did not run beyond quarterfinals of the worlds and the Olympics.

It may not be the gold that matters or the silver that glitters, but it is the bronze that shatters the myth that in world athletics there is no Philippine bet. It also places us 40th among 179 participating nations in the medal tally. Far from first, but regional best. For, none of our Southeast Asian neighbors scooped a medal of any color, not even track and field powerhouse Vietnam and Thailand.

All because of that one gigantic leap, not only of faith, but more of courage and patriotism by the one man falsely accused of misappropriating public fund. EJ jumped higher than his personal best and continental record despite the odds, not only of the competition that included world record holder Mondo Duplantis who floats like cotton to supplant taller opposition, but also of a few persons in his own nation.

More than his new lifetime best mark of 5.94m, he vaulted to clear his name from accusations unfair. Vindication. Before he touched any pole at the worlds, he had to hurdle one prior obstacle at the immigration that flagged him for issues in liquidation, for which he was likewise threatened liquidated from the national pool. From his own country to the next, EJ was haunted, not by any witch or wizard, but by a federation meant to better athletic best. Indeed, humans are scarier than ghosts, even if ghosting is now proposed legislated as emotional abuse.

But the 6’2” phenom not only defied gravity with his body upside down, he also endured insensitivity with his soul inside out. He flew above persecution that bordered on prosecution. Steely. Must be the characteristic of those who can fly, they soar higher than any form of distraction. Flight is not always a sign of guilt. They choose their battles. Discernment. Exactly why eagles fly alone. Solitary. Just as Superman is the man of steel, the winged EJ stood still even if others thought he steals.

And because of what he went through and broke through, we are now bronzed in world athletics history. Imagine had he been dropped from the national roster or forced to shift nationality due to insensitivity? Wesley So is waving. He is no longer ours. Foreign media now describes him Filipino-born. We almost lost Obiena too. But fortunately he chose to stay. Even if he is Filipino-torn.