
Last October 7, 2026, two-time Olympian and distinguished CKSian alumnus from High School Class of 2012 Ernest John “EJ” Obiena returned to his alma mater, where he was warmly received by school officials.
Obiena recently captured the gold medal in the men’s pole vault at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The visit was a homecoming of gratitude, with the athlete expressing his appreciation for the school’s enduring support. At the welcome ceremony, the CKS College Board of Trustees announced it would continue backing him, pledging full support for his preparations leading to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
At the Asian Games, Obiena broke the meet record with a 5.91-meter clearance, successfully defending his men’s pole vault title and delivering the Philippine delegation’s third gold medal. It marked his tenth gold of the 2026 season, a year in which he has competed in top-tier international meets across Europe and China with consistent success. Obiena’s personal best has long since surpassed the 6.00-meter mark, an Asian record that cements his status as the continent’s premier pole vaulter.
Behind the glittering medals, however, lies a story of hardship and generosity. In his remarks, Obiena recalled the darkest chapter of his career, when he was abandoned by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association, dropped from the national team, and stripped of all training and medical funding. Isolated and unable even to cover the cost of knee surgery, he found a lifeline in his alma mater — Chiang Kai Shek College thru its Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association, and the wider Chinese-Filipino community — who helped him keep his athletic dreams alive.
“I never imagined my alma mater would go to such lengths to help me,” Obiena said. “I spent more than a decade of my youth at CKSC. This is where I learned and grew, and where I built a solid foundation. When I was at my lowest, abandoned by the national sports association, you gave me overwhelming warmth. I would not be where I am today without your support.”
To ensure that EJ can pursue Olympic glory without distraction, the Board of Trustees announced a substantial financial commitment covering portion of his elite training, international travel, and other competition-related expenses through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The goal, the Board said, is to lighten his preparation burden so he can focus fully on training. Chiang Kai Shek College, it stressed, will remain his steadfast support, ensuring he never again faces the difficulties of the past.
Buoyed by his alma mater’s goodwill and fresh commitment, Obiena has reportedly left for Athens, Greece, where he will begin a new phase of intensive, closed-door training under world-class coaches at elite facilities, refining his technique and pushing his limits.
The CKS College Board of Trustees said it will continue to follow Obiena’s training and competitions closely, expressing hope that his Athens training yields strong results and that he delivers another standout performance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, bringing further honor not only to the school and the Chinese-Filipino community, but also to the flag he so dearly present, our country – the Philippines.