Ben Madilynn
Ang world-class Filipino pole vaulter na si EJ Obiena at ang ina nitong si Jeanette ang mga espesyal na panauhin ni Boy Abunda sa My Mother, My Story, ang monthly television special ng GMA-7.
Mapapanood ang kanilang episode sa darating na Linggo, Setyembre 29, 2024, sa ganap na alas-dos ng hapon.
Kasama ang My Mother, My Story executive producer na si Reylie Manalo at ang creative head na si Ardee Delola, ibinahagi ni Boy sa entertainment press na nabuo ang planong imbitahan sina EJ at Jeanette, bilang mga panauhin sa kanyang monthly special, nang makapanayam ng TV host ang sikat na Filipino pole vaulter sa Fast Talk With Boy Abunda noong Setyembre 5.
Boy Abunda (center) with My Mother, My Story creative head Ardee Delola (left) and executive producer Reylie Manalo (right).
Lahad ni Boy: “Nung nag-guest siya sa Fast Talk, ang kasama niya, lola niya, nanay niya, tita niya, kapatid niyang babae. Lahat babae.
“And it gave the production an idea, the creative team, to do an interview with him for My Mother, My Story.
“Nakakatuwa siya. That was an inspiration.
“So from there, we invited him to do My Mother, My Story, and I did the interview in ULTRA.
“Napakaganda, napakagandang kausap. He’s a wonderful human being, napakagaan.
“Parehong atleta ang mga magulang niya. The father was a pole vaulter, silver medalist sa SEA Games. The mother, Jeanette, was a hurdler.
“The younger sister is also an athlete, track and field.”
Photo/s: Jojo Gabinete
EJ OBIENA, HIS MOTHER’S SON
Ibinahagi rin ni Boy ang mga naging pahayag ng ina ni EJ tungkol sa atletang anak.
“Ang sabi ng nanay niya, ‘Ang namana sa akin ng anak ko ay ang pagiging matimpiin at mabait. Pero kapag sinasagad, bumibigay rin.’
“And the mother has an ugali na, ‘Hangga’t hindi kailangan, hindi ko sasabihin sa yo. We’ll solve it our way.’
“Ganoon din si EJ. There was a time he was injured, itinago rin niya.
“So, pareho sila ng nanay niya na, ‘Ayokong problemahin mo ako. I will solve my problems.’ But of course, nalalaman din.
“Sabi nga nila, ‘Kilala namin ang isa’t isa.’”
Bahagi rin ng kuwento ni Boy tungkol sa mag-ina ang hindi pakikialam ni Jeanette sa pera ni EJ.
Ani Boy, “Sa pera, sabi ng nanay, ‘Taga-deposito lamang ako. He makes decision.’
“Lovelife, cute yung narrative nila.
“Sinasabi ni Jeanette, ‘Hindi naman ako nakikialam.’ Pero sabi ni EJ, ‘Ma, hindi ah!’
“It’s an interesting story. It’s not just about the mother.
“Itong show namin, My Mother, My Story, may focus on the story of the mother and father.
“Si EJ is so connected to the father because ito ang nag-coach sa kanya until he was 18, so they have that special relationship.
“When I put EJ and Jeanette together, the mother became emotional.
“Nung sila nang dalawa, EJ was basically listening. Hindi sila expressive.
“Ngayon lang sila nagdesisyong magsabi ng ‘I love you’ sa isa’t isa kasi hindi nila nakaugalian. And I can relate, kasi kami rin.”
EJ OBIENA CONTROVERSY IN 2021
Ang malaking kontrobersiyang kinasangkutan ni EJ noong 2021 ang isa sa mga matitinding dagok sa buhay na naranasan niya.
Ito ay nang inakusahan siya ng Philippine Track and Field Association (PATAFA) ng “falsified liquidations.”
Ayon kay Boy, pinag-usapan rin nila sa My Mother, My Story ang naturang isyu.
Kuwento ng veteran TV host: “We talked about his relationship with his mother and he’s so fascinatingly honest.
“His mother was always on the sidelines but he got involved in a controversy that medyo strained the relationship.
“Tinanggap ni EJ na nagalit siya sa kanyang nanay, nagtampo siya because the mother was working for PATAFA. It’s on record naman, e.
“Nag-advance for his allowance, a certain amount, but it’s a done deal. I mean, it’s a story of the past.
“Na-resolve na yan, pero there are a couple of points that are very telling about EJ.
“Sinabi niya na, ‘Hindi ako makalaban nang husto’ dahil dun nagtatrabaho ang nanay niya.
“Tinanong ko siya, ‘But you realized that the intent of your mother was to make sure that you were okay? That, hindi pa dumarating yung allowance?’
“Alam naman ni EJ, pero mahina ang laban niya kasi ang kinakalaban niya, yung pinagtatrabahuan ng nanay niya.”
Pagpapatuloy ni Boy: “Pero yung dynamics na he was in pain, he was angry, because he didn’t commit a crime.
“A lot of people were encouraging him na ‘Go for mediation’ para mas tahimik, ayaw niya.
“Sabi niya, ‘I wanna see the end of the story because I wanna prove, I want to vindicate myself, wala akong ginawang masama.’
“Again, dun mo makikita yung karakter ni EJ. He’s very unaffected.”
