SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday co-sponsored and co-authored Adopted Senate Resolution (ASR) 18 congratulating Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena who recently topped the Golden Fly Series in Liechtenstein and the Gala dei Castelli in Switzerland this month.

The resolution was principally sponsored by Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano.

In his co-sponsorship speech, Go commended the decorated athlete saying, “I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and deepest admiration for the country’s best pole vaulter and among the best in the world, Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena.”

Obiena bagged the gold medal at the Golden Fly Series in Liechtenstein after clearing 5.71 meters on September 11.

He also competed at the Gala dei Castelli in Switzerland held on September 12 where he bagged another gold medal and set a new meet record of 5.81 meters.

Prior to this, Obiena won the silver medal at the Das Internationale Stadionfest Berlin (Istaf) Berlin in Germany on September 4.

Two days earlier, in Belgium, Obiena astounded everyone by defeating world champion Armand Duplantis and clearing 5.91 meters to win the gold medal at the Brussels Diamond League.

“With these triumphs, it is no doubt that EJ deserves the recognition and commendation of this esteemed hall. Thank you for bringing honor to our country,” Go said.

Earlier this year, the senator, as chairman of the Senate sports committee, helped in the resolution of a dispute between Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association or Patafa.

With fellow senators and government officials, Go pledged his continued support for the growth of the nation’s sports program at the grassroots level.

He assured Obiena and all Filipino athletes that the government will keep supporting them so they are able to compete and remain competitive at the international level.

“It is my hope that EJ’s success will give other young Filipino athletes the confidence and faith they need to succeed in their chosen sports,” Go said.

Earlier, the senator introduced the Philippine National Games Act of 2022 in the Senate that seeks to ensure a more inclusive system of promoting promising Filipino athletes who possess potential in various fields of sports to be given an equal opportunity of becoming future contenders in international sporting competitions and cement the country’s status as a “Sports Powerhouse in Asia.”