4 minute read
EJ Obaña
WRITTEN BY RA SOLOMON
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ONE OF the teams that remained active during the pandemic is the Ateneo Rowing Team (ART) as they’ve consistently expanded their ventures to more local and international competitions. At the helm of the Men’s Rowing Team is captain Emmanuel Joseph “EJ” Obaña (4 AB LM), who has led and steered the team to consistently rake in awards for the Blue and White.
GOING WITH THE FLOW
Going into the Loyola Schools, EJ has never tried rowing before. During his high school years, EJ laced up his cleats for the pitch as a member of the football team. In his freshman year, however, EJ along with his group of friends passed by the ART recruitment booth in the John Gokongwei Student Enterprise Center.
Intrigued by the sport, EJ decided to try rowing and join the ART tryouts. “I was [football] varsity up to high school and I was still in condition so I said, why not give it a shot?” he recalls.
After transitioning from the pitch to the waters, EJ then became a vital cog in the team since his freshman year. He was eventually minted as co-captain during his junior year, paving the way for him to be hailed as the men’s team captain during his senior year. “Maganda yung naging timing ko sa team (The timing was good for me to join the team). Starting when I was a newbie, the rowing team they became more active sa competitions,” EJ shares.
Moreover, the camaraderie and tight knit community within the ART are among the main factors that made EJ stay throughout his college years. “I started off in the team having no friends at all but it was really nice getting to know everyone while sharing the same passion for the sport. Without these teammates that I consider to be my closest friends even outside training, I think I wouldn’t have stayed in the sport,” he mentions.
In his stint with the ART, EJ was a monumental part of the team that won third place in the Men’s Open 8+ Final in the 2019 Hongkong Rowing Championships. EJ was also able to place eighth in the under 23 lightweight men’s Asian Rowing Virtual Indoor Championships last January.
Due to his impressive performances as a member of the ART, EJ became a part of the Philippine National Rowing Team officially last January and represented the country in the recently held 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. With the national team, EJ rowed his way to become a part of the men’s team that won an esteemed bronze medal in the men’s lightweight quadruple sculls.
For EJ, winning in the SEA games was undeniably one of the most notable moments of his rowing career. “It has to be the highlight of my rowing career,” he shares.
He also credits his training and conditioning, as well as his and his teammates’ dedication, in achieving the monumental feat. “I have never dedicated myself to training so hard and achieving a goal as big as that,” he adds. “Aside from that, it has to be passion and dedication, the puso, that we put into achieving our goals and dreams.”
RIDING WITH THE TIDE
After competing in the SEA games, EJ is now looking forward to competing one last time with the ART at the 2022 World University Games at Chengdu, China before graduation. “That’s the biggest stage for university athletes. It’s like the Olympics for university students [and for me] that’s going to be [one of ART’s] greatest accomplishments.” As graduation looms, EJ is undecided about his future, but he remains optimistic and excited. “There’s going to law school, and then there’s continuing the national team. I have yet to decide which of the two I will prioritize but definitely both of those paths get me excited for my future!” he says cheerfully.
Even if his tenure with the ART will come to an end come graduation, EJ acknowledges how rowing has changed and impacted his life, stating how it gave him an avenue for self expression. “I find rowing to be my outlet and it just brings me joy to be on my boat on the water. I guess, in a sense, rowing allows me to live in a world separate and distinct from the rest.” he mentions.
Nonetheless, no matter what path EJ takes, he has left a legacy built upon his leadership and accomplishments with the ART. Sure enough, EJ has ingrained an invaluable mark on Ateneo Sports for the years to come.
