Ngunit dahil sa kagandahang-loob niya, ako’y naging isang apostol, at hindi naman nawalan ng kabuluhan ang kaloob niyang ito sa akin. Katunayan, nagpagal ako nang higit kaysa sinuman sa kanila, subalit hindi ito dahil sa sarili kong kakayahan kundi sa dahil sa kagandahang-loob ng Diyos na nasa akin.

1 Mga Taga-Corinto 15:10

Ernest John Uy Obiena, or EJ, is a Filipino Olympian pole vaulter. In 2023, he ranked second in the world men’s pole vault. He won medals in several world championships and a gold in the 19th Asian games. He also set Asian and Philippine records and was the first Filipino qualifier for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

EJ is strong, lean, muscular, and stands tall at 6ft 2 in. We can say that the Philippines’ pride is blessed with good genes. But discipline, determination, arduous training, and grit amidst challenges and controversies made EJ fit and victorious in every competition. When he ranked number two, sabi niya, “Your very own skinny kid from Tondo, alumni of CKSC and UST, is now WORLD NUMBER TWO…This is not just my accomplishment alone, but everyone’s.”

Ang dating patpating bata ay naging isa sa world’s greatest in his sport. Ilan ba sa atin ang dati ring patpatin, uhugin, tatahi-tahimik, last sa class ranking, pero sa gabay ng Panginoon, nabago ang isip at pangangatawan, nag-improve at gumaling sa kanyang larangan? Ilan sa atin ang nangungutang lang dati ng baon sa kaklase, naglalakad ng ilang kilometro dahil kulang ang pamasahe papuntang school o trabaho? Pero sa biyaya ng Diyos, nagtiyaga, umunlad, at nabago ang takbo ng buhay?

Malayong-malayo ang buhay ni Apostle Paul sa dati niyang kalagayan bilang Pharisee. From being a proud and religious persecutor of Christians, he became a humble preacher of the gospel, teacher, missionary, and writer of three-fourths of the New Testament. Sabi niya, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV). Christ’s grace in you will change you and make you the best in whatever you do.