Ayala Land Inc. congratulates Ernest John Obiena for being named Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association in its Awards Night on 29 January at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.
The 28-year-old pole vaulter drew massive success in the previous year after winning the gold medals in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games and 19th Asian Games in record-breaking fashions.
He also joined the ultra-elite six-meter club when he ruled the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway in June.
But more than that, he shone in the 2023 Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden to emerge as the first Filipino to punch a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
With his exceptional achievements, the PSA — the oldest media organization in the country — gave him the distinction of being the lone recipient of the Athlete of the Year award.
Obiena serves as an ambassador for Vermosa, one of Ayala Land’s estates, and utilizes the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub as his designated training facility whenever he is in the country.
AVSH strives to provide a comprehensive training facility for both amateur and professional athletes, offering a credible and secure environment for them to develop and refine their skills.
In February last year, ALI committed to back Obiena’s pursuit of the Olympics.
He also resides at The CityFlats whenever he is in Metro Manila.
The CityFlats is a co-living space provided by ALI. It addresses the needs of young professionals and transient workers who desire independent and convenient living through a distinctive co-living experience and offers a perfect blend of privacy with social interaction in a prime location.